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Speaker 1: The Philanthropist's Christmas by James Weberlyn. Did you see this

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committee yesterday, mister Matthews asked the philanthropist. His secretary looked up. Yes, sir,

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you recommend them then, yes, sir, for fifty thousand, for

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fifty thousand, yes, sir, Their corresponding subscriptions are guaranteed. I

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went over the list carefully, mister Carter. The money is

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promised and by responsible people. Very well, said the philanthropist.

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You may notify them, mister Matthews, that my fifty thousand

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will be available as the bills come in, Yes, sir.

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Old mister Carter laid down the letter he had been

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reading and took up another. As he perused it, his

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white eyebrows rose in irritation. Mister Matthews, he snapped, yes, sir,

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you are careless, sir. I beg your pardon, mister Carter

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questioned the secretary, his face flushing, the old gentleman tapped

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impatiently the letter he held in his hand. Do you

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pay no attention, mister Matthews to my rule that no

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personal letter is containing appeals for aid are to reach me?

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How do you account for this? May? I ask? I

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beg your pardon, said the secretary. Again. You will see,

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mister Carter, that the letter is dated three weeks ago.

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I have had the woman's case carefully investigated. She is

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undoubtedly of good reputation and undoubtedly in need. And as

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she speaks of her father as having associated with you,

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I thought perhaps you would care to see her letter.

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A thousand worthless fellows associated with me, said the old

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man harshly. In a great factory, mister Matthews, a boy

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works alongside of the man he is put with. He

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does not pick and choose. I dare say this woman

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is telling the truth. What of it? You know that

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I regard my money as a public trust. Were my energy,

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my concentration to be wasted by innumerable individual assaults, what

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would become of them? My fortune would slip through my

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fingers as unprofitably as sand. You understand, mister Matthews. Let

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me see no more individual letters. You know that mister

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Whittemore has full authority to deal with them. May I

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trouble you to ring? I am going out. A man

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appeared very promptly in answer to the bell sniffin my overcoat,

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said the philanthropist. It is here, sir, answered Sniffin helping

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the thin old man into the great fur folds. There

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is no word of the dog, I suppose, Sniffin none, sir.

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The police was here again yesterday, sir, but they said

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as ow the police. The words were fierce with a

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scorn eight thousand incompetents. He turned abruptly and went toward

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the door, where he halted a moment. Mister mass h Hughes,

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since that woman's letter did reach me, I suppose I

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must pay for my carelessness or yours. Send her what

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does she say? For children? Send her a hundred dollars,

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but for my sake, send it anonymously. Write her that

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I pay no attention to such claims. He went out,

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and Sniffin closed the door behind him. Takes loosing the

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little dog art, don't, he remarked Sniffin sadly to the secretary.

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I'm afraid they're ain't a chance of finding him now.

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He ain't been stolen, or he ain't been founder. They'd

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have brung him back for the reward he's been knockin

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on the head like as not. He wasn't much of

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a dog to look at, ye see, just a pub

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I'd call him. And after he learned that trick of

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slip in his collar off. Well, I fancy mister Carter

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seen the last of him, I do indeed. Mister Carter meanwhile,

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was making his way slowly down the snowy avenue upon

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his accustomed walk. The walk, however, was dull to day

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for Skittles, his little terrier, was not with him. To

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add interest and excitement, mister Carr had found Skittles in

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the country a year and a half before. Skittles, then

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a puppy, was at the time in a most undignified

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and undesirable position, stuck in a drained tile and unable

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either to advance or to retreat. Mister Carter had shoved

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him forward after a heroic struggle, whereupon Skittles had licked

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his hand. Something in the little dog's eye or his

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action had induced the rich philanthropist to bargain for him

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and buy him at a cost of half a dollar. Thereafter,

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Skittles became his daily companion, his chief distraction, and finally

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the apple of his eye. Skittles was of no known parentage,

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hardly of any known breed, but he suited mister Carter.

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What the millionaire reflected with a prosymicism were his own antecedents,

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if it came to that. But now Skittles had disappeared.

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As Sniffin said, he had learned the trick of slipping

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free from his collar. One morning, the great front doors

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had been left open for two minutes while the hallway

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was aired, Skittles must have slipped down the marble steps

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unseen and dodged round the corner. At all events, he

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had vanished, And although the whole police force of the

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city had been roused to secure his return, it was

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aroused in vain, and for three weeks therefore a small, straight,

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white bearded man in a fur overcoat had walked in

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mournful irritation alone. He stood upon a corner uncertainly. One

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way led to the park, and this he usually took.

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But to day he did not want to go to

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the park. It was too reminiscent of Skittles. He looked

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the other way. Down there, if one went far enough,

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lay slums, and mister Carter hated the sight of slums.

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They always made him miserable and discontented. With all his

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money and his philanthropy, was there still necessity for such

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misery in the world. Worse still came the intrusive question

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at times, had all his money anything to do with

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the creation of this misery. He owed no tenements, He

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paid good wages in every factory. He had given sums

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such as few men have given in the history of philanthropy.

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Still there were the slums. However, the worst slums lay

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some distance off, and he finally turned his back on

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the park and walked on. It was the day before Christmas.

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You saw it in people's faces. You saw it in

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the holly wreaths that hung in windows. You saw it

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even as you passed the splendid forbidding houses on the avenue,

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in the green that here and there banked massive doors.

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But most of all you saw it in the shops

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up here. The shops were smallish and chiefly of the

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provisioned variety, so there was no bewildering display of gifts.

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But there were Christmas trees everywhere, of all sizes. It

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was astonishing how many people in that neighborhood seemed to

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favor the old fashioned idea of a tree. Mister Carter

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looked at them, with his irritation softening. If they made

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him feel a trifle more lonely, they allowed him to

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feel also a trifle as responsible for. After all, it

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was a fairly happy world at this moment, he perceived

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a curious phenomenon a short distance before him, another Christmas tree,

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but one which moved, apparently of its own volition, along

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the sidewalk. As mister Carter overtook it, he saw that

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it was borne or dragged rather by a small boy

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who wore a bright red flannel cap and mittens of

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the same peculiar material. As mister Carter looked down at him,

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he looked up at mister Carter and spoke, cheerfully, go

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in my way. Mister why, said the philanthropist, somewhat taken back,

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I was mind dragging this a little way, asked the boy. Confidently,

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My hands is cold. Won't you joy it more if

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you managed to take it home by yourself? Oh, it

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ain't for me, said the boy. Your employer, said the

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philanthropist severely, is certainly careless if he allows these trees

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to be delivered in this fashion. I ain't delivering it either,

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said the boy. This is Bill's tree. Who is Bill?

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He's a feller with a bag. That's no good, is

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he your brother? No? Take the tree a little way,

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will you? While I wore myself. The philanthropist accepted the burden.

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He did not know why. The boy released, ran forward,

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jumped up and down, slapped his red flannel mittens on

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his legs, and then ran back again. After repeating these

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maneuvers two or three times, he returned to where the

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old gentleman stood holding the tree. Thanks, he said, say, mister,

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you look like Santa Claus yourself standing by the tree

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with your fur cap and your coat. I bet you

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don't have to run to keep warm. Hay. There was

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high admiration in his look. Suddenly his eyes sparkled with

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an inspiration. Say mister, he cried, will you do something

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for me? Come into Bill's. He lives only a block

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from here, and just let him see you. He's only

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a kid, and he'll think he's in Santa Claus. Sure

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we can tell him you're so busy tomorrow you have

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to go to lots of places to day. You won't

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have to give him anything. We're looking out for all

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that Bill got hurt in the summer and he's been

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in bed ever since. So we are giving him a

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Christmas tree and all. He gets a bunch of things,

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an air gun and a tray that goes round when

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you wind her up. They're great, you boys are doing this. Well.

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It's our club at the settlement. And of course miss

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Gray thought of it, and she's given Bill the train.

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Come along, mister, But mister Carter declined. All right, said

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the boy, I guess what with Pete? And all Bill

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will have Christmas enough? Who is Pete? Bill's dog? He

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had him three weeks now past? Little Papa ever saw

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a dog which Bill had had three weeks, and in

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a neighborhood not a quarter of a mile from the avenue.

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It was three weeks and Skittles had disappeared. That this

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dog was Skittles was, of course most improbable, And yet

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the philanthropist was ready to grasp at any clue which

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might lead to the lost terrier. How did Bill get

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this dog? He demanded. I found him myself. Some kids

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had tin canned him, and he came into our entry.

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He licked my hand and then sat up on his

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hind legs. Somebody'd taught him that, you know. I thought

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right away, here's a dog for Bill. And I took

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him over there and fed him, and they kept him

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in Bill's room two or three days. So he shouldn't

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get scared again and run off, And now he wouldn't

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leave Bill for anybody. Of course, he ain't much of

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a dog, pete ain't, he added, He's just a pup.

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But he's mighty friendly boy, said mister Carter. I guess

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I'll just go round. And he was about to add

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have a look at that dog, but fearful of raising suspicion,

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he ended, and see Bill. The tenements to which the

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boy led him were of brick and reasonably clean. Nearly

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every window showed some sign of Christmas. The tree bearer

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led the way into a dark hall, up one flight,

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mister Carter assisting with the tree, and down another dark

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hall to a door on which he knocked. A woman

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opened it. Here's a tree, said the boy in a

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loud whisper. Is Pale's door shut? Mister Carter stepped forward

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out of the darkness. I beg your pardon, madame, he said.

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I met this young man in the street, and he

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asked me to come here and see a playmate of his.

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Who is I understand an invalid. But if I am intruding,

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come in, said the woman, heartily, throwing the door open.

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Bill will be glad to see you, sir, the philanthropist

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stepped inside. The room was decently furnished and clean. There

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was a sewing machine in the corner, and in both

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the windows hung wreaths of holly. Between the windows was

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a cleared space where evidently the tree, when decorated, was

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to stand. Are all the things here, eagerly demanded the

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tree bearer. They're all here, Jimmy, answered missus Bailey. The

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candy just came, say, cried the boy, pulling off his

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red flannel mittens to blow on his fingers. Won't it

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be great? But now Bill's got to seek Sena Claus.

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I'll just go in and tell him. Then, then when

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I holler, mister, you come on and pretend your Santa Claus.

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And with incredible celerity, the boy opened the door at

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the opposite end of the room and disappeared. Madame said

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mister Carter in considerable embarrassment. I must say one word.

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I am mister Carter. Mister Allan Carter, you may have

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heard my name. She shook her head. No, sir, I

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leave not far from here in the avenue. Three weeks

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ago I lost a little dog that I valued very much.

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I have had all the cities searched since then. In

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Vain to day I met the boy who has just

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left us. He informed me that three weeks ago he

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found a dog which is at present in the possession

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of your son. I wonder, is it not just possible

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that this dog may be mine? Missus Bailey smiled. I

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guess not, mister Carter. The dog Jimmy found hadn't come

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off the avenue, not from the look of him. You know,

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there's hundreds and hundreds of dogs without home, sir, But

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I will say for this one, he has a kind

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of a way with him. Hark, said mister Carter. There

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was a rustling and a snuffing at the door at

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the far end of the room, a quick scratching of feet.

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Then woof, woof, woof, sharp and clear came happy, impatient

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little barks. The philanthropist's eyes brightened. Yes, he said, that

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is a dog. I doubt if it can be, sir,

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said Missus Bailey, deprecatingly. Open the door, please, commanded the philanthropist,

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and let us see. Missus Bailey complied. There was a

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quick jump at tumbling rush Ann Skittles. The lost Skittles

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was in the philanthropist's arms. Missus Bailey shut the door

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with a troubled face. I see it's your dog, sir,

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she said, but I hope you won't be thinking that,

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Jimmy or I, Madam, interrupted mister Carter, I could not

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be so foolish. On the contrary, I owe you a

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thousand thanks. Missus Bailey looked more cheerful. Poor little Billy,

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she said, it'll come hard on him, losing Pete just

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at Christmas time, but the boys are so good to him.

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I dare say he'll forget it. Who are these boys,

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inquired the philanthropist. Isn't their action somewhat unusual? It's Miss

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Gray's club at the Settlement, Sir, exclaimed Missus Bailey. Every

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Christmas they do this for somebody. It's not charity, Billy

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and I don't need charity or take it. It's just friendliness.

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They're good boys, I see, said the philanthropist. He was

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still wandering about it, though, when the door opened again

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and Jimmy thrust out, a face shining with anticipation. All Ready, mister,

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he said, Bille's waitin for you, Jimmy began. Missus Bailey

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about to explain the gentleman. But the philanthropist held up

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his hand, interrupting her. You'll let me see your son,

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Missus Bailey, he asked gently, Why, certainly, sir mister Carter

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put skittles down and walked slowly into the inner room.

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The bed stood with its side toward him. On it

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lay a small boy of seven, rigid of body, but

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with his arms free and his face lighted with joy.

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Hello Santa Claus, he piped, in a voice shrill with excitement. Hello, Bill,

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answered the philanthropist sedily. The boy turned his eyes on Jimmy.

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He knows my name, he said, with glee. He knows

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everybody's name, said Jimmy. Now you tell him what you want, Bill,

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and he'll bring it tomorrow. How would you like, said

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the philanthropist reflectively, and he hesitated. It seemed so incongruous

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with that stiff figure on the bed an air gun.

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I guess yes, said Bill happily. And a train of

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cars broke in the impatient Jimmy, that goes like sixty

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when you wind her, ay, said Bill. The philanthropist solemnly

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made notes of this. How about, he remarked, inquiringly. A tree, honest,

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said Bill, I think it can be managed, said Santa Claus.

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He advanced to the bedside. I'm glad to have seen you, Bill.

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You know how busy I am. But I hope, I

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hope to see you again. Not till next year, of course,

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warned Jimmy. Not till then, of course, assented Santa Claus.

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And now good bye. You forgot to ask him if

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he had been a good boy, suggested Jimmy. I have said, Bill,

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I've been fine. You ask mother. She gives you. She

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gives you both a high character, said Santa Claus. Good

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bye again, and so saying, he withdrew skittles followed him out.

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The philanthropist closed the door of the bedroom and then

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turned to Missus Bailey. She was regarding him with awe

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struck eyes. Oh sir, she said, I know now who

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you are, the mister Carter that gives so much away

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to people. The philanthropist nodded deprecatingly. Just so, Missus Bailey,

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he said, And there's one gift or loan rather which

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I should like to make to you. I should like

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to leave the little dog with you till after the holidays.

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I'm afraid I'll have to claim him then, but if

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you'll keep him till after Christmas and let me find

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perhaps another dog for Billy, I shall be much obliged. Again.

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The door of the bedroom opened and Jimmy emerged quietly.

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Bill wants the pup, he explained. Pete Pete came the

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piping but happy voice from the inner room. Skittles hesitated.

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Mister Carter made no sign. Pete Pete shrilled a voice again, slowly,

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very slowly. Skittles turned and went back into the bedroom.

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You see, said mister Carter, smiling. He won't be too

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unhappy away from me, Missus Bailey. On his way home,

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the philanthropist saw even more evidences of Christmas gayety along

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the streets than before. He stepped out briskly, in spite

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of his sixty eight years. He even hummed a little tune.

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When he reached the house on the avenue, he found

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his secretary still at work. Oh, by the way, mister Matthews,

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he said, did you send that letter to the woman

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saying I never paid attention to personal appeals? No, then

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write her please in closing my check for two hundred

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dollars and wish her a very merry Christmas. In my name,

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will you, and hereafter will you always let me see

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such letters as that one. Of course, after careful investigation.

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I fancy perhaps I may have been too rigid in

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the past. Certainly, sir, answered the bewildered secretary. He began

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fumbling excitedly for his note book. I've found the little dog,

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continued the philanthropist. You will be glad to know that

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you have found him, cried the secretary. Have you got

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him back, mister Carter? Where was he? He was detained

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on Oak Street, I believe, said the philanthropist. No, I

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have not got him back yet. I have left him

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with a young boy till after the holidays. He settled

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himself to his papers, for phillanthropists must toil, even on

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the twenty fourth of December. But the Secretary shook his

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head in a daze. I wonder what's happened, he said

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to himself. And of the Philanthropist's Christmas by James Weberlin