Judge — December 17, 1898 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

Suage ALL THE REQUISITES. Old Goldbonds—" So you would like to make a matrimonial alliance with my daughter, ch? Well, sir, let me tell you the man who marries my daughter must be a slap-dash, nervy business man.” Young Brassey—" That's me, sir. My motto is business before pleasure always. Let us sit down and come to some satisfactory conclusion as to ‘a yearly allowance for our living expenses. I will go in the parlor and, , Spoon and make love to Ethel after, si A HOLIDAY EPISODE. é ARNES said that Christmas-giving was being carried too far. He was going to stop right short and give nothing this year. He forbid every advance preparation in his home. When Christmas morning came he felt very virtuous with no holiday expenses hanging, over his head. In fact, his spirits were so high that when Sambo wished him a merry Christmas before he had left his room —more times than was strictly necessary—he finally reached in his pocket. “Tam not keeping Christmas this year,” he said jovially, “but you've been very faithful. Well, take this and don’t say anything about it.” The colored boy grinned his@urprise at the figure on-the bill. Mr. Barnes hurried to his breakfast. At the'table his children raised teary eyes to his every time he addressed them. If they had been cross he should have “ known how to manage.” But the patient disappointment was too much, ..Before the meal was over he had given his wife a roll of crisp bank- bills and told her to buy those poor children every single thing they had set their hearts on. Then it seemed positively brutal to leave her out. When he made out a cheque for her he said he thought he might as well make it a pretty large one, as this little giving in the family was to be the limit. Mrs. Barnes quite agreed with her husband, since “ we are to have no tree for our friends this year.” She urged the same reason in excuse for twice the size of their usual donations for the newsboys’ dinner and the old-people’s-home funds. When Barnes went up stairs to get ready for the club the cook and both housemaids haunted thé upper hall. He argued that they were as faithful as Sambo; surely they ought not to be for- gotten. And they were not. He thought, too, that it wasn’t right “to take his econ- omy out of “such people as his boot-black and his old newspaper woman, and the postman. “ That is just what I think,” said Mrs. Barnes; “and I know you will be better satisfied to make the presents larger than usual since we are to have no tree for our friends or anything.” On the same principle she ordered many expensive luxuries and an extra floral display for their dinner, “to make things look a little more Christmasy.” When Mr. Barnes was hanging up his empty pockets that night the wife of his bosom said, “ If everybody would car- ry out your Christmas theory as you have done all that foolish extravagance would be stopped.” The husband smiled weak- ly. Mrs. Barnes added, “ But of course, dear, as I've told all our friends, we will make it up at new-year’s, We can’t al- low ourselves to be set down as really mean.” VIOLETS WALL. VAIN REGRETS. O WATCH the youngster with his sled Make merry, knowing care nor pain, We sigh for years forever fled, A NATURAL MISTAKE. ‘And wish we were a boy again, Mrs, Hayrick—"* Now this is what I call real han'some uv ther railroad. I only hope ther milk 's good, though.” A LEAF FROM NATURE. THE CHRISTMAS MESSENGER. HEN the little Prince of heaven Lay upon His manger-bed, And the magi came to see Him, It was not a star that led, But a shepherd-boy, who traveled In the snows of Christmas morn, Telling everywhere the tidings— “Christ is born!" Waking in the stable-corner, This is what the shepherd saw— Clothed in light, a naked baby On a bed of broken straw. Still without the stars were shining Tn the dark of Christmas morn, But the place was filled with glory— Christ was born ! So, forgetting cap and mantle, Though the air was raw and chill, Forth’he ran to meet the crimson Dawning on the windy hill. Sweet and clear as silver music, _ In the frosty Christmas morn, Rang the news to hall and hovel— ** Christ is born !" Since the shepherd spread the tidings Centuries their wings have furled In the dust of buried nations, Bat his voice has filled the world. If you listen you will hear it O’er the snows of Christmas morn Calling in eternal gladness, “Christ is born I" MINWA IRVING, comicbooks.com