The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1926-12-16
SMILIN' THU
"FRANKINCENsE AND MYRRH"
" GORDON COOPI

"Cbris,mus is comin'!7 said Doc Bloom he stop
ped to look into show window all agow with coored
lights tinsel and imitation snow where toys were as
played in profusion. "Yassuhl Christmas is COMM an
All amt got money! And ne SHOOK MS heao ooie-
fully.
About him the streets were alive with hurrying
shoppers bearing bundles and packages in prouson At
the corner the tnEe of bell told that a bedraggled
Santa Claus soliciting aims for the Salvation Army
But in the midst the cheerful atmosphere of Christ
mas Doc Blooms huge form seemed the one detected
object in view He continued to shake his head cuck
ing regretfuy to himself his eyes picked out the
various gaiy painted toys displayed IN the "lnoo" De
fore him.
"Kinder purity, amt dey?" remarked an ingratia-
ting voice at his elbow.
Doc turned and found Tige Brown, negro sport and
gambler grinning broadly. Doc hadn't Tige since
the day he tried steal his liquor and he wasn't overly
glad to see him now. "Huh" he snorted. "Dey looked
purity afore yo come, but wild dat wicked face O. yos
hyah hit make de wndah all dark?
"Now Doc, dey amt call fer yo' ter be mad
wild me hyah at Christmas time!" replied Tge with an
effort to curry favor "Ds is de time good cheer an
good will ter men!"
"De good will All got fer yo would put me in Jail
efen de perlice knowed bout ht! Doc responded with
vigor Fright now All bets yo is hangin roun' fer
chance ter hornswoggle po' niger outten his
pay wild yo gamblin games"
''Doan need ter do dat" answered Tige as he pro-
duced large roll of greasy, ragged bills and exhibited
it with triumph. "Ah's got money ter burnt!
"Den go start fab wild hit an burn yosef up!
replied Doc.
/ "Naw-suhl" chucked Tige good humoredly "dis is
the time burn incense, an de Lawd knows All
wouldn't smell like incense effen All wuz ter burn
masef up!" And he laughed loudly at his joke.
Docs eyes bulged at the sight of the roll Of bills
He seemed to have lost the power of speech. Here
he had been bemoaning his fate at being broke at
Christmas time and Tige Brown worthless cuss like
him. flashing roll of bills that would make corrupt
politician ashamed of himself. He decided that this
money should be respected if the owner was be-
yond respect.
"Whar at did yo git all dat money!" he inquired
in more friendly tone.
"Huhi Dat would be tellin'," replied Tige with a
wise grim and he replaced the roll in his pocket.
! "Well" sighed Doc, "Ah reckons Aid bettah be
goin long! All jes fxin' ter fin nice quiet
place an take me a drink O. white mule, he added,
shrewdly watching Tiges face to what effect that
would have upon him.
Tge bit "White mule, did yo' say? Now OATS nah
middle name! Whar at does yo git dis white mule.
Aid like ter spen' money ter buy some
white mule fer Christmas"
Doc adopted Tiges tone of evasion. HUH Dat
would be teln'," he said with wink. But Abs got
some right hyah in nah pocket effen yo' wants ter
sample htl"
"Man, man! Yo' is nah meat. Lead de way ter de
quiet spot And Tge licked his lips
Doc turned and made his way to the mouth of a
dark alley nearby When he had gained the deserted
she'd at the of store he stopped and took a
bottle from his pocket Tge was close behind him,
eagerly reaching for the bottle.
"Jes' mint" said Doc. Nov dis is jes a
sample Efen yo likes hit9Ah kin git yo some. But All
wants ter know fer sho' dat yos in de market"
"Ain't nothn' else but," impatenty replied Tige.
LES try de sample" He tilted the bottle and began
gurgling.
/ "Ah reckons OATS big enuff sample" said Doc
he snatched the bottle down. "Whut yo' Think"
| "WuGl" gasped Tige. "Man, Mani Dat sho' is noble
lkker. How much is dat joy juce?"
"Fi' dollars quat," replied Doc, "cash in advance.
Yo' gimme de money an waits hyah Cause de man
whit sells hit doan want nobody ter know bout hit.
De probishun agents is too lively roun hyah!'
Oats fair huff wild me-" replied Tige, bringing
forth his roll of bills. "Hyah yo' sfo' fl dollar bills
All wants TO quats o. dat noble likker."
Docs big hand closed the bills "Now yo'
wait right hyah twell All back he called
his shoulder he disappeared.
| *######%***
Tive hours later Doc turned happily homeward with
his full of bundles "De Christmas speert sho is
fne,' he mumbed happily to himself 'Frankincense
an myrrh is right. Mostly myrrh Myrrh is Ikker lik
ker is white mule. An All done git twenty dol
lars fer sample O. myrrh fer Christmas time"
Then he chuckled to himself. "Ah wonders effen dat
fool Tge is still waitn fer mel Dat niger ougha have
mo- sense dan ter think Abs bottleggerl"