The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1905-12-21

Tim Brown sat down on the
kitchen steps when he asked the ques-
ton, and looked Mr.. Gordon full in the
face. The old man on his shovel answer
ed the boy:
"~Stockingsi No.. Who ever heard of
such a thing? 1 have only two or three
in the world, and do you think / am
going to hang them up?"
But tomorrow will be Christmas
persisted the little boy. "Ma has been
making pies and jelly, and we are going
to kill a turkey"
very extravagant-very extrava-
gant.' murmured the old man. "It's a
sinful waste to eat so much in one day.
Why don't your folks save up and send
you TO New York to have your leg set
right?"
They are saving" said Tim, after a
pause; ma has been saving for two
years, but it would take a great deal of
money. / would have to 60 to the hos
pital and have doctors and what they
call an operation, and DR.. jenkins says
it would not cost less than one hun
dred dollars"
Guess you won't get there yet
awhile" replied the old man, gravely,
your ms has so many little ones to
feed and clothe that she can't save much,
l reckon"
Tim did not answer at once, but he
looked at his crutch lying beside him on
the steps and then at his twisted limb.
Would he ever be able to run and jump
and play? He alone, Of all the village
children, found a companion in old Mr..
Gordcn. whose cottage was next door TO
the Browns.
Mr.. Gordon did not like children, but
somehow he took a great fancy to the
little cripple. The child's confidence and
patient courage pleased him and his
boyish talk was the only link between
himself and the outer world. Tim read
him the daily papers, and told him all
the news about the great cities, and Mr..
Gordon would sit for hours, telling him
of his own early life on a whaling yes
sci, of H~erilous adventures and narrow
escapes. To the village people Mr.. Cor
den was a misery, crusty, disagreeable
old man, but to Tim he was a hero.
"Ma says / may invite you to Christ
mas dinner" said the boy rather tim
idly.
"Dinner.!" said the old man, scorn-
fully, that's a thing 1 don't give or
take. / wouldn't go to dinner with the
Prince of Wales-not if he begged me.
Tell your ma to count me out"
"Oh, Mr.. Gordon, do GOMEZ" Tim
urged. "We are going to have such good
things, and l want you. Ma and I have
talked it all over for weeks"
I'm too poor to have a feast. Bread
and salt fish are good enough for me.
/ don't eat in other folks houses, or ask
folks to eat in minei"
You will hang up your stocking,
though" persisted Tim. Everybody
does that at Christmas"
Got no more stockings than / need
to wear" Mr.. Gorden answered decis-
lively, and if 1 had 1 wouldn't do such
a fool Of a thing. Who would put any
thing in it,"
81 would" said the boy; "do hang it
upw
$50 long with you," replied the old
man CURLY; there's no use talking.
I'll do no such caper. Stockings were
made to wear, and I'll wear EN- like a
white man."
Tim made no answer, and the old
man went on with his shoveling. The
boy was disappointed, and after a few
more words, he picked up his crutch and
made his way along the path home.
That Afternoon about 4 o'clock an
unusual thing happened; Mr.. Gordon
and the dog went out together and start
ed off in the direction of the village.
Tim saw them pass, and an idea struck
him. Why not surprise Mr.. Gorden?
He could easily gain access to his neigh
boris cottage through the parlor window,
find a stocking, and fill it with candies
and a tur,bler of jelly, which his moth
er would be willing to give him. He
made over to the cottage and gained an
entrance. That was easy; but where
was the stocking? Tim lifted the lid of
a great chest, and began hunting. Two
pairs of old trousers, some under-1an-
nels, a rubber coat, two pairs of boots.
and sundry books and papers were piled
upon each other. Tim lifted the things
carefully from the chest, and put them
in a heap on the floor. Then he came
to something heavy, bound in wool.
Surely it could not be? Yes, it was.
after all, a stocking-a heavy wooden
stocking.
Tim put the other articles back in the
chest. He would empty the stocking
of its heavy contents, and then proceed
to fill it himself. Accordingly, he turned
it upside down over the table, and the
result made him start and rub his eyes.
A large pile of gold pieces lay before
him. Could it be possible that it was
real money? If so, it was Mr.. Gorden's.
What q surprise it would be 80 han!
Mr.. Gordon was always talking OF bis
poverty. How long could the money
have been there undiscovered? Mr.. Cor
den could buy turkeys now, and cakes
and pies! In his delight at his friends
good fortune he forgot his immediate
D Then he heard a step behind
him, and a hand grcsped his shoulder.
"What are you doing thereF" asked
a voice, and Tim recognized Mr.. Cor
den.
"Oh. see-see what I've found!' ex-
claimed the boy wildly; 81 was looking
for one of your stockings to hl for
Christmas, and, when | found one. u