The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1926-12-23
SMILIN' THU
"JoY TO THE WORLD"
BY GORDON COOPER
Reproduction permission Of the author

Antioch African Baptist Church, South, seeth-
ing with excitement 1t packed and jammed to the
doors with pckannnes of every shade from High Yai-
lerp to "Tar Baby" They whispering and glgg-
ling like of magpies Frantic mothers and more
than frantic Sunday School teachers We're trying to
keep them quiet Occasionally shrll howl went up
when pairs of them got fighting But over all there
was suppressed excitement and joy that Santa Claus
was appear and dispense the joyful packages
draped about the big pine tree which had been removed
from its native habitat to the church Tor the ohrs-
mas celebration.
Doc Bloom was moving Importantly about, compli-
menng mothers their "fne chllun and fondly pat
ting the little ones on their kinky heads. Jes' ill
while now" he assured them, "an Of Sandy Claus is
gwine be hyah Yo' bettah be good efen yo wants i'm
ter glib yo' present"
sudden squawking yell caused Doc to turn. An
outraged mother had given of her numerous pro
geny cuff the seat of his patched pants that had
sent him sprawling into the aisle Doc clucked in
sympathy. "Now dats too bad, he soothed the whn1-
perng little fellow 'But yo gotto shut up dat cryin
fer Sandy Claus won't glib yo' no present efen 20
doan't.'
"Doan simperthze wild dat wuthless lii Niger" adj
monished the mother. The whites of her eyes were
shining dangerously aft All done dress i'm up in one
O. de white chillun's shirts whut in de wash den
e gotta go an blow is nose de sleeve
Doc grinned as he turned his head away. Oats
all right Sis Perkins. Hit1l all out in de wash!
"Yeh!" she replied, "But Abs de ore whuts got
ter do de washin'"
As Doc continued on his way down the aisle he
stumbled two wriggng figures on the floor
boy and girl were pulling hair biting and scratching
with the greatest enthusiasm They were so intent on
doing bodily each other that they weren't say
ing word. But their strenuous painting testhed TO
the efforts they making Doc succeeded in getting
them separated and he turned them over to their
mother he sad "Sistah Abs 'fraid yo' chilluns is
spoiled"
The mother shifted "Huh! Tey doan smell no wuss
dan de res O. desc pickaninniesv
Before Doc could answer, excited buzzng start
ed up and was then by absolute silence Doc
turned to see old Santa Claus standing triumphanty
the that led from the back of the church onto
the platform. Doc noted to himself with satisfaction
that "Bul" Tysons huge bulk made good figures for
the old gentleman from the North Pole
And it must be said that "Bull' tremendously
pleased with himself The ripple of excitement that
swept the house, followed by the tribute of silence
proved him that he occupying the spotlight with
great
With grandiloquent gesture he raised his voice
from deep in his chest, and in mighty rumble saId
MERRY Christmas, chillun! Merry Chris'mus"
"A shrill cheer went up from the pickaninnies and
"Bull,' feeling chesty at his hearty reception,
threw his chest and started the platform to
distribute the presents from the tree But his "hgh
hat" attitude worked his downfall His uptited head
prevented him from seeing the electric wire which pro-
vded lights for the Christmas tree His foot caught
in it and he fell sprawling against the tree
For brief instant he chung to its branches while
gan fitting toward the audience With mighty heave
"Bull" tried to heave himself from the entangling
branches, and that finished the job.
With a swishing of branches and the tnkle of dec.
oratons the big tree swooped down the seats
Then the Mortified silence gave way to screeches from
the women and shri yeIls of terror from the picann
MES Those in the path of the tree ducked between the
benches and thus saved from injury But the con-
tents of the branches scattered to the four cor
Of the church.
One "Tar Baby" found coal black doll deposited
in her lap Her yels of terror to shouts OF
triumph which attracted the attention of others In
moment the yes of fear had given way to excited
scramble for the articles scattered about the church
In five minutes the last toy had been salvaged and the
branches of the tree stripped BARE even of the
decorations OF of the children had more
than their share and Doc spent agonizng quarter OF
an hour in evening up the spells.
When the happy mob had filed contentedly from the
church Doc turned and found "Bu stunned sprawline
on the edge of the platform. His mask cooked at
grotesque angle about his knky head and his face
scratched by the branches of the tree; foot
suspended from prop torn loose from the tree
and the cheap pants of his costume ripped