Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1911-01-05

dingdong, bell! w. He
$ En-: ; !: : :.::: -
s '' Sa: s,s; $'' : ;'' ',. 1I
window, he open Nv
ed it and put out "A MERRY CHRISTMAS
his head-no, fog, TO EVERYBODY!
no mist; clear, bright, jovial, stirring,
! cold-cold, piping for the blood to
dance to; golden sunlight, heavenly
sky; sweet, fresh air; merry bells Oh,
glorious, glorious!
whats today"' cried Scrooge, call
ing downward to a boy in Sunday
clothes who perhaps had loitered in to
look about him.
'Eh|' returned the boy, with all his
might of wonder
whats today, my fine fellow" said
Scrooge.
Today" replied the boy. "Why.
Christmas day"
''Do you know the poulterer's in the
next street but one, at the cornerw
Scrooge inquired.
II should hope did," replied the lad.
can intelligent boy" said Scrooge.
ga remarkable boy. Do you know
whether they've sold the prize turkey
that was hanging up there? Not the
little prize turkey-the big one!
"What-the one as big as me-" re-
turned the boy.
"What a delightful boyr' said
Scrooge. Its a pleasure to talk to
him. Yes, my buckr'
"Its hanging there now" replied the
boy.
us it?' said Scrooge $50 and buy
it."
"Walk-er!" exclaimed the boy.
"No, no." said Scrooge; II am in
earnest. Go and buy it and tell 'em to
bring it here that l may give them the
direction where to take it. Come back
with the man and I'll give you a shil-
ling! Come back with him in less than
five minutes and I'll give you half
CROWN
The boy was off like a shot.
"I'll send it to Bob Cratchits," whs-
splitting with a laugh. HE shan't
know who sends it. It's twice the size
of Tiny Tim"
The hand in which he wrote the ad-
dress was not a steady one, but write
it he did somehow and went down
stairs to open the street door, ready
for the coming of the poulterers man
AS he stood there waiting his arrival
the knOcker caught his eye
81 shall love it as long as I live"
cried Scrooge, patting it with his hand
81 scarcely ever looked at it before.
What an honest expression it has in its
face! It's wonderful knocker! Here's
the turkey. Hello! Whoop! How are
you? Merry Christmasr
1t was turkey. He never could have
stood upon his legs, that bird. He
would have snapped 'em short off in a
minute, like sticks of sealing wax
'Why, it's impossible to carry that
to Camden Town." said Scrooge You
must have cab"
The chuckle with which he said this,
and the chuckle with which he paid
for the turkey, and the chuckle with
which he paid for the cab, and the
chuckle with which he recompensed
the boy, were only to be exceeded by
the chucEle with which he sat down
breathless in his chair again and
chuckled till he cried.
He dressed himself "all in his best"
and at last got out into the streets.
He had not gone far when coming
on toward him he beheld the portly
gentleman who had walked into his
counting house the day before and
said, ''Scrooge & Marley's, l believe"
1t sent a pang across his heart to
think how this old gentleman would
look upon him when they met, but he
knew what path lay straight before
him, and he took it.
MY dear SIR" said Scrooge, quick
ening his pace and taking the old gen.
tleman by both his hands. chow do
you do? l hope you succeeded yester-
day. 1t was very kind Of you. A
merry Christmas to you, sir!'
''Mr. Scro0ge?"
yes" said Scrooge; that is my
name, and l fear it may not be pleas
ant to you. Allow me to ask your
pardon And will you have the good
ness Here Scrooge whispered in his
ear
at ord bless mar' cried tho oantlaman
as if his breath were gone. MY dear
Mr.. Scrooge, are you serious?"
IF you please" said Scrooge-"not
farthing less. A great many back
payments are included in it, l assure
you. Will you do me that favor?"
"My dear sir" said the other, shak-
ing hands with him, II don't know
what to say to such munifi"-
Don't say anything, please" retort-