The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-20
One Christmas Eve in q
Country Print Shop

verseness of things, there seemed a
to delay the paper. The
lean columns, free from the rush
Of Christmas advertising, had required an
unusual amount of type. and even at the
late minute cuts for filters had to be dug
out of the "hell-box" And even now. the
machinery joined in causing trouble and
vexation. 1t was impossible to keep up
steam. and the engineer-p rinter-fireman
condemned the northeast wind to warmer
section than its origin as he lied down the
safety valve and remarked that fur
mace would draw with such beastly wind
from such beastly quarter. The rollers
on the press would not take ink, and the
pressman swore at the same moist wind.
THE paper will look like tar bucket had
hit it" he observed. "but Christmas comes
but once a year. and the grind OF the
press continued.
The carrier boy came in from his rounds
and pulled on cigarette while he COM
mented on the fact that the "Widder'
Hethrington had asked him for the sixth
time when the serial story would be con-
cluded. "She says the hero puts her in mind
OF her man, dead these many years" and
the carrier laughed in fiendsh glee. ''Say,
what made the boss kill that scandal? Man
stopped me on the street and asked me If
there was anything about it in the paper,
and / told him there was and he bought
a paper, and blowed I'm the gross receipts
for cigarettes. See? Say, / wonder If the
old man will plank down this eve or wait
for Saturday" concluded the boy. Don't
know" said a compositor. HE ought to
remember this is Christmas eve and shine
up with the glittering. If he does, I'll buy
my girl a present, and go see her to-mor-
row. Say, cubby. how is the boss fixed for
railroad passes" And the compositor light
ed a pipe that had done service in the Of
flee for a generation. The tramp compost
tor as he slid off his stool remarked that
it was tough evening, and he wondered
where he would pull for tomorrow.
Christmas eve, no home, no bed, just
tramp he said bitterly. The gloom and de-
preston in the Office deeDened as the pat
ter of rain was heard and the fireman re-
doubled his energies against the northeast
wind that occasionally blew a puff of
smoke into the room.
In the front Office the boss was busy
closing his books for the day. Above the
noise of machinery the sound of the Christ
mas rush from the street could be heard
There is a peculiarly penetrating quality
in the subdued noise from a moving crowd
The merry shouts of children were heard
mingled with the rumble of buggies and
wagons loaded down with presents start
ing to country homes.
The rain fell heavier and mist rose from
the half-frozen ground. Christmas eve''
said the boss, as he shuddered. 'I'll keep
that tramp over Sunday any how. It's too
bad to turn a man adrift" Then his ear
caught the sound of a faltering step COM
ing up the stairway In the dark hall
the step paused as If hesitating to advance,
and then it came slowly, almost painfully
forward and the door of the office opened
and a worn, bent man stood there as with
a tremulous voice he asked: as this the
Banner officer
Eyes, sir. Come in"
do you print bills for sales?"
Eyes, sir. Have this chair
'Well, I want some bills printed for sale.
Can you print them Tomorrow"
Not tomorrow, for tomorrow is Christ
mas and the office will be closed
Tomorrow. Christmas?" said the old
man slowly, $50 it is, T forgot. Christmas
is different when one is old and alone"
1--WE can print them Saturday and mail
mo. I'll come after them. don't like to
stay at home since my wife-mother, we all
called her-died. 1t was in the paper about
her, wasn't it? Somebody said it was in last
spare? / thank you for what you said about
her, for she was good woman. You see the
children are all gone or married and
mothers gone too, and I'm goin' to sell out
and go TO likes. He's in California, you
know. Ike was allus my best boy 'cept
Jim, and Jim went long afore mother. I'll
Af@A ~
reason to leave the house"
The heading had already been written
Public Vendue.'
What day will you have your sale?"
We'll, reckoned about two weeks from
to-day. That's the, fourteenth, amt it,?
Now what will you SELF"
calves, sir. Splendid COWS. Ought to sell
well, but cows are cheap and ticket to
California costs so much"
Five head of fat cattle Not many, but
good many for me. Sold all my hogs
Needed money when mother was sick. you
know"
81 have that. What else. please?'
Wagon and harness. buggy and harness
Mother and / won't need 'em any more to
go to church. She allus was proud of that
lot when Susie's children 'ud come out to sec
us in the summer. You knowed Susie.
didn't you?"
Three horses er two horses and a yearlin
'ud be better. One horse is over twenty
years old. Won't bring much. Raised him
from colt and his nanny, too. Jim rode
the nanny to town when he listed fore
he was killed at Gettysburg. Last time
Jim was on horse was when he rode home
after he listed. You knowed Jim. didn't
you? That old horse is plug. Tother not
much better, only younger. That yearlin'
ought to be a nice horse. Got the blood,
and you ought to see him in the pas
ture. Reckon you didn't know Jim, either
You young fellers grow up so quick. It's
a long time since the war, too"
Anything else. please?"
"Farmin' implements and so forth. Flowed
my last furrow and IL makes a Teller feel
bad Got no ambition since mother died
/ amt so old that l ought to quit work
only seventy-siX, but there's nobody to
work fur. Got good harrows, hay rakes,
binder, mower. but folks can see 'efn the
day of the sale. So jist say farmin' imple-
ments and so forth.
Now. anything more?'
Household goods. lots of 'em. A Teller
gets lots o. stuff in Twin as long as me
and mother. She was allus careful and
never wasted and something's may be old
fashioned, but they're good Folks made
things stronger in them days. Some o.
my things are better'n new things bought
now
DO you want to name anything?"
There's one of them tall clocks. Neigh
bors call Ii grandfather's clock but il be-
tn mr. It'll