Judge — December 11, 1920 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

tad AnvisGna NCE more the happy bells ring out the message of good will to men, and every normal, human scout is full of happiness again. You see me prancing round and round upon my ancient, spavined limbs, and I am making joyous sounds, the fire of youth is in my glims Last year, just after Christmastide, I said, No more of this for me: henceforth Tl let the Christmas slide, with all its ecstasy and glee.” Last year [issued from my den and sang some carols in the snow, such as “God Rest You, Gentlemen,” and other good old songs you know. I sang high tenor at the start, but while I drilled around the place I caught a cold that broke my heart, and finally was singing bass. Next day the cold became the flu and then pneumonia set in; and when the doctor's bill was due. we all agreed it was a sin. And when U left my bed of pain, 1 0 Christmas stunts in mine; henceforth I shall be safe and sane, and let the young men fall in line. I hear the Christmas music flow, the church-bells sound their dings and dongs; tonight you'll see me in the snow, where Ull be singing Yuletide songs. A murrain on the vows I vowed, on all the measly oaths I swore! A man must join the jovous crowds when Christmas hammers at the door. Last year I bought all kinds of junk as presents for my “CPONIGHT YOULL She ME IN THE SNOW, WiteRE I'LL BE SINGING YULETIDE soNc “£ Ilustration by Cronduls tr Mason Rate Barton friends and foes; I blew in many a hard earned plunk for Noah's Arks and things like those, For days I chased around the town and bought a ton of useless traps, and with such presents loaded down my aunts and other harmless chaps. And they sent me less raft of foolish things that made me sore; and so I said, “This silly graft I will eschew, forevermore. Hereafter I shall send no gifts to any male or female jay; and if some friend a protest lifts, why, let him stand around and bray.” But when this Christmas time approached, the busy marts of trade [ sought; all day [ motored and I coached from store to store, and doodads bought. 1 cried to all the weary clerks, “Get busy now—don’t stand aloof! For I shall buy the whole blamed works, clear from the basement to the roof.” And all my friends got Noah's Arks, or monkevs dresses! in spangled duds; and doubtless they made sad remarks, and wished they had a quart of suds. The Christmas habit sticks, my dears; we can not shake it if we would; it’s lasted for two thousand years, and it is in our blood for good. And [am glad that this is so, nearer draw, our hearts grow colder than the snow, and much they need a yearly thaw And so I drop my fountain pen, and join the carol-singing crew, and shout, “God Rest You, Gentlemen,” and have bron- chitis and the flu. un ras the shadows 13