Santa Claus's Partner

exercise. He had been working rather too hard of late. However, he was wo

, blocking the way and forcing such as were in a hurry to get off the sidewalk. The shop-windows were all brilliantly dressed and lighted. Every conception of

th wonders from every region: dolls that walked and talked and sang, fit for princesses; sleds fine enough for princes; drums and trumpets and swords for young heroes; horses that looked as though they were alive and would spring next moment from their rockers; bats and balls that almost

frost of Arctic travel from the land of unfailing snow and unfailing toys, stood beside hi

filled the windows for squares and squares. Science and Art appeared to have combined

ery. Strangers in sheer good-will clapped each other on the shoulder and exchanged views, confidences and good wishes.

ristmas was ab

e middle of the street; but the carriages and delivery-wagons were so thick, that he turned off, growling, and took a l

uch poorer class surged in and out of the doors; small gamins, some in ragged overcoats, more in none, gabbled with and shouldered each other boisterously at the windows and pressed their red noses to the frosty panes, to see through the blurred patches made by their warm breath the wondrous marvels within. The little pastry-shops and corner-groce

idewalk again and take to the street. Here, at lea

tomachs, kicking their heels high in the air; others with small single or double or triple headed monsters seated upright and all screaming at the top of their merry voices. All were unmindful of the f

n a score of times. He felt that it was an outrage. He fairly flamed with indignation. He, a large taxpayer,

round for a

Swish! they shot by. Livingstone had to dodge fo

r inspecting silently a group of noisy urchins squabbling over the division of two sticks of paint

one acco

.-It was dangerous, he declared; he himself had almost been struck by one

y in the direction of the hill. He moved so deliberately and with such

you stop that sliding and enforce the law, or I shall report

please about that," said the offi

d instantly every sled stopped. Not so the tongues. Babel broke loose. Some went off in silence; others crowded about the officer, expo

plained, and you must s

on Livingstone w

ert. "We ain't a-hurtin' him! Wh

't no gentleman-a gentleman don't never interfere w

or impatient stole off to find new an

warmed again into life and fun and joy. He did not know this; but he bore off with him a new thorn which even his fe

ven to Poverty and found it filled. But Livingstone took no part in it. The chilly and threadbare street-venders of shoe-strings, pencils and cheap flowers, who to-nigh

ey ought to be run

same gait with him, and in a cajoling tone

ies," snarled Livingstone, conscious

here,

the d

opped in h

, to a woman who was toiling along with a large bundle. Holding out a pi

cents," h

eagerness brushed against him. Livingstone gave him a shove which sent him spinning away across the side

f success