Life, 1899-12-02 · page 24 of 44
Life — December 2, 1899 — page 24: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a humorous dialogue story about a tough neighborhood boy named Bobbie who has been fighting but still expects Santa Claus to bring him Christmas gifts. The narrator tests Bobbie's faith by asking whether Santa rewards good behavior, implying that fighting might disqualify him. The joke's punchline reveals Bobbie's shrewd, unsentimental pragmatism: he's already discovered that his parents have purchased most of his requested gifts (the bicycle, Indian book, and colored chalk are already hidden or ordered). He remains only uncertain about minor items like the bell and candy—the things genuinely dependent on Santa's goodwill. The satire gently mocks both childish naïveté about Santa and working-class children's street-smart awareness. The two illustrations show snowy rural/small-town Christmas scenes. The humor lies in Bobbie's faith being less about Santa's moral judgment and more about his practical knowledge that adults, not magic, provide gifts.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Deer: The Faith of Neighbor Bobbie. EIGHBOR BOBBIE was paying one of his casual visits, “Any trouble last week?” said I, for Bobbie needs to be‘cajoled into conver- sation. “Yep” “Fights?” ‘Two.” ‘‘And Christmas is almost here.” Bobbie met my glancewith unwinking eyes. ‘* I guess Santa Claus will forget some of the things you asked him to bring, eh?” said I. BAY, SANTA, THINK YOU'LL NEED ME THIS CHRISTMAS? “That's what maw says.” “You've written him a suppose?” “Yep.” “ Suppose he yot it?” But Bobbie would not commit himself + on this point. My suspicions were aroused, I would sound the depths of his faith. “Do you think Santa Claus likes boys who fight as well as those who are good?” Bobbie looked at his toes. “Come, now, do you?” “Yep,” said Bobbie, defiantly. “And you think he will bring you the letter, I same things he would if you hadn't fought at all?” “Yep.” “Youdo? Why?” “Well,” said Bobbie, ‘I ast him for areal bicycle with a bell to it, a box of chalk what bas colors, a lot of candy, and & book all about Indians.” “Well?” “The Indian book is on the top shelf in maw’s closet, so is the chalk, and the boy what works in Spencers’ told me pop ordercd the bike a week ago. Cuurse,” said Bobbie, “I ain’t dead sure about the bell nor the candy.” Sewell Ford, comicbooks.com