Judge — December 31, 1881 — page 19: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

SUPPLEMENT.) AT THE ROLLER RINK. Mr. Tisttp ought to have known better; but he didn't. The trouble all arose from the ex- cellent skating powers of Mr. McGlibber, who was a perfect gymnast on wheels, and could perform more variations on the long roll than any young gentleman in the city. This gave Mr. MeGlibber a temporary advantage over Timid in the m securing the company of Miss Cleverly for at least five evenings of the week. This is why Timid determined to meet McGlibber on his own ground and van- quish him, and explains the appearance of shanky young man on roliers for the first time, with an expression of defiance on his nd_an entire absence of grace countenane in his presen ** Just the simplest thing in the world, Mr. Timid,” remarked the instructor, “Get a little eontidence and then throw yoursel “Suppose now," said Timid, “that I should throw myself before I get the confidence you speak of ?” and a sickly smile came over his face as he felt a certain uncasiness about his knees and observed that his toes turned in, and t he had lost the military knack of turning them out. “Oh, of course, you may fall once or twice, but you mustn't mind t Just wateh me for a moment, and do as F do. Mr. Timid hor rved that the instructor gently slid his right foot forward, and he fol- lowed suit. Something immediately fell. Mr. Timid’s right foot actly opposite his obs was ¢ left. “Nobody but a lor ed idiot ever falls that way,” muttered Timid as he gathered him: together. ‘One more fall like that and I should split my legs clear te bone,” and scorning the instructor's Ie branched out for hi “How gracefully easy that MeGlibber is on those confounded things,” and that gentleman leaning back gently whizzed past Mr. Timid on one and deigned a pitying bow of recognition. Mr. nid’s mad was up. He'd skate three ti around that rink if he broke every bone in his body and was carried home in a hospital wagon. Business now began. “Wher, wherr, wherrr,” went the roll and whack, slam went Mr. Timid inst the safety rail right beneath where Miss Cleverly sitting. “Beg pardon,” said he. “Oh, not at all, I assure you, sweet reply. “You're doing nicely.” And so he was, if hard work is any crite- rion. He kicked himself all about on one foot, he leaned back to get his balance and nearly scraped the gaslights off with his heels, he stooped forward to see that his skates were all right and he found himself ing for the soft places in the floor. Once he tried tipping his hat to a lady friend, and he tipped his stalwart frame to the verge of un- certainty and went headlong with a crash, bringing down the prettiest skating couple in the rink with him. But he persevered. He stamped and jumped and threw his arms wildly in the air, but kept moving, and be- fore he left the rink he had measured his length, his breadth, his depth and his thick- ness on nearly every part of the floor, ‘and ny breast as the | went three ti 1 he | A CHRISTMAS EVE 2a Wieto head. racious sakes ‘lice, Mel Hide yer head, be had proved that as an amateur acrobat he had discovered forty-nine new positions in which a human body could be twisted. He ‘ound the rink, in s tions, but when he bade good-night to Mis Cleverly he was reduced to pulp. He vows that he never mounts the rollers again until the rink floor is padded.—New Haren keg ister, CHRISTMAS THOUGHTS. RY MRS. D. M. JORDAN, Sometimes, when the day is fading into the gray twilight and the stillness of the house | ay it and think how it was only a ame with Chr te y picture books and toys, and a beautiful doll for the one fgirl of the flock. Now the boys who bounded downstairs ylight grown to the stature of men, with the cares and responsibilities of riper years upon them, and the girl dre of her own. Ah, joyful as Christmas times are, they bring floods of tears as we fuel the longing to gather them all once more under the old roof. How curiously my thoughts have drifted into somber ways, when I meant to say some- thing very different. But there are those into whose homes and lives the same changes have crept, and for these I will write this once. I meant to write about the all-absorb- ing subject of Christmas presents, There are fifty thousand people or more walking the streets of almost y city, thinking about Christmas presents. It is a pity that Christ- mas does not come a month earlier, for then presents could be largely made up of winter clothing and usefal articles of wear; whereas, at this time of year, most persons are sup- plied with such necessaries. It would be so nice Then there | to let a new over Christinas gill, and a el the place of the t jolinny answer for a ak for Mary supply clets or ear-rings. 1 Alphonso bi Thitnself with a sealskin cap, when she had made np her mind to cover her dear head with that kind of shelter her Now she will give him a i | her initial and it will be too lar insi his little 1 nd not quite lai for the third. re we made unhappy. But is one th is giN-making that | is a most happy mus 0} nl that that pleasure comes with the inexpensive | ag well as the costly gifts, and shines in upon the five cent toys and gaudy vikerchiefs of the hovel as well as the diamond neckie: nd grand pianos of the palace. Go along the dingy and the pn streets of the city on Christmas d al you shall find the shouts of the childern munching their balls of pop-corn loude than those of their more delie: si onthe avennes. Ch and joyous to all to whom it brings some unusual pleasure, some exceptional duty, and that is an unfortunate family indeed where nothing shall come to brighten life on this versal holiday.—Cincinnati Saturday d y-strieKen and merrier even brothers and jstmas is welcome We sce the shifting life of man, And alll his changi In looking back to piping Pan And old pastoral days, When satyrs in the sylvan glen Danced underneath the oak; The shepherd's pipe made music then, But now it scatters smoke! z Wh ‘Tne degree of comfort to be found in our railroad cars may be estimated by the fact | that passengers are seen carrying their over- coats on their arms as far as the train, when they proceed to don them. comicbooks.com