Show I c c THE CHRISTMAS CAROL CAROLy by y Helen Waterman HE E Chris Christmas mas Spirit if such sucha T a sprite there be must have fled tied In dismay from old Silas Wentworth for a crustier harder less spirited Christmas man mm would be hard to Imagine Yet Sally Blaine Elaine his clerk and bookkeeper had the temerity to bring Christmas into le te store stringing lines Jines of tinsel Old Silas coming to work stopped and stared at this unusual addition to the colored globes and patent medicines with which his windows were adorned Sally BlaIne rather frightened now looked up Merry Christmas Christmas Christ Christ- mas Mr Wentworth Silas surveyed the store grimly Take it down But Sally hesitated I said take it il down More of your fool notions What's this Dickens Christmas Carol sir He thrust the book bool on a 3 back shelf Humph Dont Don't let me catch you reading on the job Yes sir Im I'm sorry about the decora decorations At nine o'clock on Christmas eve Silas saw out his last customer and began putting up the shutters It was beastly cold and his numb fingers were slow at their task As Ashe Ashe Ashe he was about to lock up he was confronted by bv two men one carry carry carry- ing a revolver Let us in and lock the door said the man Silas his teeth chattering from fear more than cold complied Now if youre you're quiet you wont won't get hurt said the spokesman esman My pal here has had an accident I need some medicines You'll be paid all right Of course of course Silas answered an an- an answered aid ard brou brought ht out a stock of supplies The wounded man spoke up Sorry to keep you on Christmas eve buddy Silas grunted Tommyrot t. t The other mar mar- marhad had been rummaging rummaging rum rum- maging about the store Here r a ll ll 1 Silas Surveyed Survey the tiro Store Grimly Take It Down he commanded I III cant can't watch what youre you're doing So you read aloud until I get through And h he handed Silas Christmas Carol Caro He was scarcely half halt way through when the men paid him and left He threw the book down and started off but at the door he turned and sitting by the night nightlight nightlight light read again So like me he muttered as he finished From the wastebasket he drew out the tinsel and strung it awkwardly awkwardly awkwardly awk awk- awk- awk around the store He looked through his accounts marked Overdue and selected several bills which he marked Paid in Full FuJI and put in proper envelopes Then Chen he got his wraps Merry Christmas Christinas Silas he exclaimed exclaImed exclaimed ex ex- claimed and w went nt out to the d dawning dawn ing of his first merry one me in man many years fo Aca Nc Nc-Atrat-cr sra Tier Union |