Judge — December 24, 1904 — page 4: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "The Opportune Christmas Gift" This page presents a illustrated short story by Ed. Mott titled "A Touching Tale of One Time When Uncle David Was a Boy." The narrative concerns Solomon Cribber, described as an "unfailing Homer of the Pochuck country," recounting a dramatic winter tale to his assembled listeners at Kiar Buff's tavern. The story describes young Uncle David's encounter with bears in snowy mountain wilderness—a frontier adventure tale typical of 19th-century American humor. The illustration shows a bear in a snowy landscape. This appears to be nostalgic humor celebrating rural/frontier storytelling traditions rather than political satire. The "opportune Christmas gift" likely refers to the entertaining story itself being offered as holiday entertainment for Judge's readers.