The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1901-12-25

| five dollars a lady sent Us 10 give
| poor old chap up on Tenth street. You
see. she wants to know it reached him
| and doesn't want to register 4 letter.
for he must not know who sends it.
So run up with it and get receipt for
it that we may send her."
was soon on Tenth street. The
number sought was tumble down old
rookcry. and the children snowballils
each other in the street stopped long
enough to tell me that old Mr.. Jones
lived OH tie top floor.
'Come ir-' piped checry. shrill
! voice as knocked Oh his door. | did.
Seated by the window. nigh:cap on
head and spectacles on nose. sat
bright eyed. gray haired. much wrin-
kled old fellow. clean shaven and very
tall and stopped. Merry Christmas"
he piped as soon as he saw me and
grinned affably. displayin" = few large
teeth that were still white.
| stammered forth the conventional
answer. could do no more than
stammcr 1t. for such Salutation in
such place quite staggered me. The
| rickety bed. the unlighted stove. the
broken loaf of bread on the bare little
table. the absence OF carpet. the two
chairs. told the story Of deepest pow
erty at glance. l hastily gave him
the money and took his receipt.
| "Sit down on that other chair and
gladden. my Christmas" said he. This
| gift CT money is nothing TO your COM
pany.- / deserve It," he added little
| pettishly Il have gladCcned others
Christmas today"
| You have:" | was impolite enough
to say in my bewilderment.
"The birds" said he. pointing out
| the window TO where a few sparrowS
on the fire escape were pecking at
piece of his loaf.
1T is this that has made you happy
today in spite Of
1T is one Of the things. That was
my Christmas giving. 1t was Ill !
could give nntil you came. but now
am under the necessity Of seeking
human objects for my bounty. The
| aims share Of this is too big for the
BIRDS
"Can you find any poorer than your-
self:' I Inquired.
Yes. even in the palaces he said
solemnly. Rising and leaning on the
| long stick which he had kept beside
him. he thus went on:
Il began my celebration OF Christ
mas yesterday afternoon by going to
the free library and reading Dickens
Christmas Carol For years have
read it on Christmas eve-tlat is. to
| III myself with the true Christmas
| spirit Of charity. love. peace and good
will. 1t always succeeds. Has any
millionaire in this great city begun
more wisely:
Having finished my reading. | walk
ed through the crisp. frosty air TO the
| boulevard TO enjoy the, sleighinG. 1t
was very fine. Time was when used
to sit in one Of those vehicles and 20
skinlm:ng over the snow. lost half
the sport. could not see the cutters
skim by. the rosy checks OF the riders.
and ran risk of a spill. | could hear
! no bells hut those on my own team.
but. al. standing on the roadsde-how
| different.
"The skating on the lake next inter
estcd ne and enjoyed it greatly.
Home to tea next. with Il keen appe-
| tjtc. Had 1 full lardrr and that appr-
tite would eat enough to he sluggish.
| and then, | should not 20 OUT again.
But slice O. bread. IN onion and
cup OF black tea--no sluttony in that.
yet enough.
~ went out to DO my Christmas
shopping. On. saw everything
the riches OF the earth displayed IN
windows. Remember that the great
| delight in most Of them is in looking
| at them. and that il they are personal
| ornaments you cannot very well see
them after you put them on. fraSfed
my eyes fully from the outside OF the
windows. 1t was the best Christmas
shopping ! ever did. and have done
MUCH shopping in my time. can tell
you.
"Midnight mass - grand. celestial.
| No. sir: not Catholic. but / do not Jet
that fact stand between me md cpl
curean enjoyment.
Il slept the sleep OF the contented
man. sir. dreaming Of the hrautlful.
! bright skies and green fields and pleas
| ait waters OF summer that are All
mine sir. as much as y kings.
See my Iulc log" He pointed to
| piece of camel coal beside the stove.
Il will light that by and hy. VIII
roast 4 little joint Of meat over it ana
make me II littlc waSSa!l-h"Wl "t
| cider with roast apple in ii and
| when my pipe is lit and the street
! lamp shines on the ceiling | VIII rrcllr
! for myself some OF the old miracle
ulay< CT christmas or sing "n "!dcn
caroi-
..Iarf]or mo" said !. starting mp.
! I must 20 You tempt ne TO share
| vour feast and lose my position. !
l,,, l.n