Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-12-17
TIE PULLMAN STOCKING.

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THE PULLMAN STOCKING.
Thtre came into the Pullman sleeper,
just az Ohristmas Eve was closing 10,
woman and one small boy. The wo-
mao was dressed in WIDOWS clothes,
freshly made, but OF rather rough ana
erlai, SUCH as--the lady III the oppo-
slte section decided, after one glance Of
der prac ised eye would very scoo
raUg imG, turu brown, and look, d
''sieasy.n rne boy's suit was tritle out
grown, and moi IN the latest style.
But 10 luck in the matter OF clothes
could extinguish the beam IN the bright
eyes winch gazed about in childish de-
hight on the fUeness OF the surrounG-
!ngs, and whlcG met with ank friend
Huess ne g0ze 2f his iellowtravellers
as ne stood up 10 pass Ms hand over
Jansl aGcve bis mead.
= man Ia the seat close Behind lean
ID over and spoke 10 him. II took nut
lew words, joined with . lanes at
he irieudiy Ice, 10 loosen tno Hood
.4tes of childish TAX.
Yes, we've come, oh. eVer m ever
% lar. We Was ou a Train thst some
ming happened 10 it, on another road,
I'd SO We oiGn't gat mere 10 gel on this
to.d this murnin' aa We ihOuGht We
souiG. ;, NO have 10 keep on tc-aigRt.
ind lna1s how us sc me ieto this
aice car. We vas just il = AT all last
aight, but mamma said Te'd have TO
laye place TO sleep tonight Hard
some mere, sin'ti'?' patsllg the velvet
cushion. "And they make up cunning
hctIo beds, just like you has at home,
mamma says; only it costs lot."
Che clear treble rang out Tor the full
leneft OF the half GoZsn nearest neigh
oors, and just here mamma whispered
few words which checked the How OF
information. The round face grew sober
with grave speculation, and presently
band touched The shoulder OF the man
ln the sea5 behind.
"Ssy. mister, Santa Claus doesn't
travel on this train?"
''Oh, really cont know" was the
reply. "Wel, suppose not"
that's what mamml said she
.'posed." with a little sigh. But
course he couldn't with half laugh.
''Sauta Claus has TOO much to DO
Christmas Eve to be takin' trips"
"Aud be doesn't travel by rail, " some
Course he Doesn't" with eDthusi
asm. "Be goes kitin' along with his
reindeer, scootin' over the roofs and
down tine chimleys-mv But" with
another sigh, II don't know how he'll
ind mel
"Where did you expect him ?"
"Oh, to erandpa's; we're goin, there:
And l 'spected to hang up my stockin'
there. And l wonder what Santa'ii
think wren he goes down the chinley
aud doe:n't fad my stockin;? Do you
s'pose," with little anxiety, "he'd go
back 10 our old house wnere we lived
fore papl died, 'spectin' to fnd US
"No. l think not. Santa Claus kc ps
track 0, MS children, you know"
II guess So" brightenicg up; "and
ne knows. me. He's brought me things,
oh, dozen of Christmases.
"Tnen I guess he'll be likely to tiac
YOU some~h here"
A delighted expression grew on the
small face as q keen Investigation OF the
face of the person Offering such COM
forting opinions seemed 10 reach results
satisfactorily.
III you are sure he would't forget,
though he's got such millions and mit-
lions of places to go to. He'll think IL
strange ain there at grandpa's with
NV stockin'. Well" with another Sigh,
II hope bell get to understand some
wsv: and hope he'll know | was good
ana didn't bother mamma when she
said we couldu't get there, for all l
wanted to awful bad" There was
| choke IN the high pitched voice.
TIE porter now came to make up
the berths. and mamma led the boy to
smother seat. For awhile the clear
eyes watched with pleased admira-
tion all the arrangement OF the " cum
ni,,o little beds" Then mamma drew
him INFO her arms, and, as the quiet OF
snnroaching sleep fell on him, talk
a6 softly of the Christmas Eve
eiphteen hundred years ago, when
quiet shepherds watched their nocSs, rs
With the clear heavens above and the
star leading to the cradle of the Child
for whose sake we love to make Christ
mas a time of rejoicing for children. In
Ida the curtains of the berth the phi
lows for mother and child were laid at
nnnosite ends, in order to give more
room. so that the expression OF pleas
nrs ri in the '.prstty curtains, " nice lit
tie tie niIlows." /" warm blankets" with {,
mjSJure of delighted giggies, was stiii
't c!'he next man behind, coming to Dis
bartb q snort time later, stopped wlth a
store Of surprise. and then met WIN a d q
Smile Smile the smile OF the lady across tns a;
s;uia aiaiso os she nodded toward the curtains
,,,I wbicb closed outside the boy wh9 7a.l nau
n;sssd masSu = visit from Santa Claus. Upon
tbe hinton of the drapery hung s"ai'
stocking. -;.o and others
csme on bearing Of it, so that ee,oIe oaae
long every one ia that sleeper nsr u she the
the the liItla Christmas stocking. IL ID hsee see
snSdued light there may nave :, Ug9b U,;,b
1ears mingled with the smiies WI w,,D
,SSic pSich il was regarded by those VINO, no
hv force of circumstances Wese eol, S ID
ns,har;ne ~ agsTH by some stocking deckeo