Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1905-12-21

which was designated by Sissy as a
"eherwhacerk fer Tommy t snap tn
boys wild, but he said he feared he
had not a single one left in his pack,
we must not forget the baby" said
Mr. Hamilton,
Evidently the baby had not entered
largely into the Christmas hopes and
discussions, and Sissy grew thought
full but was equal TO the occasion.
"A buggy! O. busy, SOS me an
Tommy can weezle her" cried Sissy.
clasping her grimy little hands and
almost jumping up and down in her
delight.
Mr.. Hamilton thought of the wicker
cradle and added other items to the
last; then he smiled down into the
eager, upturned face and asked.
Now, is that all?"
Was II all 1t was as If fairy
godmother had appeared, waved her
magic wand, and poured out untold
wealth at her feet and then asked,
is that all?"
Now, remember, when the hands
of the clock point straight up" said
Mr.. Hamilton, STOPPING down and
taking one of Sissy's little, cold han Is
in his large warm one.
A half-hour later a sweet-faced
lady, with dark, smiling eyes very like
his own, admitted him to a home of
evident refinement and plenty, saying
as she closed the door:
I'VE had almost given you up, San.
What made you so late?"
THAT is a story I'll tell you when
I've emptied my pockets, replied Mr..
Hamilton, handing out packages and
STOPPING to kiss the proffered lips of
the children who were clamoring for
Uncle Sans attention.
The next morning Sanford Hamil-
ton and his sister went on shopping
tour, and few minutes before II
o'clock passers-by looked curiously at
a man with a long, white beard, in a
shaggy, fur-trimmed overcoat and
whose face was a beaming expression
of the peace on earth, good will to
men" echoing around the globe He
was trundling a baby carriage, in the
front of which was large basket con-
tanning a turkey and other requisites
of a Christmas dinner Piled around
the basket were bundles and parcels
of all shapes and sizes. He stopped at
corner and two children, little
girl and boy a trifle smaller, who
had been standing on The opposite side
of the street, ran quickly across the
street, the girl saying as she dragged
the boy by the hand II telled y'u,
Tommy, he would come! | telled y'u
he would comet"
Along this street, through an atmos-
phere thick with smoke. past illsmell-
ing Chinese restaurants, dark, dirty
secondhand clothing stores. where
filthy Jews besiege the passers-by,
cheap saloons with free hot soup signs
displayed, pawnshops, and all that is
patronized by the poor and unfortu-
nate, Mr. Hamilton followed the eX-
citel children.
Finally they turned and at the
saloon designated as "Dinnie's place"
by Sissy they turned into an alleyway
where the snow was like CONCEALED
ink AMI mixed with tin cans, beer bot
ties, cinders, and all manner of refuse
and rubbish Passing the home of
the Casey family which was a lilapi-
dated frame building with a red door
opening on the alley, stairway on the
/ outside leading to the second floor.
Here Mr. Hamilton left the baby car.
riage, saying as he piled packages in
to their arms:
There, now, my dears, think you
can manage"
"You an God never rergits children,
does yu?" said Sissy, looking with
shining eyes over her armful OF bun
dies.
AS he hastily retraced his steps
Sissy's shrill treble reached his ears,
saying: q telled y'u he would come,
Tommy! | telled y'u he would comet"