The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1902-01-18


reached the small block of gayly-light-
ed shops. But he had not expected to
find so great 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
chisd's delight when he-Joel Gennis-
ter-had been so absurdly mistaken
for Santa Claus, and he went in.
Mr.. Gennister submitted to the push
ing and hustling of the holiday-hu-
mored crowd until he had succeeded in
buying Noah's ark, a box of ten-pins
and a flag. Then to add to his discon-
fort the sudden thought came to him
suppose the child had awakened and
was screaming himself into fits? or
suppose spark from the blazing 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 really 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 toits 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
unmistakable delight, and presently
when he went over and looked in al
the door of James room he saw com
ical sight.
A very small boy in a flannel night
"Johnnies." surrounded by Noah, hi.
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 uprigh
, position.
"Gamma?" he said. inquiringly.
"Your grandma's gone away, but it
all right. I'll look out for you till FL
. len comes. You know Elen?'
: The boy stared hard. "Who is 90?
he said at last.
"Im Mr.. Gennister-this iswy house
Say. can you dress yourself? Wei
then. get dressed and I'll give yo
: some breakfast
> The boy jumped up and down. Mi
: ter Dennitter, Mitter Dennitter, SAINT
: Claus bringed Willie all DIESEL"
/. "Yes, see. Hurry, now; get you
clothes on and come downstairs.
=, But the child was too wildly excite
= TO be able to dress himself that day
e and Mr.. Gennister actually had to PA
o the nurse!
= Afterward Mr.. Gennister played coo
= and made the coffee. Then the tv
breakfasted together with Noah al
!. his wife, for guests, standing betwet
. them on the table.
But it was after breakfast that Il
fun really began. Evidently Will
!. had never seen tenpins before, so N
Gennister set them up and show
!. him how to play with them. And w
~ lie enjoyed the companionship
n much that after that he would n
!. play alone with anything!
d. As long as Mr.. Gennister sat on L
90 floor and rolled the balls, Willie Won
fetch and carry and set up the pi
o. and chatter in perfect delight. b
: when M. Gennister drew his chair
is by the fire and tried to-read, Willie
ed sisted upon climbing on his knee a
e! putting his chubby face between t
We readers eyes and the printed pai
yn Commands and persuasions were of
ID avail, and at last .sl. Gennister gave
,w and went back to his place upon
ed floor, and SO it was that Ellen fou
YES them.