Judge — December 3, 1910 — page 37: what you’re looking at

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

fellow, too, Maria. Feel like a kid playing stunts like this—fact. Stockings hung, of cour “Yes—there they are,” said his wife, as she indi- cated two pairs of boys’ hosiery that dangled limply from the mantle above the sitting room fireplace. “Til go out to the bam and tog up as Santa and get the bundles sacked. Like to come along and oversee things, Maria?” That just suited Mrs. Muggs, and she read- ily assented A few moments later, by lantern-light in the bam, Mr. Muggs entered upon the ordeal nsferring himself to the personality of ron saint of Christmastide. He was in the very early stages of this feat when there occurred a happening that conclusively proved the deep and abiding interest possessed by Johnny ard Billy Muggs in Santa Claus. The bare- footed and still as mice, crept down the broad stairw ed cautiously at the two limp pairs of stockings “Huh—he ain't come yet, Billy!" whis- pered Johnny, in a tone of disgust he but didn’t us remarked Billy, in an aggrieved two, and + ybe has, leave nothin’! voice. Johnny scampered to the fireplace and peered inside. “No—he ain't t cause the red paint I put on them bricks ain't rubbed off!” At this precise moment Billy Muggs had his great idea. He almost staggered with the weight of it. more paint left?” You bet—half a can full!” Well, let's paint the tiles in front of the grate good and thick. Then Santa will step ren here he asked. in it and we can track him right to his lair!" *Gee-min—e Fine!" said Johnn: ad miringly It took him about fifteen seconds to pro- duce the paint and in three more he was hard at work on the tiles, It was quite a stretch —about three feet by five—but the paint spread well under his enthusiastic strokes, He put it on thick—three coats in some WOULDN'T IT BE GREAT IF WE COULD WORMS AS BIG AS THESE !” JUDGE places—for he wanted to be sure of getting a good impression of old Santa’s feet It was finally finished and the boys stood ack to admire it, It was an artistic job, and it had required a lot of paint. “But how will we track ‘im? We won't know he’s come till after he’s gone, maybe.” That was a poser for Billy, and he looked dubious. Only for a moment, though— then he had the exact remedy. “Tacks, Johnny! Just sprinkle around on the carpet and he'll step on ‘em and yell, and that'll wake Then we can catch ‘im right at it! “Now you're whistlin ny, warmly, The tacks were planted—freely and pro- miscuously. After this the darlings stroiled back to bed and were soon lost in dreamless slumber—the sleep of innocence and youth. Presently Mrs. Muggs entered the house and tumed the light down a notch or two. some us up. exclaimed John- ea —- “T VILL JUST NOTE DOWN Zr NAME OF ZE STREET; zex [swat KNOW VERE TAs STAYING. She then placed it carefully on the mantle over the stockings. She intended to cast as soft and beneficent a light over good old anta Claus as her scanty means at hand forded Having finished her pre silently up the stairs to await the appearance of Muggs—alias Santa Claus. This was not long—for Muggs’ feet were rapidly freezing in the moose-skin moccasins that had come with the S: He had been his warm shoes for the arctic slippers He sneaked softly and silently through the kitchen door and approached the scene of his labor of love. Whatever we might say or think conceming Ephraim Muggs’ better judgment (or his worse), he made a first- class Santa Claus. He was as fat and dim- ply and innocent as Kriss Kringle ever dared to look. Mrs. Muggs could hardly believe her eyes as she watched him loosen his pack and lower it to the floor. He then glanced up the stairs and caught her eye. A vigorous sweep of his arm and ations, she crept nta costume yame and discarded she scurried away to bring the young hope- fuls for whose benefit this earnest d being played. They were extreme awaken until they found out that Claus had arrived—then it was hard to re- strain their enthusiasm They kept fairly quict, however, led them to the head of the stairs and pointed out the engaged in stuffing various-sized bundles and packages into the stockings and on the mantle above. It was a touching scene—and beautiful. The spec- tators were wholly absorbed in it and scarcely breathed and quietude hovered over them like a dove until—very suddenly—Santa Claus emitted a double ir about saint busily Peace barrelled roar and went up into th rd and a half. Wow—oo! Gosh—all—HEMLOCKS!" wailed Santa Claus Mrs. Muggs stiffened in apprehension and fright “What is it, “It's a sufferin’, blood-red, murder! That's what it is! How um—how'd tacks get on this floor?" “Tacks?” That interested Johnny and Billy immensely, and they took part in the festivities at once “We put ‘em there—so we could hear Santa Claus when he stepped on ‘em!" they said artlessly. “WHA neath Mrs. Muggs’ face was fortunately concealed by a friendly shadow —but could not speak ta Claus?” moonlight th’—o h—er—! the saint be- * bellowed she Santa Claus was gazing fiercely up the sta scemed to bristle in his indi Not gettin from the gro above, he took a hasty step forward -right on the edge of the ting. (Continued in Adr ining Section.) way —he vation. reply DIRECTIONS. Take one before each meal. comicbooks.com