The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1899-12-23
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3 Old Gorden's Stocking ): ):
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! meas, and 1t was more than do,ht,,,,
Y he would accept; 60 Tim awaited vi.
answer In nervous excitement.
said the old a rather
seornfuity, that's a thing I don't eve
o. take. wouldn't go to dinner Win
the PRINCE of Walcs-nst il he begged
me. Tell your ma to count me out"
Tins smile vanished.
OH Mr. Gordon. do come. he urged
are going to have such good things.
! want you. Ma and 1 have talked
it All for some weeks, and she wa,
AFRAID you would not come, but I said
You would"
Then for once you were mistaken"
continued the old man; 'In eat my VIC
. .ials az nome I'm too poor to have a
least. Bread and salt FISH are good
! enough for me. I don't eat in Other
folks houses, or ask folks to eat IN
mine.n
Tins face showed his disappointment.
U he thought 1t well not to press the
subject.
You will hang up your stocking.
though" he persisted. "Eyerybody
49, SllAidS. 49, e5n.hste
Got no more stockings than 1 need
: wear" Mr.. Gordon answered. de-
cislvely. "and. If I had, i wouldn't do
saeh a fool Of a thing. Who would put
anything in TIT"
= would" eaid the boy; do hang it
up!n
g long with you" replied the old
man. curly; there's no use talking.
III do no such caper. Stockings were
made to wear. and I'll wear 'em like a
white man.
Tim made no answer. and the old man
went on with his shovellng. The boy
was disappointed, but he thought 1t
@isest to say nc more. and, after a few
more words, he picked up his crutch and
made his way along the path home.
That afternoon about 4 O'Clock an unu-
suai thing happened; Mr.. Gordon and
the dog went out together, and-started
OF In the direction of the village. New
er had such a thing happened before.
Tor either the dog or his master was al
ways on guard. Tin saw them pass,
n an idea struck him. Why not sur
prise Mr.. Gordon? He could easily gain
access to his neighbours cottage through
the parlor window, find a stocking, and
I'LL 1t with candies and q tumbler Of
jelly, which his mother would willingly
! give him. Bright idea! Mr.. Gordon
should have a Christmas stocking. in
spite Of himself! The boy was more
pleased with his scheme. and with all
haste he made over to the cottage and
gained IN entrance. That was easy bu.
where was the stocking? Now that lie
was inside the house, he rather hesl-
tated to Investigate. His old friend
U be very angry. Should. he pro.
coed with his surprise or not?
For a while he was undecided. Then
the desire to give the old man at least
taste OF Christmas prevailed, and,
going over to the orner he lifted the
lid Of a great chest, and began hunting.
If he had n stockings. they must be
here, since 1t was the only apology for
a wardrobe or bureau in the house. Two
pairs Of old trousers, some under fan
nels, a rubber coat, two pairs Of boots.
and sundry books and papers were piled
upon each other. Tim lifted the things
carefully from the chest. and put them
in a heap on the floor. No stockings
were to be seen. Perhaps he could
manage to get a pair Of his own, and
hang them up for Mr.. Gordon. just then
he came to something heavy. bound In
wool. Surely it could not be? Yes, it
was. after all, a stocking-a heavy
wooden stocking. He had found one at
last!
Tim put the other articles back in the
chest, shut the lid, and got up from his
knees. He would empty the stocking OF
Its heavy contents, and then proceed
j to fill 1t himself. Accordingly he turn
ed it upside down over thextab;e. and
the result made him start and rub his