Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1901-12-19

p re- LA y
Jenkins. said the city editor. '.nere's
five dollars a lady sent MS to give a
poar did chap up ON Tenth street. Yau
see. she wants to know IL reached linn
anu doesn't want to register a letter.
for he must not know who sends il.
So run up with ii and get a receipt for
IL that we may send her.
It was soon OH Tenth street. The
rlInhe sought was a tumble down old
rOOkgry anu the children sunwballIng
each Utlle.. in the street stopped long
enough to tell me that old Mr.. Jones'
lived ON tile top tI0or.
come int" piped a CHEEKY, sglrill
voice as I knocked on his door. / d.d.
Seated Ey the window. uigifcap On
head ami saectacies ON nose. sat a
bright eyed. gray haired. much wrin-
kIed old fellow, clean shaven ami very
tail n stopped. Merry Clristmas!'
he piped az s0on as he saw me ami
grinned affabiy, displaying n few large
teeth hat were still white.
4 stamnered forth tlle conventional
answer. L cduiuf do no more than
stammer II. for such q salutari0n In
such a piace quite staggered me. THE
rickety bed the u%niighted stove, the
broken loaf of bread on the bare little
table. the absence of carpet. fire two
chairs. told the story of deepest pave
erty at "A glance. 4 hastily gave him
the money and took Ills receipt.
"Slt down on that other cnair aud
gladden. my Christmas said he. This
gift OF money is nothing to yorr com.
pany. I deserve It." he added a little
petrishiv II have giaddened others
Christmas to-day
You haveT' Z WIS lmpoiIte enough
to say In my hewiiderment.
1.-THE birds" said he. pointing ont
the window to- where q few sparTrows
ON the fire escape were peeking az a
piece of his loaf.
1T liz this that has made you happy
to-day In spite of
lit Is one of the things. That was
my Christmas giving. &c was all
could give until you came. bur nav [
am under the necessity of seeking
human objects for my bounty. The
aims share OF this is TOO big for the
Birds
"Can you ind any poorer than your
seifY' 1 inquired.
Yes. even in the paiacps.' he said
soiemniy. Rising and leaning ON the
long stick witch he had kept beside
aim. he thus went on.
II began ~ celebration of. Christ.
mas yesterday AFTERNOON by goitlg TO
the free library and reading Diciipnss
christmas C.trnl' For years I have
read IL on Christmas eve--tilat is. TO
I'LL mysaif with the true Christmas
spirit II charity love. peace and good
will. II always succeeds. Has any
millionaire in this great city begnn
moro wisely?
Having finished my reading. I walk
ed through the crisp. frosty air "a tlle
boulevard to enjoy tie s~iaiglAL. 1T
was very fine. Time WIS when / used
TO sit in one OF those vehicles and 70
siimm.ng over the snow. I lost llalf
the sport. I could not see the cutters
skim by, the rosy cheeks af the riders.
and I ram ris4; Of a spill I could lear
10 bells but those on my own team.
but. all. standing on the roadside-liow
different.
The skating ON the lake next inter-
ested me, and 1 enjoyed IL greatly.
Home tn tea next. with a keen appe-
tite Had L a full Iarder and ttla appa-
tite { would eat euongh 10 be sluggish.
and then { sllonld not 20 ont again.
Bur a slice of bread. an onion and a
cup Of black tea.-no giuftnny in tliat.
yet enough.
II went ont TO do my Christmas
shopping. Oh. I saw evpfything-ail
the riches Of the earth displayed in
windows. Remember that the grent
delight in most Of them is In looking
Ut them. and that III they are personal
ornaments you cannot very well see
theinsafter you put them ON. 4 Toasted
my eyes fully from the outside of the
windows. In was tlie best Cflristmas
shopping 4 ever did. and I have done
mucii shopping in my time. I can tell
yun.
'Mianight mass grand. celestial!
that fact stanti between me anu cpl.
cuzean enjoyment.
IL slept the sleep OF the c0nrenred
man. sir. dreainIng or the DeaufifuLs
bright skies and green fields and pleas
anr waters OF summer tlat are all
mine. sir. as much as a kings.
See my Yuie logI' He pointed to o
piece OF camel coal beside the stove..
II will light that by ami by. 1 will
roast a little ioinr of mean over ii and
make me a Little wassaii-bowi OF
cider with a roast apple I'm it-Gnd
when my pipe ~ 1T and the street
lamp shines ON the ceiling ( will recire
for myself some OF the old miracle
plays OF Christmas or sing an oIden
carroll
Pardon me" said 4. starting up.
i must "a. You tempt me 10 SNARE
your FEAST a lose mr. position Z
mns4 co. r With / knew how 10 be-
- R..~.mx. .. ~.m..n ~ N