Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1901-12-20


reached the small block of gayly-light-
ed shops. But he had not expected TO
find so great a crowd of shoppers and
for a moment he was inclined to turn
about and go back empty-handed-as
he had come. Then he thought of the
child's delight when he--Joel Gennis-
ter-had been so absurdly mistaken
for Santa Claus, and he went in.
Mr.. Gennister submitted 10 the push
ing and hustling of the holiday-hu-
mored crowd until he had succeeded in
buying Noah's ark, box of ten-pins
and flag. Then to add to his discom
fort the sudden thought came to him
suppose the child had awakened and
was screaming himself into fits? or
suppose a spark from the b.azing logs
should set fire to the house? There
upon he made his way out and hurried
home, feeling much relieved when he
had let himself in and found all as
quiet and as safe as when he had gone
out, an hour before.
And now he rea..y had to do the
work of Santa Claus. Again he visit
ed James room, and having possessed
himself of the little limp stocking, he
returned to the fireside to fill it, when
he discovered that even now he had
nothing suitable to put in! 1t was alb
surd! What sort of things did they
put into stockings, anyway!
So he thrust in the flag, with its
stick extending far up in the air, and
he poked Noah and some other of the
ark's Inhabitants into that seemingly
bottomless abyss, and then he took
back the still limp stocking to its hang
ing place, put the ark and box of ten
pins near it on the foot of the big bed,
after which Mr.. Gennister himself re-
tired.
When he awakened next morning
Mr.. Gennister heard vague sounds OF
unmstakable delight, and presently
when he went over and looked in at
the door of James room he saw COM
lea! sight.
a very small boy in a flannel night
"Johnnies," surrounded by Noah, his
family and all his animals, was vain
| ly trying to stand on his head-pre-
sumably for joy! But when he saw
Mr.. Gennister he regained an upright
position.
"Gamma?" he said, inquiringly.
"Your grandma's gone away, but it's
all right. I'll look out for you till El-
ZEN comes. You know E.len?'
The boy stared hard. "Who is oo?"
he said at last.
'I'm Mr.. Gennister-this is my house
Say, can you dress yourself? Well
then, get dressed and I'll give you
some breakfast"
The boy jumped up and down. Nit
ter Dennitter, Mitter Dennitter, Santa
Claus bringed Willie all diesel"
"Yes, l see. Hurry, now; get your
clothes on and come downstairs"
But the child was too wildly excited
to be able to dress himself that day
and Mr.. Gennister actually had 10 pay
the nurse!
Afterward Mr.. Gennister played cool
and made the coffee. Then the two
breakfasted together with Noah anC
his wife, for guests, standing between
them on the table.
But it was after breakfast that tn,
fun really began. Evidently Willie
had never seen tenpins before, so AIr
Gennister set them up and showed
him how TO play with them. And vii
lie enjoyed the companionship Sc
much that after that he would no
play a.one with anything!
AS long as Mr.. Gennister sat on III,
floor and rolled the ba.ls, Willie woult
fetch and carry and set up the pin
and chatter in perfect delight. Blu
when Mr.. Gennister drew his chair VI
by the fire and tried TO read, Willie in
sisted upon climbing on his knee ant
putting his chubby face between tn,
readers eyes and the printed page
Commands and persuasions were of M
avail, and al last Mr.. Iennister gave il
and went back to his place upon III
floor, and so il was that Ellen foun
J them.