The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-12-25

nose.
On the morning of the day before
Christmas, as the general manager OF
the Pocomoke & Westhaven railroad
was leaving his private office, his eye
was caught by a small package lying
unopened upon his desk.
NEARLY forgot that thing again"
he said. at came last night, and L
went home without it. Here, Phil
he called to his secretary, "open this |
package, and if it requires an an
swer fix up the polite thing"
When he returned some hours later
the package was still upon his desk,
apparently unopened.
81 thought l told you to open this
and see if it needed an answer!" he
said, sharply.
"I did open it, Mr.. Dorkins, but you
are the proper person to answer IT,
the stenographer replied, in curious
tone.
Mr.. Dorkins cut the string around
| the pasteboard box, tinge of lmpa-
thence in his manner. Lifting the I'D,
Homer's painstaking scrawl was ex-
posed to view He read it, frown
gathering on his brow. Over at his
desk by the window the stenographer
rustled his papers noisily, not daring
to steal look at his employer.
The general manager tossed the note
aside with muttered imprecation and
| ~, h. Lot
than covered the palm of his hand,
and there was borne to his nostrils
spicy smell that brought with it mem
cries of his youth. Little things he
had not thought of in years suddenly
crowded upon him. His life had been
such a busy one, such a shoulder-to-
shoulder. neck-and-neck race for place
and mower. he had had no time for any
thing else.
He sat very still, holding the big cake
, on his outstretched palm. and all the
struggle and care and turmoil, all the
Measure of success and knowledge
> of power fell away from him. Again
> he heard the hickory logs cracking
E on the hearth, the brass andirons
cleaning like gold in the freight. 1t
f was Christmas eve, and his stocking
hung on a nail by the high, black man
| tel. He was a great boy of ten, large
| and strong for his age. Mothers man,
che called him. She-his mother-sat
: in the circle of light from the cheer
$ full fire, stringing raisins and popcorn
" on long threads to trim his baby Sis
S He knew what he would find in thai
/ stocking in the morning. a red
j. checked apple in the toe, and paper
e of fat walnut-meats and one of pop
corn made into taffy by some process
h known only to his mother. Their
is would be half dozen sticks of pink
re and-white striped mint-candy, bal
Of warn covered with good stout sheep
m skin by his mothers own hands, AM
o. at the top of all such brown, spicy
l. smelling. queer-looking horse ginger
as cake as he gazed down on now.
The noises from the street, the rat
,o lie and roar of traffic below them
&c were the only sounds heard in tn
Is general managers private office. Th
- stenogra pher had ceased to rustic hi
papers; instead, he almost held hi
breath for fear of disturbing the ma
:. sitting there so quietly.
~ Presently Tom Dorkins stirre'
~ "Phil." he said, in such gentle voic
- that the young man started. 1t was
different from the curt, brisk tone
!. IN which he was accustomed. rs yot
IN mother living?"
eyes. Mr.. Dorkins."
ox "Are you going to spend Christm;
oh with her?''
1e "Yes, sir" he answered, slowly.
10 did not quite understand the drift
I'm his chiefs questioning.
Ter THAT'S right" said Mr.. Dorkir
heartily. 'And I'm going to spel
ma Christmas with mine, too; thing
haven't done for nine years, boy. u
M III make it up to her tomorrow. Nj
years to make up! Do you think
r. can do it?" He glanced hurrledly
ar his watch 81 can barely make &C
me INJECTIONS if I'm to get there to-nlgi
use won't have time to 60 home, IN