The west shore., December 21, 1889, Page 458, Image 10

458
WEST SHORE.
A CHRISTMAS STORY.
Fond Hopt frowi nor npon I lie atrih
Wlih Moh return of ChrUt'i low birth ;
Tha tlma oomM In on happj feet,
And hutma each poor child fo grot ;
For Santa Clatu doth till tellers
Ht'd rather give than to reoeire,
I have a little sober itorjr to tell my readers; and though
thfy might not suspect It of me, I am, notwithstanding, a very
sober fellow, being a prohibitionist j and I have even been
called, " One of those things that you turn."
I supoee my readers will let me be a little confidential with
them, for once. Of course, you can all of you keep it secret,
can't youT
Once upon a time, as great writers say, my sister desired to
make me a Christmas present; but being poor In purse as she
was rich In her love for me, she did not have money enough to
get me never so cheap a present. She was at this time in
school, working her way through, with what little aid I could
give her, which wasn't much ; for I find out I have a big task
on hand taking care of myself; and It Is a fortunate thing for
one of my cousins that I wasn't him. Yet I am Inclined to
think If we traded even, the one for the other, I would have
something " te-boot," for myself, If not for others 1 Indeed, I
find It such a task taking care of myself that It seems to me, In
this nwct, if In no other, I am equal to half a down other
fellows, and I am sometimes In the notion of getting some one
to aid me In looking after me-some one who is looking after
me nowl But I must tell you how my sister managed to get
the money with which to purchase my Christmas present. The
reason she did not sell eggs and buy It, was because she didn't
have any eggs to sell. She finally struck upon a plan-making
a successful hit and secured the desired means. She simply
wrote her brother that she would like very much to make him
a Chrktmaa present, and that If he would be so kind as to send
her the money to get it with she would be very grateful to him.
Now, as no one likes presents much better than I do, I hastened
to send her the money, and If I did not get a handsome pre,
ent it was not my own fault.
I wish all of you a merry Christmas. My little story is my
" present " to you ; It is about all I had to spare. If you know
of any poor child, go, and with some token of love, make its
heait glad. Remember that every day from the rosy painted
cup of mom the aunshlne, like a liquid splendor, is poured over
your pathway.
"I am stork on Seattle," said
standing knee-deep in tiis mud.
the man who wu then
A GOOD REASON.
Ma. BiMrsoiM see you havs quit waiting on Miss Newber
ry, Mr. Stuart.
Ms, Stmt-Well, yes. By the way Sampson I'd a mar.
ried that girl If It hadn't been for on, thing.
Ma. SAur Wbat wu that?
Ma. Stuart Her refiual I
NOTHING LIKE CONSISTENCY.
Rkporteb (interviewing Mr. Tallfellow, a millionaire.) Do
you belong to any noted societies?
Mb. T. Well, yes; and one or two belong to me.
Reporter Please state what ones you are a member of.
Mr. T. I am the flve-hundredih member of the " four-boa-dred
" of which Ward is the general manager. I am also u
active member of the Nationalist society which is the embodi
ment of the principles set forth in " Looking Backward." I
am also engaged in the real estate business; you see the body
must be looked after as well as the soul.
A beautiful Queen, with pretty blue eyes,
A-dazzling the very blue of the skies.
With a light that was gentle and sweet;
In a sleigh t our home gladly she came,
And the North's cold breath had kindled a flame
On her cheek as a blush to repeat
Some story of love.
On that Chrietman eve our stockings we hung
(We should have been hanged ourselves, I suppose)
Over the hearth ; and it ought to be sung
In my songs and my glad heart overflows
With thoughts of it now the gift that was mine
Next morn; two stockings all silken and fine
I had bought and hung up the prettiett seen;
And what found I in them? blushing sixteen,
(To Santa Chus, thanks) my " beautiful Queen."
ONE THING LACKING.
" Miss Etherton was educated at Vascar, and would mike
an excellent wife if it were not for one thing."
" What is the one thing, pray ? "
" She's a single lady."
STRUCK IT AT LAST.
Pat (to his countrymen shoveling mire out of Main street
in Tacoma) Shure, me boys, and you've struck a " wit Job"
for wunce.
HE'D RISK IT.
Brother Joim-Well, sister, I've made up my mind to mar
ry Miss Dawson.
Sister Nnj-But you don't know her; you've only seen
her a few times.
Brother John-1 know; but I can't make up my mind to
marry any of thoe e whom I do know. I'll risk getting acquaint
ed with her when I come to live with her I
NOT REAL.
Lrmji Innocent (at home)-Mamma, Is Santa Taiu a real
man?
Mamju (brushing the illusion out of the child's mind at tbs
expense of some one else)-.No, dear, it was your father I