The press and standard. [volume] (Walterboro, S.C.) 1890-current, December 13, 1916, Image 12
* • . 1 • * ■
^
' j *
.^1
TAGE twelve
THE PRESS AND STANDARD
U
Wednesday, December l:;,
M
N the little town of
old
Um
’1# • (treat
Mon «a the
»efj^ aecJaded kind of
' * «>
V,
■
Hr
(f**
> :
I' % •' -*
I ■ ^
growinc harder and harder.
eted-verj- httle"*ttPir"i~ whefTts safifa'Claus com
ing?" inquired little Bill}-. ,
For a while mother didn't M*em to
want to say anything. A large tear 1
“New France. a j
few miles from Que
bec, there lived an
old man by the
name of Perry Fan-
chion. He was
about sixty years
of age. t n wealthy
bachelor, who. with the excep-
of a housekeeper, lived alone
weather-beaten old man-
river road. He lived ,
_ r — __ Ufn* was
seldom sVn wx>a the streets of the .
loww.- art!-farte
lion when he was seen. There Were
hardly ten people in the place that
knew the ipan or anything concerning
his life.
Yet there had been a time in the
life of Perry Fanchion when h* 4 had
attracted n great deal of attention,
and won the sympathy and pity of
the whole town. That had been over
forty years ago, and in the meantime
the town had changed from a village
into a city. The old families had died i
‘out and the younger generation had
forgotten the history of Perry Fan-
chion. --4^
It was Christmas eve night and Wit-
terly«cold. Sleet and snow drove with
incessant fury against the gn at Fr« n»h
windows. The heavy old oak door*
rattled and shook, while the wind
shrilled mournfully among the many
old-fashioned gables and chimneys.
Perry sat gazing into the fire, ills
hair was snow-white, his eyes were
dark, and tonight they had a tragic^
gloomy look. . •
On the old colonial furniture the
Sinister faces carved there grlnm d hop
JL u i and the Iron claw* m-enied to
rapid, nervous strides snd entered a
little family burying ground. He wa*
gone for thirty minutes and when be
returned his face showed traces of
„ deep emotion.
“Good-night, sweetheart, I have wait
ed forty years; surely the end cannot
be far distant!“ be murmured as he
softly closed the gate.
There came a jingling of sleigh bells
—a sleigh drove up. he entered arid
was whirled sway over* the snow.
In a tiny little hovel on the edge of
the city five little curly-headed chil
dren, dressed in old and ragged but
clean clothes were grouped around a
small Are trying to keep warm. Their
mother was sewing for a living, her
husband having died several years ago,
leaving the children td her to provide
for, and being a woman of good educa
tion. she was trying to rear her chil
dren as beat she might. She was hav
ing a jlesperate struggle and day by-
day she saw with despair the fight
THE (HRTSTMAS §70X1.
$
JL
« '
fell silently on h»T work. With
hasty movement, almost angrily, she
brushed it aside.
“Perhaps he won’t come at all!~ she ‘
repli«-d wi**! a little catch in her voice.!
"N-oHi-o-or*- »-ame u ehwrus of un-
believing voices from the fire.
"He is coming!”
Suddenly th*-re came a jingling of
bells and a sleigh drew up io front of
the home. - • -
"Whoop!“ yelled Johnny. “Come ou
kid*—Santa Claus.’ My eye!"
In an instant the fire was deserted
and live little heads were peering eag
erly out of the door.
"Gee willikins! Look at the toys!"
"Well, well." said Sauty in a loud
voice, pretending not to see the little
ones. "I hope the children are a!l
in bed tonight, for If they are not, 1
will not come again.”
Five curly beads vanished in a sec
ond. and when the old gentleman en
tered the room all were tucked snug
ly in bed—that is all but Billy, who
In his excitement and hurry pulled all
the cover up over his head aud left
hi* feet and body uncovered.
Santa Claus laughed Snd dumped the
contents of his pack near the hearth.
There were drums, dolls, tin soldiers,
books, candy, nuts aud fireworks.
'.luvt at this ne meat Killy's toe
rubt»ed up a splint, r. aOd tL. re cam.
a subdu.si grunt from the bed which
changed to a fitful, sleepy kind of
cough as the *VM fellow" turned!
around. The •mores redoubled in vol
ume. old Sauty . handed ipotie-r a
sealed envelope ai d d part.d before
she oould surte i. iiily p - ov. p fr-un her
confu*iotv and surpri^-- f-* ibauk hiu' '
It \ ;.* :iddr*» .-.l to her. vie* broke
tile - . ;d. Ttu**rutU ai d '-tib'danee ef
- . t*. l.oiH. and property of
i .nch;.. , and uictblng like ti\>*'Imn-
dr 1 r* r ■ • . *.•• herv^!- s» th *
(!* • > •!••..; h of iv.ry Famhioa, V ..
' ‘i i- i ' * at ! ''' ‘'-’ nv!! Of" the »■
' * .. .* S. t .. i- ?b friehd 4-f ' t
O s
M. L. SHOOB Clothing and Shoes M. L SHOOB
^ \
' The
* *'
Christmas
Store
We have^n hand a full line ot LADIES* READY-
TO-WEAR, > the very styles of SKIRTS, and
WAISTS in Crepe de Chine and Silks in all colors *
. ' • _ - . ■ .. ■ ■ *
and styles you want. Have you seen them yet?
. * x - / • . j ' ■ ^
We have different gifts for ladies and children
A VERY BIG LINE OF LADIES AND
CHILDREN’S SHOES - *
Call For the “Christmas Store”
1 7'- X
/
••Well, Wc
Hope the Cinldren Are
Ail in Ced. 1 *
gfiji ill* |U , Hturd. itv though th«y
w. rc r> j r-. .brj ro:.i«‘ dark ciuotlon or '
f.}| th'.n^Kr:
Ft i * t hi 1 night i*crr>'
/Was i hjrppj in,.n, for tomorrow, he
was t-> many (So beautiful Mi-* Nhl- ; •
1y L*-ro;', daughter of
fit. Ague*.
• I a po<
•
'ii r la .'.i*- w«i- oiily one ol the iiiul-.y
i • 1 h h<- bad h< • > ,l!;at,J...d»l. T <-
>-, r:-,vv h<; woukf honor biui. They
«,:«• and nil to tiiunk him.
t.< jc : i>.* him. to b!.him—|"’rb*i>*
t » b g for ua-re a* the ia>»* might he.
•\ 'I be -h igh vti.ipp.-d at the Fanthien
d unfo, tunate will# »L— j
•end and ,»bl Santa Claus paid
the rector of U* • dilyer and cnter.*<l the hou*e.
I Pcny was wear) and us he walk.*!
But that great factor In the events down the dark, gloomy hall he almost
of n man's career, fatewilled other
wise, for only a few days before th©
wedding was to take place the bride-
*to-be wits stricken With u fatal Illness
and !<■>* than a week l«t<-r wa* laid
•way in the village graveyard.
After the futieral Perry Fanchion
abut hfinself up. almost alone, in the
great hpuve. Time moved pn and im*<>-
plc forgot' One by one hi* friends
left him, until at last he stiKxl alone, a
stranger m a stranger world!
About tbl* time the jssirer people,
the destitute of the city, bc-aiue aware
of the fact that they had a friend.
0 very good mysterious friend, my
terlous b< is live, t^' as they might (and
•lid) they never could discover his
identity.
One time when a severe^landlord
was utiout to turn a i«"*r family out
of the home they llyt^d in. because
they were not aMe^to pny the rent,
that family foumFthe required amount
t nnd a short note asking them to ue-
cept the nXiey as a gift, by the fire
place. <<everul times ineidents like
this Hn urred among ihe unfortunate.
b'Jt us to wlure these mysterious pres
ents rirne from, or by whom present
ed. none could ever tell. But the chil
dren Mivpet tivl Siiiitn Claus ot baciug
a hand in the matter.
Ilk’ -
id. d^n,
i*»- the gr
Tonight as Perry \*at by the fire he
was very sad and very, verv lonesome.
The town eloek struek ten. Perry
•rose, il<'tim'd a huge fur coat to
piny ‘hi* little net bravely. . A worn,
tin-d smile played around hi* usual!)
grim mouth as he Thought of the scenes
of joy ititd p.nrrry he would witness
thl* night lb < i>v «e<! t!ie town, with
< v ' i
liioppcsl with fatigue. Fatigue of the
I * *ly, weariness of the soul, the sore
ness of m broken heart, all conspired
agajnvt him! Wearily he slid oyrt of
the disguise. His eyes wandeyed with
a pitiful expression over the empty,
dark room. None/caine to welcome
him. No one to hne,»<ir care for him.
She had gone on before. Perhaps she
was waiting for btm up there-nnw^/He 1
didn’t know. ^The blood eljuMing
grinned and the cruel »juw»_.g^tpped.
He drew- one of the heavy obj chair*
up before the dying emt*«*rs and east
bowing his head far over into
grate. Closer be huddled. What
was this dreadful chill that seemed to
'be taking possession of his body? HU
' great sorrow preyed upon him.
"Oh. God!" he murmured; “I can
stand it no longer." .
Something gentle and soft stroked
his hair! bis hair that was white as
snow. Two arms encircled him lov-
Ingly. .,#X
He looked up. at first uttlwlievingly.
and then a wonderful smile lit up his
fai-e.
"Nelly T he exclaimed, joyously. “At
last you have none for me. 1 knew you
would! I thank Thee o —"
Ills voice trailed away to the dis
tance.
•>< ,r. iii:.- vtoro is the “Christ
mas Store.*’ radiating th
< ; .tm spirit with so L^p.ir
v v i • - '■ 7
/•>va''ie < hrivtma' gir>s. K a*
v v '-- - /
th i .. • mis men-.K rs fr i!
c\ :*v -ihg!e homC‘ n (‘olleton
. i.ty and the m'ty of Walftr-
bdo 5;i:e Lrtminyf their-iteps to
the ‘Cknstmas Store." where
th vXare rr-tkiriK their Christ-
pfas purchases.
M. L. Shoob
WALTERBORO. S. C.
/
.is complete tor Christmas
0 / v » . •
_ / \ V ./ e
Mens and Boys’ suits, shoes of all
makes, Men’s Furnishings
and a fine line of Men’s Ties. Dre>- Ginve.v^Y
° / ? ■ - / . .
" iHXnd in our store eveiything youx^e.ed. Ou •
/i ices are the talk of the county.
■
Opposite Roger Hdw. Co.- Walterboro, S. C.
“The Christmas Store'*
—
The fire di»*d out and the fac-es no
longer grlmd. but *e»'m,*d to smile
in the darkness. Far off. juvt a* the
dawn was breaking, the chimes rang
out their message. Wa* it fancy or
did a soul far out in *pare echo:
“Glory to (owl tn the highest and
vi earth peace, good wrill toward men.”
Perry w as at reft!
. I
l.
Sample Shoes For
~ XMAS
/= - x • . ,
Our Mr. Fromherg has just returned from the North
where he purchased a full supply of n^w Sample Shoes
f r the Christmas trade. These shoes are bought for the
least money possible and will be .sold accordingly. Come
in and see them for yourself- >
NOT ONLY SHOES BIT EVERYTHING ELSE
v x x. xL . ’ ' -- /. •
Store
H. M. FROMBERG, Proprietor.
Next to First National Bank.
x
“5“
v
X
Ltiok over your supply of shoes, and if you find that > ou need a new pair, or an old pair made to look tike new.
£ee our stock, or bring us your old ones. We are able to fit you with a new shoe, the best that money can buy.
or we are able to repair your old ctie so that it will look as good as new.'
A. FINKEL’S SHOE SHOP,
THE CORNER STORE. Next Corner
to Terry A Shaffer
V
\
x.
XX