The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-12-29
NEW YEAR AND
CHRISTMAS ECHOES
BY LUCIEN JULIEN WALKER =

By WALKER
It is touchingly and tenderly soothing to
| mark how other lives that have come into
our own, at Christmas and the New Year
speak to us from out the great spaces OF
the world, and set our hearts a-throbbing.
| Some messages that have dropped upon me,
bringing the touch of the angels wing, may
not interest the world; but 1 believe they
will, for human nature is much the same
the world over"
A sweet-double missive comes from the
famous two boys at Montgomery, Drop
ped here by Santa Claus on his journey
south ward. Surely no words ever were
peneilled stronger to touch the hearts of
men and women, who have it within them
to love the innocent:
Montgomery, December 20.
| Dear Santa Claus:
Bring me some little tin soldiers-and
| little bitsy house; and some tents for my
| little tin soldiers; and a sharp sword with
a sharp, dangerous bayonet. Bring me
| little toy cannon, too, Santa Claus, that
| will shoot and some powder and shots and
| cannon balls to shoot in it; but if you don't
WANT little boys to play with powder and
| shots, bring the dry-so powder, and little
| box of matches.
When you come by Birmingham, tell Mr..
| Walker not to forget to send my knife by
| you. A four-blade knife will do, but
| mighty sharp.
Me and Bah are been mighty good for a
week. 1 haven't called Sally Niger and
Bah hasn't cussed like that old tramp
| single time. If you can't bring the cam
! non-balls and powder, don't forget the dry
| so powder. Your loving CHAPPELL.
Dear Santa Claus:
Bring me ev'y thing you bring Brer, and
| bring me great big old monkey, too; and
| bring me some little tin soldiers and a lit
| tie bitsy. house; and a mighty dangerous
| bayonet, and some dry-so powder, and a
| great big old cannon, big as the world. 1
am mighty good, too, and 1 amt never go-
ing to hit Brer any more. Your loving
Bah.
Another greeting comes from Washing
ton, from high officer of state, who saw
much of the old life over the sea- and who
has but recently married. 81 told my wife
to make due allowances for the fact that
you lived some years under the influence of
Barney. 1 have the most delightful recol-
lections of my visit to Queenstown, and
your courtesies."
From far Fifeshre that is a beautiful,
crested card with the legend around the
crest, Scotland For Ever" the immortal
cry of the Scotch soldiers at Waterloo.
Then comes,
Should auld acquaintance be forgot, FIIt
And never brought to mind, IT, 4
Should aud acquaintance be forgot, H.
And days O lang syne?
Below this sweet melody is, wishing you
a right merry Christmas From all the Is
family" And again, with love from all
and best wishes for merry Christmas and
happy new year?
One greeting is from Dublin, which really
belongs to Queenstown-Cork. On the face
of the card is dreamful picture, "a Lei
cestershire Gamekeeper," bringing back to
mind that identical keepers cottage, visited
in years gone by. Accompanying the card
is letter in which the writer says: mo
doubt it will be surprising to you to know
that we heard that you had died in New
York hotel. We were greatly distressed
and I cabled Hubbell for the truth He
wired back that you were alive and kickin,
and we were glad to get the cablegram
There is no news at Queenstown of any
interesting nature-there never is. Every
one goes on forever like Tennyson's brook
in the old way. Charley Harvey
I1xham, Pierce, and the others, are always
asking of you, and all your friends this
side the sea are anxious to hear of you and
your welfare
Yet another greeting is from the Old
Royal Cork Yacht club, the oldest club in
the world 1t is exquisitely printed. On the
front is Christmas, 1885," and below that
the clubs famous pennant with the Irish
harp and the CROWN all done in brilliant
colors. with our best wishes for happy
Christmas and bright new year. C. M.
Harvey, secretary
Accompanying Secretary Harveys card is
a photograph signed Recruit George
Glasson Royal Artillery Medical Corps
Much was related about this briught youth
in the last Thanksgiving number of The
Age-Herald. He was my page for several
years; but his youth prevented me from
procuring him an appointment in the Brit
sh army.
Other greetings. came, but l shall not
print them now.