Judge, 1889-12 · page 24 of 53
Judge — December 1889 — page 24: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Judge* magazine contains sentimental and humorous Christmas-themed content typical of the era. **"A Christmas Reverie"** is a nostalgic poem about a man recalling a Christmas Eve when he met his beloved, describing lost love, jealousy, and reconciliation. The narrative ends domestically—he's now married, waiting for his wife to fill stockings upstairs. The cartoon vignettes below are brief domestic humor sketches: - **"More Particular Than Santa Claus"**: A child's muddy dress excuse - **"A Noisy Present"**: A child blowing a whistle, mocking adult complaints - **"Saving Up for His Present"**: A wife hiding money from her husband - **"A Rare Bird"**: Ethnic humor about an Irish character's malapropism regarding a cat's whiskers - **"Voting for the Quilt"**: A church fair committee chairman's procedural joke; Brother Hilyar prefers going home to pairing off with Sister Thwing for the vote The humor relies on domestic situations, class observations, and period stereotypes rather than sharp political satire.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
CHRISTMAS JUDGE A CHRISTMAS REVERIE. LIGHT my pipe at the fitful flare Of low red embers that wink and blink, And settle myself in my cushioned chair To stare at the drowsy fire and think— BP To dream of a Christmas éve gone by, When hearts had passion and love was new, : And stars shone bright in youth's cloudless sky And all life’s visions were sweet and true. Alone in the fire-light—quite alone. The clock ticks on with its clear refrain, And high on the ceiling the shadows thrown Crowd like the phantoms that haunt my in, Change and waver and fade, until Swift, sudden flames for a moment start, And the room is bright with the self-same thrill ‘That stirs the depths of my dreaming heart. How fair she was in the Christmas light ‘That swept out over the whirling snow, As the sleighs drew near through the stormy night To the friendly threshold and ruddy glow. With smile of welcome and outstretched hand, The snow-flakes kissing her soft brown hair, In the open door-way I saw her stand, And my heart kneeled down to her then and there. Can there ever come to this life of mine A time when the burden of days and years Shall hide and shadow this dream divine ‘That was born in laughter and grew in tears? When I shall remember no more, no more, ‘That Christmas eve when our eyes first met, And I envied the snow-flakes drifting o'er Her silky braids where a rose was set ? We loved, yet the grief of parting came ; Mad jealousy broke love's charmed spell ! I know not now which was most to blame, Her pride or mine ; but it’s just as well ; For we made it up and are lovers still ! ‘And I'm sitting here in the fire-light’s glow Since she stole up-stairs with some toys, to fill Three stockings, hung in a waiting row. pxIDoKS. Mrs, BRANNIGA: Mr. BRANNIGAN—' MORE PARTICULAR THAN SANTA CLAUS. Dolly—"\ don't see how you got so much mud on your dress. look at me.” Bessie—* But you must remember I wore my old stockings.” Just A NOISY PRESENT. Mrs, Brown—" Don't you think you had better stop blowing that whistle?” Little Johnnie—" Why don't you put your fingers in your ears?” SAVING UP Young Wife be able to find it.” Matron—" Why not put it in your pocket?” FOR HIS PRESENT. “I want to hide this money so my husband won't she “a EE ae i bia EAM eset A RARE BIRD. Ellen Brannigan !" * What is it, Jerry ?” ‘Thot cat has so manny pfwhiskers he has t’ ate wid th’ ind of his tail.” VOTING FOR THE QUILT. CHAIRMAN OF FAIR COMMITTEE—"* As we haven't enough ballots within two to go around, I move that Brother Hilyar and Sister Thwing pair off.” Brotner Hi.var—"'I guess I'd ruther go home.’ comicbooks.com