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About Polk County itemizer. (Dallas, Or.) 1879-1927 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 23, 1882)
sn ■ ' — .;• * • ‘ m POLK - • = Deroted to t ie B est Interests o f P olk O onntj in ADVANCE. — ■■ ■ ■' Bw*4i VOL. IX. (TO THE thing io my mother," replied J»ck, they dearly love to sing on Christ after a moment’s hesitation. “Mon- mas Eve: ey to pay the rent or » a bag of “SI md , HttU child*«*. lit» , flour. Something like that, you w ufi stars thsir vigils kssp know.” And tbs psls ssoss foods tbo ssrth v. lb his sis- om the smoon’s taring to I ju st bo le going i pret in an Ing his st,” up- irk ling snugly “Of course,” assented Tom, “San- ta Claus gives a present to every- body. What would you like. Jack?” "A pair of skates,” said Jack. “And I’ve got a little eister who’d give anything for a doll.” “Money to pay rent— a pair of skates—a doll—Dunning—and 339 Blank Street All right I’ll re member", said Tom, pausing before a brown-stone front “This is our house, Jack.” They bade each other gsod-night at the gate. Bessie and Tom, the latter tightly clutching the rope of the “Comet, ran lightly dawn the its light. Over lbs «ratty snow, Santo Class swiftly is soasiag to-night! “Drssin, Uttlo tbildrsn, dronsi. And sssy your vioions tssss With all tbs fsnstss that cm ass yaar dsligbtl Quick as s lightning task Ouwsrd tbs isiadssr dash— Santa Claus swiftly is coming to-.light! ••Wsks. littls cbildrsn, wako. Now that tbs day doth break And rays of sunshine steal in, warm and bright. Stockings ars hsspsd with toys For all tbs girls and boys— Lot Santa Clans asms and want in tbs nishtt" As the lost note died away on Innate basement while Jock, with his boa the frosty air, flm i* felt In a capa do street slung carelessly over his shoulder, cious pocket to see if one of the uie that or to get stole up “Comet1 bat over- a little ir, went fly- was near, in uncon- i Tom turo bing -with kubby fists but the i were both ayed him. or, asked > do about he went who, with ring to ex unpleasant rascals an quick to yell that ' warwhoop, hat was fas- ’ tore wildly IT following |r. Tom was st dropped »wdrifk A ssession of was about “Comet.” ck who had deed, much chase and Seizing tho ►y the collar he mutter- Ih: Flynn, or Ad-the lynn let go ator rclin- his corn- fusion, bliged,” said Sen “Comet” turn. “And,” “here’s five shook his ■way,” said nil you what at Tom’s fgive you a lid Tom, and sional sur- Dt down on ; work while By on. When cketed the satisfaction off. rith an un- “don’t you black, please us,” begged ark and I ’ra boys." bed. I said “I’ll go.” Iter they had your name? Dickson,” er. fling, said f into silence font at last, ata Claus hoed Jack, arson.” igasp of s'ir- whistled. * said she. of drama . sleds-' and filling nice. visits poor 1 v . clf.i ed Tom. And he’s live! But, I er given yon Tom. “I forgot you. hat we’ll do, l burst of con- I pre going to to sec what old Lento itc you live, i you.” and Jack’s “I live When the dock struck sight, Santa Clans arose and Mid that it off. There- M i l l « that he M W was w w u van. to bring W H time him to the apon nil accompanied hi that sleigh and nil joined in n i Tom, si disappeared in the fast falling dusk. II. They were busy in Aniceland on the twenty-fourth of December. In Santa Claus’ vast establishment, that covered acres and acres in it’s extent, his jolly little workmen, with faces all aglow in their excite ment, constructed odd and ingeni ous toys with amazing rapidity. Beautifully dressed dolls, reposing comfortably on willow rockers, looked trustingly up at armies of tin soldiers, who clutched their guns valiantly, as though to pro tect them; innumerable Uttcle Joes and Aunt Dinahs appeared as though they were nearly dying to be wound up—the former to pick his dearly loved banjo and the latter to dance an old plantation break down to its entrancing strains; huge piles of sleds were chatting (in sled language, of course) about the delightful times they were soon to have with sheir boy owners in speeding like lightning down the icy track; tightly closed boxes, whose lids moved convulsively at times, told of the hideous person ages inside, who fairly’ ached to spring suddenly up in the air and grin at frightened children; in short, there was every kind of toy attd candy imaginable, and, every now and then, dear old Santa himself, examining his ledger in his pr irivate office, would wink knowingly and give a dry chuckle as he pictured the rapture of the recipient'. It was growing late. Santa Clairs rubbed his tired eyes and sank back in his easy arm-chair with a sigh of relief. “Dear me!” he said, closing the xrnderous book before him. “An tnexpetienced person would have no idea how many boys and girls there are in the world. Thousands upon thousands, bless ’em! If they keep on increasing at this rate, I really belieVe I’ll have to enlarge my factory again. But my men have worked day and night, and, according to my calculations, I shall have presents for all.” He arose and walked slowly to a window. It was rapidly becoming dark. For some time, he looked thoughtfully out at the feathery flakes of snow that Were steadilv falling. Then, while the little clock on the mantle chimed six, he went to a corner of the room and press ed an ivory knob on the wall. Im mediately afterward, a deafening gong sounded, the heavy clanking of machinery ceased, and his little workmen came clattering into the office. “Men,” said Santa, aprovingly, “you have done well!” They all blushed and turned red at this compliment. Praise from Santa Claus was praise indeed! “And now,” he continued, “har ness my faithful old reindeer to the sleigh and load it immediately. Then we will adjoin to the house for our annual banquet.” They bowed respectfully. Sev eral ran swiftly to the stable, while others, with queer-looking appli ances used only in Aniceland, re duced the sixe of the toys ten thou sand times, so that all could be car ried in the sleigh. A merry jingle of bqjls was heard, and the same dear deer of yore, sleek and glossy after their long year’s rest, pranced gayly -up. t . In a short *ine the sleigh was lonJt.1. and Santa, with a smile up on his kindly old face, jumped in and slowly started off, followed by bis men six abreast. Straight to his crystal palace, glittering with its many colored lights, they went until they reached an icy portal over whis'h was suspended a lumi nous sign—WELCOME ALL! The frisky reindeer were then tied se curely to a post, and all, with their faces beaming with pleasure, pass ed into the reception-rooin, where Mrs. Clans and a train of tasteful ly attired ladies awaited them. I cannot begin to tell yon of the good things they hod to eat that night There were Aniceland sand wiches (consisting of two slicos of ice and a layer o f snow between), icicle salad, snowball puffs, ice cream and ice cakes, and many oth er delicacies of that frigid country. And I can assure yon that they did fall justice to the feast U S appliances for restoring the toys to their proper size was there,' for, without it, he would have been in a pretty fix! Geod Mrs. Claus, in spite of his remonstrance, placed a basket of sandwiches in the sleigh, for she knew he would be hungry after his long night’s work. He then chirruped to the reindeer, there was a gingle of bells, and he was off, with a loud huzza ringing in his ears. “God bless the children!” mur mured the good old saint, brushing his misty eyes with his furry sleeve, and then he fell to hum ming softly: “ Sauta Clan* ia awiftlyeoming to-night!” III. Torn and Bessie hung up their stockings early Christmas Eve. Master Tom, after great delibera tion, decided tla t Edward the coachman had larger feet than any other puraon in the household, and Edward good-naturedly consented to lend him one of his stockings, which he averred was even a litile too large for him! At eight, they kissed their papa and mamma good night and nurse marched them off to their room. After they had said their prayers and were snugly tucked in their beds, nurse put out the light and waited, as was her wont, to tell the story that was vociferously demanded each night by her young charges. But, to her great surprise, both remained si lent, and, admonishing them to be good children, she quietly left the room and hurried down to the kitchen, where Terry, her beau, vaa patiently wating. For some time silence reigned« The large, yellow moon shone full in the room, giving everything a spectral appearance. Suddenly oiii sat upright in his bed. “I say, Bessie,” he said, softly, “are you asleep?” No,” replied Bessie, with a little yawn. “Are you?” ‘Of course not,” and Tom laugh ed at what he considered a very silly question. “Can’t you see?” Bessie raised herself upon her elbow and, after blinking drowsily at the man in the moon, fell back upon the pillow. I aay, Bessie,” said Tom, earn estly, "please don't go to sleep. We were to stay awake to see San ta Claus. Don't you remember? And think of poor Jack!” “I will, Tom,” and Beasie once more essayed to rise—this time, with success. “Hark! What’s that?” Both listened and heard the mer ry jingle of bells across the snow. Nearer and clearer came the sweet sounds. “It’s Santa.1” whispered Tom,with a fast-beating heart Wide eneugh awake now and unable to repress their curiosity, the two little white-tobed figures stole to the window and gazed out upon the snowy scene. A sleigh passed quickly by, the happy voices of its occupants floating up in the frosty air. “Horses!” said Tom, iu a disap- inted voice. “That’s not Santa, lie.” And both crept back to bed again. They talked together in subdued tones to keep awake. The clock at the top of tne stairs struck nine— then ten. Finally, when Bessie thought that she must visit the Land of Nod, some one—yes, they could tell it was Santo by his pock of toys!—cautiously opened the door and enterqfl the room while the two, trembling in their eager ness, pretended to be fast asleep. ited,' flashed before hie mind, the happy bay sprang out of bad and tiptoed noiolaasly toward the soed old saint. - Beasie, who obeyed Tom implicitly in all things with a blind faitu iu um superior same. Santa Claus, feeling a tim id tap upon his shoulder, started and glanced around, and then quick ly averted hie face, dismayed at be ing caught so nicely. In a gruff tone lie asked them what they wanted. “You give everybody a present, don’t you, Mr. Claus?” said Tom, Undecided bow to begin. Santo Claus nodded affirma tively. “I thought so,” said Tom, draw ing a long breath. But, please, Mr. Claus, you’ve forgot one family— the Dunnings of 1m> Blank Street. Jock Dunning told me so himself. And I told Jock—it was good in him to get my sled bock—that I’d remind you about them if I saw you. You'll give them something, won’t you, ’cause they’re poor and they need it?” Sants Claus listened gravely and then took out a notebook from his pocket. “Dunning,” he mused. “There are plenty of Dunnings on my di rectory, but none of Blank Street. Bless me! I have forgotten them. But never mind, I’ve lots of things left in my sleigh and, if you’ll give me what they’d like, I’ll see what I can do for them.” “Oh, thank you,” and Tom heaved a sigh of relief, while Bes sie clapped her hands rapturously. “Just leave a pair of skates, a doll, and money to pay the rent in their room. Jack will know the rest." Santa Claus made a note of it. Then he kissed both tenderly and told them to go back to bed before they caught cold. But Beasie hung shyly back. “Please, Santa,” she said, “why didn’t you come down the chim ney?” Santa Claus scratched his head reflectively. “Bless mi!" he said. “I dropped that custom long ago. I t an swered very well in the oldfashion- ed fireplaces. But the chimneys they build nowadays are so nar row and contracted that a fat, pudgy person couldn't budge in them. Besides, it's a rather dan gerous practice. I was nearly roast ed once ia attempting to Jescend a chimney where they had a fire.” “Oh!” said Bessie, and then she trudged back to bed. Santa Claus made them promise not to look at their presents until morning. Then he bade them good bye and left as silently as he came. “I say, Bessie,” said Tom, glee fully, “wasn’t he jolly? And lie looked somethingjiko papa, didn’t he?” A faint snore came from Bessie’s bed. “That's the way with girls,” grumbled Tom. “To—save—their — lives — they — can’t — keep — awa’—” And, before he knew it, he had followed her to dreamland. IV. Qucerly enough, Santa Claus did not return to his sleigh. Instead, he buttoned his overcoat up closely and walked briskly down the street until he came to a business portion of the town. Many of the stores, the proprietors of which smiled blanaly at the rushing business they were doing, were still open, and, at one, whose blazing windows were filled with every conceivable toy, Santa Claus mode two pur chases—namely, a pair of skates and a doll. A t’a grocery a little farther on, he stopped again and whiapered something to a clerk, who nodded and made an entry in a book he carried. Santo Claus than pursued his way until he came to Blank Street —fined on both sides by huge, foul-smelling tenement-houses that revealed the squalor and wretched- of their many occupants. Ruffians, loitering in front of noisy grogshops, leered wickedly at him, conscious that he was out of his element; drunkards, staggering home in a pitiful condition to their famished wives and children,bl ush ed against him; yet on he went un til he came to a rickety building with 339 in faded figures over the doorway. Santa Claus passed up the steep, narrow stairs to the first story. Hearing the sound of voices in a room directly opposite the landing, he knocked at the door. A pleas- aat-facad woman, with a baby in bar arms, opened it and looked wonderingly at him. “Pardon me for disturbing you,” said Santa. “Do the Dunnings live hare?” “Dunning?” she repeated, with a strong Irian aeeent “If its the widdy Dunning wid the two eliil- der yes mane, yoll foind them up in tne seventh story.” “Can 1 take you into my conS- dencer said Santo. The woman nodded. “I’ve a few little preoanta for them. Couldn’t you smuggle Santa Claus went to the chim ney and gazed, with a smile, at the stockings. Pausing before Bessie’s, be filled it with goodies. She gave a little sigh of satisfaction when she saw him place on the mantel above it a beautiful Parisian doll —the very thing she had wished for—with a maniatura Sere oga trunk that must have contained an extensive wardrobe. He tiien pass ed on to Tom’s and looked quizzi cally at i t “Juat like the boy, for all the world!" he muttered, show ering candies in it until it bulged out at the aides. And Tom’s heart fairly thumped with joy whan he saw him deposit a hugs' box of ear- pen tors took on the floor—for Tom’s latest hobby wea to have a them into their room for me before they awake, with the understand workshop. And than, an t vision of Jock, ing that Santo Clans sent them?” “Av eooroa I kin,” she laid, whom Santa Clnaa had never vis “They kape their " j ' s nothin’ to - •»—»*’ i f y e ’U II get i f.Mik > was i the -T - 35Ë n p p ; JVfc Mika took his blackened pipe from hie mouth, nodded, and put it Santo Claus wrote a slip of paper, and, ‘ ing groan in it, envippn». Than, the Imby under its dira- he dropped a silver dol- chubhy fist, and depart- le gintlamin, bo gob!" was vorabis ^comment, proud Mike’s ition bestowed upon his of the attention y o n r m V v * ! his wife trailed ap- provnigiy Faint praise for Santa Claus— the best-hearted penon olive! e e e • e Jack was the first of Fie Dun nings to awake in the morning. era cheap one* and we muzzle lowe over their k flrgal ,7 1% c W * rol, looking do yon ask?” “O, nuthin’, only I wish me and my churn had muzzled our goat with a pillow. Pa would have enjoyed his becom ing a member of our lodge better. As he sat up on his couch of rags, a You nee, pa bad been telling us how dim remembrance of the night be much good the Masons and Odd fore flitted across his mind. What Fellers did, and sa'd we ought to if Tom bad reminded Santa Claus try end grow up good so we oould of them! Jle looked around and jine the lodges when we got big, there on tho tr.ble—could it be and I asked pa if it would do any true?—yes, it was true!—lay two hurt for ns to have a day lodge in my room, and portend to riiahiate, packages and an envelope. In a flash he was untying the and pa said it wouldn’t do any hurt. strings with trembling fingers, He said it would improve our minds, learn ns to be men. So my chain a rosy-cheeked, blue-eyed doll loo ;- end me borried a goat that lives in a ed bewitehingly up at him; the l a and livery stable. Say, did yon know pair of skates glittered in the sun they keep a goat in the liveTy stable light as he held them up for his so the horses won’t get sick? They inspection. get used to the smell of the goat, Rushing to his mother’s bed, he and after that nothing ean make awoke her and his little sister. them sick but a glue factory. I wish Capering about the room, he cried my girl boarded in a livery stable, then she would get used to the smell. exultingly: “Hurrah for Santa Claus! H ur I went home with her from churoh, Sun lay night, and the smell of the rah for Santa Claus!” goat on ray elotbea made her sick to Then, os both looked at him in lier sturamiok, and she acted just amazement, be seized the presents like an exeuraiou on the lake, and and held them high in the air. No said if I didn't go bury myself and sooner bad bis little sister seen tho take the smell out of me she wouldn’t doll than she ran, with a cry of de never go with me again. She was light, and clasped it lovingly to her just ns pale as a ghost, and the pers piration on her lips was just zif she bosom. "Whoever in the world sent had been hit by a street sprinkler. them?” ejaculated the astonished You see my chum and me bad to osrr.v the goat up to ray room when Mrs. Dunning. “Santa Claus, of course,” an pa and ma was out riding, and he so we had to <e a handker swered Jack, promptly. “I told blnt>ed chief uronnd his nose, and bis feet Tom—I got his sled back from made such a noise on the floor that Patsy Flynn, and Jen-y Conners, we put some liaby’s socks oh his feet. you know—that he’d forgotten us, Gosh.how frowsy a goat smells, don’t and he said he’d remind him. And it? I sbuhl think you i.Iasons must here’s something for you, mother.” have strong stumuix. Why don’t Mrs. Dunning comprehended all. you have a skunk or a mule for a Poor woman! Of date, life hail trade mark. Take a mule and an- been a constant struggle to her and noint it with limburgcheese and you Christmas as ordinary a day as any could nisbiate and make a candidate in the year. And her heart grew smell just as bod as with a gosh darn mildewed goat. Well, sir, my chum soft and tender as she thought of and practiced with that goat un the happy times they used to have til be me could bunt a picture of a goat on Christmas at her childhood home every time. We borried a buck beer —the old farm that had since pass sign from a saloon roan, and hung it ed into other hands. Che repress on the back of a chair, and the goat ed a bitter sob as she took the en would hit it every time. That night pa wanted to know what we were velope and opened it. “Why, mamma, I believe you are doing up in my room, and I told him we were playing lodge, and im crying,” said the surprised Annie. A twonty-dollar bill was inclosed proving our minds, and pu said that wav right, that there was nothing in a brief note that read: that did boys of our age half so much “I have put all your names in good as to imitate men, and store by my directory and henceforth I useful nollidge. Then my cbnm shall remember you each Christmas asked pa if he didn’t waut to take Eve, without fail. the grand bumper degree, and pa •S anta C lauh .’” lafTed and said he didn’t care if be “God bless him!” murmured Mrs. did, just to enconrage Us boys iu in Dunning, gratefully. “And now nocent pastime, that was so improv I’ll tell you what we’ll do, children. ing to our iutellex. We bail shut We’ll have the bsst dinner to-day the goat up in a closet in my room, and be had gqt over blatting, so we we’ve had for many a month.” They hurriedly dressed. Mrs. took off the handkerchief, and he eating tome of my paper cel Dunning opened the door to <yo out wns lars, and skate straps. We went up and buy a little meat for break stairs, and tolil pa to come up pretty fast. A man with a huge basket soon and give three distinct laps, met her in the hall. and when we asked him who comes “Where shall I put these?” he there he must say, 'a pilgaric who asked. wonts to join your ancient order and “You have made a mistake, sir,” ride the goat.’ Ma wanted to come up too, hut we told ber if she come she said. “Oh, no! Mia. Dunning 1‘ves in it would break up the ledge, here, does she not? I thought so. cause a woman couldn’t keep a Santa Claus sent them with his secret, and we didn’t hare a side saddle for the goat. Say, if you compliments.” never tried it, the next time you And, with a twinkle of fun in nisbiate a man in your Mason’s his eye, he deposited a generous lodge, you sprinkle a little kyan supply of gi-ocerics, including a pepper on tbe goat’s beard just monstrous tui key, on the table and afore you tntu him loose. You can was gone. get three times as mnch fun to the “God bless him!” repeated lira. square inch of goat. You wouldn’t tbink it wns the same goat. Well, Dunning, brokenly. If Santa Claus could have heard we got all fixed end pa rapped, and it be would have smiled with pleas we let him :a and told him he must ure. Tint he was back at Anice be blindfolded, and be got down on land, and his factory was already bis knees a luffing, and Iliad a towel bis eye», und then I turned in operation for another' day of around him around and made him get do«D “peace on earth, good-will toward on his hands also, and then Lis hack men.’’ was right toward tbo closet door, I put the buck beer sign right They were burying a man who and against pa’s clothes. He was a tai had died in Southe-n Indiana. ling all the lime, and said we boys when a tramp leaned over the fence were ss full of fun as they made cm’, and inquirer): and wo told him it was a solemn “Was he a statesman?” occasion, and we wouldn’t permit no levity, and if be didn't stop lading “No.” we couldn’t give him the grand “Crato-?” bumper degree. Then everything “No.” was ready, and ray chum bad his “Philosopher?” hand on the eloeet door, and some “No.” kyan pepper in his other hand, and “Poetr • I'aakad pa in a low boat tone, if be “No." felt as if be wanted to turn beck, or “Great inventor, or anything of if be had nerve enough to go abend that sort?” and take tbe degree. I warned him “No; he was simply an honest that it was foil of dangers, as the goat was loaded for beer, and told “Oh, that’s it, eh? Why don’t him be yet bed time to retrace his his widow take hie body over to steps if he wanted to. He said be Chicago and pat it on exhibition wanted tbe whole bozineas. and wa could g - -head with the menagerie. and make a stoke?” Then i said to p a il be had decided to go abend, ana se t blame ns for Mr*. Ann Carney, an Irish ,. the cnaseqoeaoM, to repeat after me drowned herself in the Wf k in f lowing: ‘Bring forth tbe river at Portland on 1 Royal I tamper, and lot him bempl* ing. Her body was » I*a re- . »led tho woido and my ahum boors afterward. SI I.tsmink cd t t t goat pa and m a' closed the door, and me opened drove the goat who conies to see ma times a week was just i tho sidewalk, blatting and i and the minister came in t' and said he w«« -tabbed,. pa came out of bis n his suspenders hanging dc he didn’t know the minister there, and be said cuss ma cried and told pa'he hell sure, and pa said be i he would kill that kussed _ ___ he vyent. I told pa the uliniater was in the parlor, and be and ma' went dewn and said the weather was pro pitious for a revival, and it seemed though an outpo >unn ng of the l’rit was about to be vouch uchsafed to His people, and none of them sot down but ma, canoe the goat didn’t hit he*, and while they wae ‘ ’ religion, with their mouth the goat inwardly, my ehnm journed heme, and I went and stay ed with him all night, and I hadn’t been borne sinoe. But I don’t be lieve pa will lick roe, cease he said he would not hold us responsible for the consequences. He ordered the goat bisaelf, and we filled the order, don’t you see? Well, I guess I will go and sneak in tho back way and find out from the hired girl how the laud lays. She won’t go book on me, cause the goat was not loaded for hired girls. She just happened to get in at tho wrong time. Good bye, sir. Remember and give your goat kyan peppor in your lodge.” As the boy went away, and skip- poil over tho back fence, tbe grocery ■unn said to his brother Odd Fellow. “If that boy don’t beat tbe devil then I never saw one that did. The old man oughler have him sent to a lu natic asylum.” ______ not w ecT n drinkers. keeps np 1 Wm. of Bellvieu has on tbe college turned from been for the material to constrdet house thereon. It wf some residence, and etructed immediately. Register: Mr. Q. W. 97 catfish in tbe ___ Salt crock near Amity, glad to learn tbrt t «se ' IT . A citizen of Miobigan who Las something of a reputation for bia infidel views and argnmenta hap pened to meet seven or eight clergy men at a railroad station as they wore waiting to take the train to attend a conference, and introducing himself to ono of them he said: •T want half an hour’s talk with the smartest of your crowd. Who is he?” ‘‘Well, Brother White is pretty smart,” was tbe reply. The infidel walked up to the cler gy in an named and bluntly began: ‘‘Preacher White, yon hold that there is a God, don’t you?” “ Yes, sir.” “ And a heaven and a hell? ’ crook some time ago, i bare * at Portland. From Mr. Bnsh’a quarter ending Nov. peart that the total of tbe Oregon Penii the quarter, were |fi, total earnings addition to these work wee Asylum number of the qi Tbe remains of 5^ “*“ ~ 8th inst. was dock hunting, w D “ Y os , sir.” “And that none but believers can himself from a band oi drift be obaneed to be saved?” body under a “Just so.” Tbe “ Well, sir, I don’t believe any the body am such tbing, and I’il defy you to con bones were vince me." “ I shan’t try to, air." Yon wool? Don’t you want me to lio saved?” “ No, sir—no sir, I wouldn’t waste five minutes to send you straight to heaven.” “ Why not?" “ Why not?” Why,sir, folk* have l>een going to heaven by the million for thoifeands of years, and there is now such a crowd np there that • small soul like yours coaid no more be found or beard of than an atom of snad thrown into tbe middle of the ocean. l i e too email potatoes to pay for tbe hoeing.” When sovereignty is