Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-13
Shorty's Christmas Party
Continued from page
Continued from page 4

hung with every kind of shiny things l could
find in town. and Pinckneys balanced on top
of stepladder riskin' his neck to tie on some
more, and Sadie's shoutin up directions; and
Gertie's tellin him to be careful not to tall on
any of the presents if he does fall; and the
twins is caperin' around as wild as PAIR OF
young antelopes; and the Purdy-Pells was
tryin' to catch EN-; and Well, there was
things dom, all right
Gracious! but you're late!" says Sadie. Il
can't keep baby awake much longer. Now
hurry into your Santa Claus rigl"
Whats that" says l. Il thought Pinck-
ney was going to
mo, no." says she. Everyone wants you
to do it, and you must Here, Gertie, you
hell, him"
mot until she promises to search the twins
for deadly weapons" says l. Il know EN-:
They'd Just as shoot a Santa Claus as not:
"Oh, Pinckney and will each hold twin IN
when you appear" says Gertie. Now hurry!
So that's the way l was discovered, with a
red flannel cap on my head, and my nose and
cheeks rouged up, and yard of white whlskers
tied on, and pillow stuffed inside my fur
trimmed jacket, with sleigh bell belt over
that, all ready to do the regulation act,-when
Sadie rushes up to me kind of dazed. and says:
Shorty, there some at the door asking
for you; Mr.. Rimmer, with three ladies'.
Who is he?"
"Oh, geel" says l. Blamed if I didn't for
get him. It's all right l asked em to the
party. Bring 'em rig ht in
:" But what Mr. Rimmer?" says Sadie,
why, R. H. says l, the original, genuine
Mr. Rimmer; and Mrs. Rimmer and their two
nieces. Why, what's the matter? Didn't you
tell me to invite anyone l wanted chr"
But that mani" gasps Sadie. why,
don't you know that he is the one who Oh,
that affair that's been worrying Mr.. Purdy-
Pell so. His worst enemy! And the nieces.
that Mrs Purdy-Pe1l refused to Shorty, if
you aren't the worst muddler What's to be
done, Gertie?''
"Why, if Shorty has asked them, I don't
see that anything can be done" says Gertie.
That's the talk says 1. Lug 'em in,
Sadie, lug 'em in
Just gives a shoulder shrug grins, and goes off
to do it. But you should have seen the cold
wave settle down when them two punches were
introduced. You know how stiff Purdy-Pell
can be, anyway; and when he finds himself
facin' for the first time this old R. H., who's
been usin him for a football down in Wall
Street for the last few months, he turns as
white and frosty icice, while Rimmer
stands there with his hand half out, watchin'
him through them steel blue eye Sits of his.
Then there's Mrs. Purdy-Pell with her chin in
the air: and on the other side fat old Mrs. Rim
mer all got up regardless; with the two girls
wholesome lookin, modest appearin' young
women-peekin' out kind of scared and curious
WE'LL it was enough to freeze the red candy
apples on the Christmas tree. And me, standin
there in my Santa Claus uniform, with not
sense enough left to get out peep.
PUT lust as the silence was gettin' so thick
- you could taste it, the draperies shuttin'
off the double doors to the dinin' room was run
back, and in marches dozen boys all in white
nighties, lookin like so many bloomn cherubs,
and breaks out singin' chant. It's Pinckney's
little surprise, bringin' this kid choir over from
the Episcopal church, and he springs it just
when it was needed most. As they lines up in
front of they gets to the part where they
come out strong WITH
Peace on earth,
Good will toward men,
and l takes quick glance at both R. H. and
Purdy-Pell. It's hit 'em, all right And that
gives me my
"Rah for peace!' sings out, as the curtains
shut out the choir. Come on now, all hands
round the Christmas tree Whoop-e-e-e!''
Sadie Jumps in to help me out, and before
them folks knew where they was at they was
dom the merry Hague step. with Purdy-Pel
sandwiched in between r. H. and Gertie, and
Mrs Purdy-Pell givin' one hand to Mrs. Rim
mer and the other to a niece, and all of us
comm the side hop-skip and Jump, and lettin
out joy yelps or giggles, whichever way it
affects us.
Did it do the trick, that goodwill toward
men stunt? You never saw anything work
slicker. Mrs. Purdy-Pell, findin' out what nice
girls the neces was, puts arm around each