Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-19

have had to repeat that oath years
afterwards.
COUNTRY BOY LIKES SNOW. |
II there is anything in the world that |
a country boy likes for "Crismus," next
TO the good things his mother makes
and his gun and powder and shot, 1t Is
snow. A country boy sets - hare gums
mo country urchin in Virginia ever called
them hare traps'O during the fall, ana
sells his hares and their skins, so when
the holidays come he has neat little sum
in his bank. Many a country boy not
more than II years old catches mares
enough in the fall to buy all his winter
clothes. even after paying 81. for his
boots, first. Not much of the CHRIST
mas savings so for candy and nuts.
These are the things to which country
bow looks to Santa Claus for, unless he
has reached the age of accountability
in the matter Of the good saint. he
spends 1t for Roman candles, pop
crackers mot fire-cracks; they don't nave
those kind in the country. and sky rock
cts. There are few spitfires and many
toy pistols among the small boys. Bnt
however much a country boy may glory
In tho fro and noise Of the pop-cracKer'
ha had rather kill a snowbird with d
sure enough gun than be right, or
President, either.
The bulk of his money. however, goes
To buy powder and shot, and, at tender
| age. with his fathers gun, he sallies
forth a soldier Of fortune, indeed, 20
wreak destruction in the ranks OF snow
birds. robins, fieldlarks, and woodpeckers.
! oh. how gladly he would freeze to death
inst to go huntingi What excitement is
| there TO follow me deep tracks of the
| old hare, made day before yesterday 10
! find here where shs lay down, and Where
/ she got UP again! But this all COMES
| later, and continues until the end.
SUPREME JOY ON CHRISTMAS-DAf'
! A boy's heart beats faster on Christ
4 mas morning than a mans. There are
| several reasons for this. The man has
! gotten used 10 it; the fact is, the man
| hasn't much Christmas after all. III nc
| gets holiday for the one day-and many
| 10 not-the sweetness and rest OF II are
| sapped away by the cares OF tu'
! Yesterday and the morrow. Inc thonsh
l maj the year is in swan-song state
49, .ba rnerriment and noise of Christ
r,os is the herald of the death OF anotne
year and that he is one year nearer IN
i sreaf beyond are things that come U
srv man at any time. Many times the.
j come indeed. with the onrush OF the ava
1 lanche without a moments war;
Il ing They have a knack or comlhl
, ,,,St in the midst of greatest reVelry
have a knack of casting a shadow over III
face. even ia its sunniest smiles bu
? the boy, the country boy, escapes az
= thfs The future is all bright for MIN
, Itfe &c nainted in the glow of his fireworks
santa claus is hardly firmly seated j
; his sleigh again bound for another hous'
, ha1oTe he is awake and is burglarlzin
| bis stocking on q nail at the chiihhe
u corner.
WHAT A COUNTRY BOY FINDS.
, ne finds Il filed with nuts and cand
al "a noncrackers. TT is as cold as Chr's'
al r,ae % ana there Is no fire in the nous
al ,,ot CO he eats some candy ana SIP
| - to he'd. sometimes with a staruiii
degree OF certainty concerning inc PEI
1900 Of the good saint. Ever aItei
10 no has a visionary sort OF iue
-, tbix benefactor of Christmas init
= .Sars q long. white robe In making "a
y ,,,rbtlv waits. and not the snow-nahs
. coat the pictures give he goes oae
!, FOR an half-asleep. half-awake eAis.enI
= with his popcrackers, noiseieSS
4 him. for another hour' ,...
q But when day at last oaWhs, -
2 day of fun II Is. Before Dre ssinS 49,
1 n4 Is moro IMAM AAe@A~
nj ing-he plunges out into the snow S,s az
= srostv air. He and his two nrothe
tninE they are the only persons up on |,
- Ice and what jolly fun 1t IS 10 "a'
- -, The .,oId folks with their NOISE q. a.
= ~. ~ chuckle over the harsh things VI
- mi mi he said unmeaningly apout NV ~
y WIZ wiz ,sueh al the fears OF Mamma "a
n nv an viii set the place on IRE anu D'
lie them all up. u,r, r,rs
81 now THE FATHER cELEbhSi f -
ri TO-, thew ara little mistaken, =
eel p man, comes upon them WIN !
o On his shoulder. There 10 s .un cen
sci gun ." ,eeching'' aboot this. as the sen
re vsr ,., Young girls say. who are s ISM
y n.en Ing true TO their make. Inc :.
AZ Sa,,ow with frost on the Temps shot
t. iellow s,,,saks IN his beard. hasn't sno :
D. gray tor ten years--In fact, the gun o. =
70 S ~, nern shot for year But sr,,,s II
III nov nos Ut 70 waking early. he ar, .,r,ss =
er tomsd about the "Chrismns' un'e,
ut ihln thin asg1e evG he did when a boy q
- anally how that has all passe =. sss n,
!, : hears the young hops,s,,s with co
rocm. their teeth chattefins heisss a
y s" nnattering gleefully neveft =. 49,.
40 Out Sh"tt = - n~lAhS~e@ -