Judge — December 19, 1896 — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

Christmas Judge. te wees “ae yon tums HARD ROUTE TO TRAVEL. anit wo qq Wy SANTA CLAUS (who has arrived at Brooklyn, gazing at the tall church-steeples)—"" And now my work commences in real earnest.” WHAT THE PRESENTS SAID TO THE CHRISTMAS-TREE. ELLO! are you here again?” said the tree to the sealskin sacque. “Tthought I had seen the last of you last Christmas. What are you doing here again ?” The sealskin sacque looked haughtily around at a number of minor presents before replying. “T regret to say I am still on duty,” it said with a cold and resentful manner, “Sometimes I wish I had never been born. I am now on my last rounds among my poor relations, and after that I go to the servants. This year Cousin Jane, who married against her father’s wishes, gets me, and I don’t know who may own me next. I hope in my next incarnation I may be a chiffon boa and wear out in six weeks. My staying qualities have made me very tired.” “Humph!” said the tree it does seem like tough luck. Ah, my young friend,” to a fine bicycle whose steel spokes glinted in the light, “here you are with snow on the ground, and "—— “ Pardon me,” said the bicycle, ringing its bell merrily, “do you forget the clubs and the days when there is no snow on the ground? I amright in it all the time, and there will be no more joyful youth in christendom * than the one who gets me to-morrow.” “ You are in good fortune, my friend,” observed the tree. “ And how vith you?” to a magnificent diamond brooch, The brooch shot out brilliant starry rays that flashed gem-like for an instant and then faded. “Twill rest on the bosom of a beauty,” it said, “and thousands will see and admire me, but she will only sigh and drop a tear over me, for this is the gift of duty and not of affection, and my starry radiance will gleam above a broken heart.” “You have my sympathy,” said the tree softly. a beautiful, blue-eyed wax doll, “I am glad tosee you. It would not seem like Christmas without you.” ‘The doll only blushed and looked prettier than ever“ Thank you, sir,” was all she could say. “ really think,” began the tree, but stopped short as a little old drum, faded and battered, caught his eye. “Eh! what's this?” he said, but not unkindly. “ Where did you "— “Please don’t scold me,” said the drum in a faint voice.“ The little boy who owned me last Christmas has died and his mother has sent me toa boy in the tenement districts who cried for one last year. I can't make as much noise as I used to, but I'd like very much to be a Christmas gift and make somebody happy.” All the frosted cotton on the tree sparkled. gift,” said the tree. the place of honor. “ Ab, my dear,” to “ My dear, you shall be a When the candles were lit the little red drum had M,C PRANCIS, IN COLONIAL DAYS THE TURKEY HAD SOME CONSOLATION, comicbooks.com