Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1903-12-12
The Night Before Christmas.

Bobby was quite sure he heard voices;
he sat up in his little bed and stared
about the dim room with wide open
eyes, but everything was fast asleep ex-
cepting himself-the kitten on the rug,
the canary on his perch, even the fire
IN the CRATE seemed to have only one
bright, red eye open waiting for Christ
mas morning So Bobby lay down
again and tried to keep his eyes shut
tight fer fear old Santa Claus. when he
came down the chimney, would be
frightened away by wideawake hoy.
No. some one said: Il don't think
he ought to have us at ALI"
Bebby sat upright and his eyes grew
as big as saucers, for there en- the rug
near the sleeping kitten stood a Tin
Soldier talking to a Japanese Doll.
'Gcodness gracious me. l wouldn't
belong to such bad boy for the world. :"
plped a big Horn that lay nnprudently
on the edge of the mantelpiecc. IF you
fellows with legs will help me down
there II talk to YOU about it.
:, All right, snapped Jack-in-the-
Box; but as he was glued to his ease.
OF course, he didn't stir. so the Tin
Soldier performed the act of charity.
Now, said he. lets get to business
you?"
What cause?" snapped the Jack-in-
the Box; but nobody paid ans attention
to him, 50, murmuring. "Cause-becanse
"a crow caws, he shut the lid of his
mousse with bang and subsidized into
silence.
II don't know" said the Tin Soldier.
!, m used 10 obeying orders, and old
santa told me To stay here and he han-
py;. but for once I'm tempted to rebel.
II l thought | could look forward to II
peaceful existence and gentle treatment
Ia stay. But. goodness. suppose
Easter.
II haven't arms" corrected the Horn.
"1on cNa't include me.
on We tongue. though. snapped tlo
JacS-in-the- Box, popping suddenly un
again. as il he couldn't keep still for
more tLan minute ut a time
The Horn preserved Il dignifed silence.
OF course, went on the Tin Soldier.
Bobby isn't really such a bad boy. hi,
he's careless Why. before We left Toy
land went up to the Dolls hospital to
see pror little friend of mine With Il
broken head, she couldn't talk much for
fear OF the eNert;on, but she managed to
let me know that she had belonged 10
this very same Bobby year ago, and
that he deliberately threw her downstairs
one day because she wouldn't ride his OLD.
broken Hobby Horse. Poor thing, She
feared an accident; the animal might
nave collapsed or something of the SORT,
The lin Soldier sighed painfully and put
his hand on his sword as il he would
have liked to cut off Bobby's head.
The Horn wiped away a tear. What
became OF her after thatY'' he asked
oh. they brought her 10 Toyland 10
be mended. but she'll always be an in
valid and have 70 wear a frilled cap to
hide the cracks
Pobby grew very sheepiSl. "Oh. please
don't be angry" he whispered bur mo-
body heard him.
At this point the Japanese Dell began
to cry.
oh. dear! My graciousl DON'T do
that! cried the Horn. in great agitation.
II never could stand cry babies.
Nor /, said the Tin Soldier. I'D
rather be in a pitched battle than see a
gir In tears
The Japanese Doll wiped her queer H..
tie eyes with the end of her sash. sits
only because I'm so homesiek,@ she
Sohhed. Il miss the shop so very. very
much. with dear old Santa and the other
dolls. and my friend. the Jumping Jack.
'We'rc al FOOLS" snapped the .Tack-in-
tho Box, popping up on the scene 'All
fools. | say. Let's get hack into the
stocking and fall into the FIRE, the whole
bunch of uSr'
Well" sighed the Horn. SITS either
death 10y FIRE or death by torture at Bob
hy's hands sooner or later: for my part.
la lust rs sCon be- melted into butter
a. he thumped ana banged and twisted
nh out nf shape"
At this moment violent wriggiing