West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1899-12-28
TinsIey's Christmas Eve.
ritten speeIally for rnr Aner..
ny BRooMsEpGE

ureiy across the room, whiStling a few
words in so low a tone that he could
scarcely have been heard even in the
| hall.
1t was not MIR. Tinsley's home. He
was hundreds of miles from where he
lived, and was stopping at the best
hotel in a large village His train had
missed very important connection,
and quite To his disgust. he found him.
self compelled to lose day on his
business trip, and lie over at "A place
of which he know little and cared less.
"A holiday away from home was SO
much lost time TO Mr.. TinsleY. At
home he usually spent most of the day
in his Office, and left the outside world
to amuse itself as it pleased. To put
the matter i'm different light, hol-
iday was somewhat of IA bore TO him
For Mr.. Tinsley was IA single man.
| He had neither parents. brother nor
sister living. He had few intimate
friends, mingled very little i'm society.
and while he was we'll dressed and
prosperous, it was commonly said of
$500 N''"N ft W 80 ~ NldIDttl UP III llN
business as TO care for little else
1t was nov near sunset, ana the air
was clear, fright and cold. The
ground was covered with snow and i'm
the middle OF the street was "A well
beaten track. y heavy sled was crealS-
ing along, it's load, aside from the
driver, being large evergreen, the
| topmost branches of which were trail
| ing i'm the snow.
TO night" thought MIR. Tinslev,
that tree will be set up someS here.
lighted with wax candles trimmed
with pop corn and loaded with pres
| ents. Here comes n sleigh with a
whole family. They have come to
| spend Christmas with friends. or I'm
no guesser. And here's Il cutter A
Young fellow with his best girl. by the
looks of things And there's another
coming the other way. And still an
| other. And then see a woman and
two men taking home something from
the stores for Christmas Oh well.
that's all right. Let all who can en-
JOY themselves. 1t comes only once
year anyway"
The whistling of the man at the
window grew lower than ever lie
was soon SO busy with Lis thoughts
as 20 give no special attention TO those
passing on the street His mind went
back to the davs when The holiday
| season meant as much to him as to the
younger people of this strange village.
"And how is it now" he asked him
| self. II am alone in the world Have
no home like other peoples homes
| Here at the hotel where board how
much do they really care for ne out.
side Of my board bill? And il went
to live at some other town, what diff
| ference would il make TO anybody /?
| He's worth something, they'll say, and
is IA good citizen ard all that, bu; is
not so young as he was, and does not
| interest us specially Why, hang il,
! its been seven years sincs either gave
or received "a Christmas present Nav.
be that's not quite right, but there's
nothing in the holidays for me My
business is at a standstill then. and
feel more like getting out OF sight
Now everybody here has friends and
relatives lots OF them Christmas
means something to them il it doesu Z.
TO me. They spend it in the right
way. Well, / used TO be like one OF
them, but times change, and suppose
| may as we'll admit that ! feel the
change just little more as each year
| goes BY Most wish some old cronY Of
mine lived here, but I don't know a
soul in the place. ll'm. Believe I'll
take walk Perhaps Im little sour
and crusty."
The man put on his oyercoat, hat
and gloves, and went out on the street.
lie soon overlook u small boy and
still smaller girl. who both looked
around and spoke pleasantly Mr..
Iinsley smiled and answered in tho
same manner. His sourness had al
ready vanished
I'm going 90 haye new sled for
Christmas said the boy. Dora is 20.
ing TO have something too. but we
don't know what it is yet. My father
has lost good deal Of time this fan
/ $3.50 wv NftN v hAft lIhUN DitHtuNrf Dilb
we can enjoy Christmas all right. My
old sied's no good now The one I'm
TO have will hold Dora ana me both.
Oh my, but won't we have jolly time
| coastiug tomorrow p"
And the boys eyes sparkled.
"A pleasant face. thought Mr.. Tin.
sley; and SO has the girl Ill venture
shed be full OF chatter il were al
her home. ~ eyre like lots OF other
children. a stranger is no stranger to
them. like that. Older fellows like
me lose aWood deal Of their naturalness
as they brush through the world"
Then aloud he said
Il imagine you would sooner coast
than cat DO The stores have lots Of
holiday goods 2?
Yes, lots" said the boy We're
going right by the biggest store. It's
on our way hOme."