Johnstown High School - Spectator Yearbook (Johnstown, PA)

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14 SPECTATOR way clear to meet Percy’s expenses during the last half of the college term, so accept this check for three hundred dol- lars and send him back. Jasper.” Mr. Bradcliff gasped with joy. With tears in his eyes he grasped Uncle Jasper’s hand and exclaimed. “Forgive me, my dear old friend! For our boy’s sake, I accept.” With a light heart Mr. Bradcliff rounded up the family and scolded them for their discourtesy and ingratitude. “The motive back of the gift is all that counts!” declared Mr. Bradcliff as he soothed and quieted his indignant family. Uncle Jasper explained with many expressions of regret that he had no intention to hurt the feelings of any one. He withdrew all conditions upon which the gifts were given. Each one was to use the money as he or she wished. When good feeling was restored, Uncle Jasper announced When good feeling was restored, Uncle Jasper announc- ed, “I resign from membership in the impudent and insolent order of ‘Spugs.’ ” Told by a Christmas Stocking Coover Greer T7 It was long past midnight, and the Stocking began to be angry. “To be taken out of a nice comfortable drawer on a winter night,” it said querulously, “and not to be hung on a nice chair in front of the fire is a great misfortune.” A little girl lay fast asleep in the bed. The curtains were drawn across the window. A light burned nearby. The clothes of the sleeper lay neatly folded on a chair be- side the wall; the stockings which she had worn the day pre- vious hung dreaming over the back of this chair, and un- derneath were her little button shoes, both of them snoring. “I miss my mate,” said the stocking, glancing at the folded pair of sleeping stockings.” Just as it finished speaking, there was a noise in the chimney, and looking in the direction of the fireplace, the

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SPECTATOR 13 with a check for fifty dollars. She was directed to use the money for hair switches, powders, creams, and other toilet articles. She, too, was deeply insulted and turned with fury upon Uncle Jasper. She called him a “sneering old skin- flint who never looked at anything for any other purpose than to find fault.” She swept by Uncle Jasper, who stood dazed with astonishment. Grandmother Bradclifif had not been able to hear the proceedings on account of her deafness, but she saw that something was going wrong and wanted to know what was the matter. Son Percy, speaking in a loud voice directly into her ear, told her the family were receiving Uncle Jasper’s Christmas gifts, and were having a fine old time over them. Grandmother at once became curious and had to examine her gift. She adjusted her glasses and opened her envelope. The note enclosed told her the fifty dollars were to be used for the purchase of a wheel chair, a cane, and an ear trum- pet. She looked around with surprise from one to the other, and at last she cried out and shook her trembling finger at Uncle Jasper. “In my young days such an insult to a lady would have been punished with a horse-whip or pistal.” She trembled with rage and asked Percy to take her where she could not see Jasper. Uncle Jasper was stunned. Mr. Bradclifif was astonished and bewildered. He dared not open his envelope and handed it back to Uncle Jasper. After a few minutes Uncle Jasper recovered himself and realized the mistake he had made. He explained to Bradclifif that he meant no harm, but only wanted to give to those he loved the things he believed they needed and secretly wished for. He insisted he “had their welfare in mind” and as a proof handed back to Bradclifif the envelope. Mr. Bradclifif still hesitated in opening it and said. I would rather not know than risk the friendship we have enjoyed for so many years.” Uncle Jasper convinced him he meant only to express his love by all his gifts, al- though he regretted his bluntness, and so Mr. Bradclifif tore open the envelope and read: “I know you cannot see your

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SPECTATOR 15 stocking was amazed to see a very old, white-bearded gen- tleman in a red cloak, with a hood on his head, descending to the hearth. The night light burned suddenly brighter; the room became warm and cheerful. The stocking, which was too wonder-struck to speak, thought that it had never seen such a quaint old man in all its life. The old gentleman, who was no other person than Father Christmas, advanced to the bed and let a large bag, which he had been carrying, fall to the ground. “Ha!” he said, laughing, this is the only night in the year when the foot of the bed has a stocking.” He patted his hand on the stocking, and said, “Well, master woolyribs, how do you find yourself tonight?” “Rather lonely,” answered the stocking. “I miss my mate terribly, and its cold.” “Oh, I’ll warm you quick enough!” said Father Christ- mas, and diving into his sack and pulling out all kinds of toys and boxes of sweets, he began to cram the stocking with presents. “Not so hard,” cried the stocking, “you’ll split my sides, if you aren’t careful. What next, I wonder? I’m a stock- ing. What do you take me for, a toy shop?” Father Christmas laughed. “You’re new to this game, then?” he asked. “I was only born this winter,” said the stocking. “I grew on a very nice sheep in Russia until the beginning of spring. Then I was cut off, sent to the mill, and woven into the handsome stocking which you see I am now. “After a few minutes, he disappeared the same way in which he came and I was left alone once more until morning, when my mistress came to relieve me of my burden, and placed me back in the cupboard with my mate.”