THE snl cs ———— CENTRE ~— ¥ AI sr F.H Fi Syed ALF a reds gath- dingy coun the one ftore was Christ dozen unshaven, shirted miners ered about ter of Bilger's, in camp. It p1udl they thing extra f« their dinner on the morrow—just to keep them in mind of day, said. But there was little eity in the forlorn remnant of upon the shelves, in the | barrels and under the and massed in the corners of One man found a stray box dines, and took possession of the remark that, while It “Christmasgy,” he could have Isfaction of knowing he was the only sardines in camp; drew out a ean of Boston baked beans were the ove, 8 wanted some. wr the they or boxes the room of sar it with was not the sat. while a third, of more and determined turn of mind, hunted among the boxes and barrels until he actually discovered a can of Cape Cod cranberries, This brought the entire Christmas hunters into a compact, envying circle; and while they were anxiously debating the pro and con expeciully the con—of a division of kpoils, the door opened quietly and a & oop-shouldered, watery-eyed man en- tered. “Have you got any toys?” he asked, hesitatingly, \ The storekecper stared, and unanl mously, as though by preconcerted ar rangement, the group around the canned representatives from Cape Cod turned and stared also, “Any—what?” the storekeeper asked blankly, . “Toys,” the man repeated looking at the encireling faces with abanshed em barrassment—"things to play with, 1 mean, like children have at Christ: mas, You see” with a eurlous mingling of apology and pride In his voice, “my Yittle ten-year-old hay came in on the stage Just now--cloan from Wy grandma's, back to Missourl, Tve im sendin’ for him thése two years, Gouldn’t seem to get to It till 1 a vein lust month, iw group of a He lurch His ed heavily against the co began to fill, watery eves i aad parti lition int sinning to re swaken, siderble Sf a wing listened to men who usually passed him with. recognition, “an' likes things to y with. bein' it's Christmas, he jest comi why, I thought be I'd better hunt some toys.” “Of course,” cried Dobson, ‘the sheriff, heartily; and “Of course,” “Of | tly fro hich was beg “The boy's con nt on, childish, rousing himse little at » consciousness of | 1 Sa, of the group. And then they looked about the store inquiringly, eagerly, In search of some- thing that would please a ten-year-old rE TOGCiu* boy who was in? a childish, But there little they : only huge boots, py ramids of picks and shovels and blankets, © barrels of flour and beans and pork; and on the shelves, tobac- and canned and a small assortment of earthen and tin- ware; and then at the far end. of the store, a bar for the accommo- dation of those who were thirsty. There were no dry and fancy goods and notions upon the shelves, no show vas 8a miners’ Co goods, the one dingy window, Such would begin to make their appearance only with the coming of the first wom: an, and that was not yet, “Rather a slim show for playthings, Dobson,” said the owner of the cran- berries, after a fruitless search with his eyes from one end of the store to the other. Don’t s'pose a pack oo playin’ cards would do?” as his gaze paused hopefuly on an extensive as. sortment of that popular article, “They has pictures on ‘em.” “Wouldn't do at all,” answered Dob- son decidedly, “They ain't moral; an the first kid who patronizes us has got to be Brought up moral. Say, you," to the watery-eyed man, who wns edging towards the bar at the far end of the store—"none o' that!” “None o' what?” asked the man quer. ulously. “I ain't steppin’ on your toes.” “No, but you are on the kid's. See here” « His vBice had an Incisive ring which had made many stronger mén tremble. “You ain't walkin’ the same line you was twent$-foupr ear, Then you was a poor, noe - ard, who'd a right to dig his grave without opposition from nobody; now you're markin’ out a trall for that kid to foller. See? Me an’ my friends here ain't no call to interfere between father an’ son,” dropping his volce to an easy, familiar tone, and placing a hand encouragingly upon the tremu- olus shoulder, “so long as the father makes a good deal; but when he slumps,”—his volce was still soft, but the steely glint returned to his eyes— “then me an’ my friends step in. Sabe? Bein’ the first kid in camp, we've con- stitooted ourselves his guardian—just like man in the place will do soon’s they hear of his bein’ here” He turned back to his companions, The watery-eyed man, after wistful. fa ce town resumed his search of There every long, rd the bar, one rewell giax fruit- the Was now to divide his at- tention; he knew men with he had to and real- that hence the bar was as far re from him as though a wall of granite Inter vened., But, to his credit be It sald, even with the realization came a new firmness to his eyes, “What's that on the top shelf?” asked suddenly, “That? Oh, that is— tated the storekeeper, the object In question critically. “It got a year " less goods, whom den 1, ized to be moved 1 dunno,” hesi- ng he took down and exam! in wi ith SOM has been up there ago, an’ ha since. “Why berry you chu owner de e Uj “Just the repented HwWing “it'll pocket ; t. the owner of his ’ _ “And the owner of “Ay sardines beans ; before i] this” and and th then this, adde the owner of ths Dot slipg ced on Sheriff son wd somet! hand ng bright which held and } heavy the into Jumping- lack ts a nest-egg for the kid,” ravely. “Now you better go home an’ fill up his stockin’; an’ to-morrer you can tell him Merry Christmas from us all.” Great Savers. How our mothers and grandmothers would have appreciated the wonder the present day. the electric washer cause, and ironer, be lected, they represent the greatest economy. Not only do they save money, time and backbreaking drudgery, but the very clothes themselves, ey: : : The Christmas Dolly fash ts sesrraeL ess ETT. ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ § - A Pair of Stockings By Christopher G. Hazard 1922, Western Newspaper Unlon.) UDDY SMITH had three about his stockings--they {full of feet, full of holes, and { could be full of presents, i regard to the third idea that | paying attention to the second ing to go barefoot under the stances, he was tieing up the holes in his best stocking, with a view to the Christmas possibilities, His sister, Agnes, had already bung up a much longer stocking, with a note attached i In which she informed all who might be concerned that this one was hers But Agnes, like the monkey that used a rabbit for «a muff and kept himself warm by hugging it, was a little sel fish, Not only had she hung up one of her mother's stockings, but she had got an advantage over Buddy in the mat ter of the chocolate cake in the cup ideas were Le was Will circum it the size of her little finger, ing the shorter stocking had the most in it. (©, 1922, Western Newspaper Union.) ” ELL, I'S be getting lots of presents soon,” he sald. He had just met some pleasant new friends. “Yes,” he continued, “Christmas is a good time for me. You see I'm popu- lar with wives. I get notes from Hun- dreds of them; there are any number who write to me, and when Christmas comes they knit ties for me or buy a handsome silk handkerchief or two, or a fine mufMler—a little thought of me at any rate. And I've never been In a divorcee case yet,” he ended, “You must be a diplomat or luckier than you deserve,” someone remarked. “Neither,” he answered. “I'm a milk. man and a milkman's Christmas is apt to be full of cheer and the good-heart- ed wishes of the ladies!” €“ THE MAIL CARRIER JOR many years, In good weather or bad, day after day, he had fol lowed his chosen job faithfully and well. He had carried many, many Christmas presents in his day, toe. This year one of the families he had served so regularly prepared a Christ. mas box for him and for his wife and for his children, “It Is the first Christmas box I ever received from one of my families,” he said, "Wasn't it thoughtful of them to have remembered their mail can riert” But the people were saying, “To think that we havéh't done something of this sort every year. The mail car rier does so much for ue and we, at times, aimost seem to forget he's even buman i | ! : i i i i The Evergreen Tree By Chfistopher CG. Hazard nn Bb bt 1922, Western Newspaper Union.) HE servants had retired the old lady alone, fore the decorated and lighted tree that was burdened with gifts that seemed to have no destinations. For and left She sat be old, sat with her, because she wished She was not as alone as she seemed to be, for, in the great chair opposite child who had glanced and Christmas tree of long ago. Beside her there sat one who seemed to lay his hand again upon hers In happy and satisfied affection, while there bent over her the strong and tender youth who was once her hope for later years, Again the old house seemed full of joy, and noisy merriment drove out the deathly stillness while the tree that is always green spoke of the immortality of happiness, The next day, when the servants dismantled the evergreen tree, it was found that every gift was marked with a name, and they were busy that Christmas morning in distributing new happiness about the neighborhood. Easily Managed Y% must believe In Santa Claus If in neglect you would not pause JAnd see the holidays drift by And bring you nothing but a sigh, He may not greet you if walt I'n idleness and selfish ny For him upon his way to start To grant the wishes your heart For he his ways mak known to men By means that are beyond our our xem, . And me his journeying vast is made He uses many a masquerade. So If a scarcity you fear In the af Christman Just hustle a willing And be old Santa Claus % ty
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers