Judge — December 18, 1897 — page 38: what you’re looking at

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

Christmas Judge. A CHRISTMAS COURTING. $+] AM writing alone in an attic ‘ Where the windows are coated with frost And the beam of my flickering candle In the hovering shadows is lost. It is Christmas, I know by the holly And the music of bells overhead, But the last of my earthly possessions Isa ring that is worn to a thread. Were true I would give you a jewel Outflashing the gems in the skies. So spare but a thought on the morrow To the penniless lover who dares To send you his ring as a token, And murmur your name in his prayers.” In the snow and the starlight of Christmas He climbed to the stone balustrade To look in the long, lighted parlor Where the flutes and the viols were played. ‘And he saw her in satins and laces, And forgot he was hungry and cold, For sbe wore on her delicate finger His thin little circlet of gold. ‘If the dreams that I dream in the twilight, ‘When I think of your lips and your eyes, ACCOUNTED FOR. Piccao—""I wonder whata maka de beara so terrible sleepa feela, Ah! I remember now—this is ah only five mile srNMA mEvING. froma Philadelphia.” A MARVEL OF DECEPTION. First ConrIpeNce-MAN—" Hungry Joe had the most wonderful control of his features of any ‘con’ I ever knew.” SECOND CONFIDENCE-MAN—"' I understand he was a marvel.” FIRst CONFIDENCE-MAN—"* He was. Why, I've even seen that man look pleased when he saw what his wife had bought him for Christmas.” TESTIMONIAL. Messrs, GOUGER & STRINGER. Gentlemen—I partially lost my eyesight some years ago by being blinded by the success of other people’s ventures. About this time I determined to retire in life and made application for membership at the county poor:house, for life-membership without work, but was rejected by the faculty by not being disabled totally regarding the use of my eyesight. In the midst of my despair I heard of the remarkable curative properties of your justly-celebrated blue glasses, and at once borrowed the money and secured a pair. I wore them a few days, and to my great joy found that I could no longer see to wash. Being reassured by this, I redoubled the use-of your wonderful glasses by wearing them to bed of nights, and, to my joy and gratification, awoke one morning unable to find my boots or look my landlady in the face. Eureka! I was out of sight. The blue glasses had cured me of it. No more hand-to- mouth existence for me!—others should feed me with a spoon and 1 should get the desired life- membership at the poor-house and the “ without work” clause heavily underscored i: my papers. I therefore make acknowledgment publicly of your wonderful balsamic sight-destroyer, and thank you for putting me in the position of having my correspondence dictated. Yours gratefully, JASON CATERACT, Poverty Grange, N. J. CoprmanT 1897 BY THE JUDGE PUBLISHING COMPANY OF NEW YORE. comicbooks.com