Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-12-25

! 4 J. IANC ASPOA ~ AClkSSl9ODOu dllA
record what he a seen and heard.
Two minutes more and the sleigh
with its occupants was again whizzing
on it's way. the old man eve and anon
exploding into fits of merriment, with
cut n apparent u whatever.
"Whoop-e-eee!" said he, pulling up
the deer on the mex root. you're an
incomprehensible old fellow" remarked
the reporter, drawing out his notebook.
Il shan't try to understand you any
more"
Just so,' laughed Mr.. Kringle, exul-
family, Il should be sorry if you could.
Just you keep your eyes pen and your
pencil busy. AS 0 see, were down
town now OF Twenty-third street. This
is a ham. An actor lives here-a very
bum actor" saying which he Jumped
into h chimney with the ham.
Out he came again in a moment, n
in a cloud of snow, thrown up by the
heels of the deer they were whisked
away.
Later on. when the sleigh drew up on
the roof of a hotel, the old gentleman
leaped out with a peculiar looking APP
pliance which. he explained, vas to be
a boon to the hotel clerk, a friend Of
his who lived there. This house" said
he, lis a favorite with folks from
the country. This little instrument,
with which I propose to lift a world Of
anxiety from the clerks breast, is a
~jay-proof gas burner. No matter how
hard they blow. the light will not go
out until the gas is turned off,"
At the next stopping place, the home
o t a telegraph messenger boy, he left
L beautifully bound cop of "Bunco
Bits Biggest Brace Came: or The Twin
Champions of Blue Blazes' Camp"
Again the sleigh sped onward and
again it stopped.
This is the home of a brewer" said
he. How does this beautiful motto
suit for his sitting room?' He display
ed a sign reading: "A beer in the hand
is worth wv in the Anheuser-Busch."
Aha! here is another place for one
said Kris at the next roof. Here
we will leave this one. The re
porter copied the noble sentiment it
displayed-tBe a Man"-into his note
and then asked for whom"
President of the New Woman's
Club" the facetious Kris did make re-
Fly n forthwith leaped into the curl
ing smok of the chimney.
And SO it went on for an hour longer,
the reporter and his merry old compan-
whirling dizzily through space from
house top to house top, leaving a me-
mento of their visit at each stopping
place.
Just as Obejoyful was beginning to
tire Of the experience they alighted on
a dingy roof in the subur of the city
and the old gentleman handed him the
reins with the remark: Our last call
the night on the grown up folks.
is a bag Of chestnuts, chirped
the old gentleman as his round little
paunch shook with unsurpassed glee,
n this" pointing downward, sis the
abiding place of a fellow who makes
saucy jokes about me at Christmas. He
is what you fellows call a funny para
srapher."
While Obejoyful was awaiting the re-
turn of Mr.. kringle he became sensi-
ble of a sudden drowsiness coming upon
him. He yielded to an irresistible i'm
rulse to close his eyes When he OPEN
ed them again he found himself stand
ing at the corner of Twenty-eiyhtil
street and Washington avenue. TO his
surprise he saw the shop windows
ablaze with lights and the avenue Look
ing just as it usually appeared on Sat
urday nights. The passing crowds.
however, seemed more numerous than
usual. The sidewalks We're alive With Il
seemingly endless procession OF Christ
mas buyers.
He uttered a cry Of establishment, and
marvelling greatly, pulled out his
watch. The hands indicated the hour OF
-.
Merry Christmas to you and many
happy RETURNS said a familiar voice
in his ear, and turning his head he
WAN LIN vi lkS ! ~
ventures standing at his side.
Hello, old man" shouted an ac-
H~uaintance, who was passing along.
0bejoyful recognized him with the
greatest relief imaginable. ~.
Il say, hold on a minute" he shouted
to the young man who, having saluted
him. was now making off hastily.
See you later. old chap" said the
acquaintance lodging into the crowd.
Obejoyful somewhat chagrined, was
about to acknowledge the redoubtabie
old gentleman's good wishes, when ne
membe OF his lodge. coming towards
him through the crowd" n
Hello, old chap said his young
man., stepping abruptly within ): few
feet of the pair On the curbstone.
Who's your friend. Say, where did
ask him to take a chance on q razor.
Those ~Svengalis of his will have Z des-
perate struggle with the wind this
winter, I think yes"
For the first time Obejoyful noticed,
with modification that the red-faced
cid gentleman, in his heavy boots and
rusty great coat presented an appear
ance anything but conventional. Mr..
Kringle. too, was staring in the faces
of everyone passing and he moved
about as awkwardly as a rheumatic
farmer He was altogether undesirable
company. as.
The old fellow stood closely beside
him, every now and then asking some
stupid question about the people who
passed them. fifty per cent. Of whom
were known to the reporter.
~Obejoyful, half dazed as he was
BECAME painfully conscious of the fact
that the passing throng We're gazing
c~uriously at himself, and the fraekish
Kringle. f|M. r.
They were laughing at them, too, and
dozens of his friends were passing him
by Innoticed, after as%certaining tina
the old fellow, was in his company.
Il say Uncle Kris" aid he, dragging
the old fellow into the less prominent
thoroughfare of Twenty-eighth street.