Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1904-03-09

NHAFp Eve, and they
wanted something extra for theiI
dinner on the morrOw-iust t.
keep them in mind Of the day,
they said. But there was little
novelty 10 the fOrlorn remnant o.
cans upon the shelves, OF in the
half-empty barrels and boxes
under the counter and msssed ia
the corners Of the room. On
man found a stray box OF sardines,
and took possession Of it with the
remark that, while it was not
'HChristmas," he could have the
satisfaction Of knowing he was
eating the only sardines in camp;
another drew out a can Of "BOstOn
baked beans'' from behind a squa-
drOn of tomatoes; while a third, OF
q more investigating and determ
ined turn OF mind, hunted among
the boxes and barrels until he act
ually discovered a can Of Cape Cod
cranberries.
This brought the entire group Of
Christmas hunters into a compact,
envying circle; and while they
were snxiOusly debating the pro
and cOn-especially the proof a
division of the spoils, the door OPP
ened quietly, aud a stOOp-shoul-
deCed, watery-el ed man entered.
"Have you got any-tOysi" he
asked, hesitaliugly.
The stOrekerper stared; and IN
animOusly, as though by precOn-
Certed arrangement, the group
around the canned representatives
I nm Cape Cod turned and stared
a,SD.
ANY what" the storekeeper
asked, blankly.
"Toysi" the man repeated,
looking at the %encircling faces with
abashed embarassment-"things
to play with, l mean, like the
children have at Christmas. You
see," with a curiO0s mingling OF
apology and pride in his voice,
''my little ten year-Old boy came
In on the stage just nOw-cleau
from his grandma's, back in Mis-.
souri,. I've been sendin' for him
these two year, but couldn't seem
to get to it till / struck a vein last
month";" He lurched heavily
against the counter, and his watery
eyes began to fill, partly through
his condition and partly from some
long dormant tenderness which
was beginning to reawaken. "The
boys considerable childish" he
went on, %rOusing himself 8 little at
the consciousness of being listened
to by men who usually passed him
without recognition, tan sets
store on things to play with. So,
bein' it's Christmas, an he jest
comm why, 1 thought mebbe I'd
better hunt some toys"
"Of course" cried DobsOn, the
Sheriff, heartily; and "Of course, "
"Of course" came promptly from
the rest OF the group.
And then they looked about the
store inquirIngly, in search Of
something that would please a 10
year.Old boy who was childish.
Bot there was little they saw; only
huge miners boots, pyramids Of
and shOvels and blankets,
barrels Of -four and beans and
pork: and on the shelves tobacco
and canned goods and a small as
sortment OF earthen and tinware-
aud then, ct the far end of the.
store, a bar for the accommodation
Of those who we're thirsty.
There we're no dry and fancy
goods and notions upon the shelves
show eases upon the counter,
L dlsplay ia the one dingy win
dte Such things would begin to
maketbeir appearance only with
the coming OF the first woman, and
Il ~ not yet.
Rather = slim show for play
thugs, DOhsOD," said the owner
al tue eranherries, after a Ruthless
aith his eyes from one end
al rhe Store to the other. "Don't
a pack O'playin' cards
would d,f" as his gaze paused
b hopefully on an extensive assert
ment Of that popular article.
has pictures on EN-"
"WOuldn't dc at ALL" answered
DobsOn, decidedly. "They amt
moral, an the frst kid who pat
r0nizes as has got to be brought
up in q moral Way-say, yOu.n TO.
the Waterg-eyed man, who vas
edging toward the bar at the far
end Of the store, ''none o. that
"N0De O. Whati'' asked the
man, querulously. 81 amt
sfeppin' on your tOes.v
49,