The San Francisco call., 1908-12-19
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on the porch floor went the active little
figure, and the nimble fingers were soon
twisting the ends Of the pointless shoe
laces. The Transformation was speedily
effected, and as Harry took up the
tongue of the little wagon and started
down the street he called back: To-day
is the only day we can wear 'em-for
fun. Afterward I've got to save EN- to
wear deliverin' clothes in bad weather"
Left alone. Leonald picked up the
red topped boots and examined them
critically. He was more convinced
than ever that they had been worn
more than day: but that decision only
heightened the mystery. He wondered
at the little strips of copper across the
toes; he couldn't see that they added
much. TO the beauty of the boots. But
examining them more closely he dis
covered little dents in the metal. 1t
dawned upon him that they We're to
kick rocks and things with. OF came
the little patent colt shoes, and on went
the boots.
There were no rocks and things in
the small. clean yard, but out in the
street were cobblestones- Leonald
made little dents until that was no
longer a diversion; then he wondered
If water would go through the boots.
He waded into the gutter, slowly at
the water as he walked.
This was not enough. He gathered
loose rocks and blocks of wood and
dirt and made a dam, and when the
water was deep enough he waded in
almost TO the little red tops. He had
never had so grand a time in all of
his life. How fortunate 1T was for him
that nurse had been called away sud
denly this Christmas day. He waded
and splashed and splashed and waded
until through utter exhaustion he
ceased and went in and sat on Harry's
porch TO rest.
After ALL" he soliloquized Christ
mas presents are only fun for LITTLE
while" Then he remembered that Har-
ry had said that the boots were eX
pected to do service during future bad
weather, and the little red wagon was
to be put TO use, too. He thought over
his own vast number of presents and
marveled at Santa Claus not bringing
him anything he could work with. But
what was there he could do? His mann
ma didn't have clothes to deliver. He
thought deeply, but there didn't seem
to be anything about his home to do
but play: and ne felt decidedly hurt
that in bis petted. pampered little life
there was one pleasure denied him.
At length Leonald's rowing thoughts
were called to the present by the
strange Ictl OF lfit ltu AOPpSQ tOOAr.
There seemed to be a creepy, drawy
sensation to them. He felt of the
sleek, clammy things, and, with ner-
vous haste, began trying 10 take them
Oft He pulled and tugged, grew red
and frigilten ned--almost gave up, with
tears maafully held baek--tl1en, hap
PLY. dropped on TO the utility OF a
large crack in the edge Of the dilapi-
dated porch floor into which he placed
-. Ia nd
many twist;ngs and turnings, he final
" accomplished the feat.
After this unusually strenuous physi-
cal effort, LeonaId sat still little
while. breathing fast and cooling off;
then he thought of the little boots,
which had tumhled TO the ground as
they came of. What if he had ruined
them, He picked them up-no, they
were only wet. he would take them
stood them up against the bricks at
the side stirred the dying Goals and
piled on more wood.
After toasting his little toes. he drew
on his patent colt shoes. 1t took him
some time TO button them, being un-
accustomed to the task; besides hav-
ing to use his fingers instead of a
hook He was just forcing the last
button into place, when he became
vaguely conscious of something alive
and moving in the room besides him.
self. Glancing with quick alarm to-
ward the object, he sprang to his feet,
his eyes growing big and round and
filled with horror. The little red
topped boots were twisting and turn
ing and Hopping UP and down; the
copper tipped toes had turned up with
so decidedly an impertinent air that
Leonard Telt, with dire misgivings. that
1a s,,<7. 20
stoop TO so degraded an occupation as