Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-01-29
Watching for Santa Claus.

! at was a stormy night. Snow was fall
ing so quietly down, that little Ada Stuart
said il was curious to see how each fake
knew It's own place, and fell quietly into e.
1t was getting quite dark, as Ada stood with
her nose haliened against the window-pane.
watching the falling snow. Around tho
bright FIRE sat Ada's father and mother, her
sister Milly and her cousin Grace, who being
without parents, livsd with her uncle Stuart.
"Ada did not hear one word they said
she was watching snow flakes. and thinking
of Santa Claus; how cusious il was TO be-
lieve he knew good from bed children. and
gave presents 20 the good and du'iful alone.
Twice Mrs S'lart had called our. Come,
Ada, daughter, 10 your place. before A6a
heard any voics-so very full Of thought was
she. --.-..F-.
Finally she caught the ;assei OF the cur
tain, and qnicky s.u, out the pretty pic
rure; then, skipping 10 her place by Grace,
she said, ,sDo you really think Santa Claws
can come to our room, Gracey, Let's hang
our stockings there. and watch." I'll watch
while you sleep and then yon car watch
while | sleep -
This pleased Grace SO much. that, after
tea, tley looked in the stocking drawer, and.
finding their whitest and largest stockings.
rney tied them together, and hung them BY
the 6re- place in their own room.
Hurrying to bed. Grace was soon fast
asleep, and Ada, with her. great black eyes
wide open, lay watching for the good Christ
mas friend. For long time, she saw noth-
ing. and heard nothing, but while she was
counting the stripes in Grsce's wrapper,
that hung by the door, she thought she
heard noise in the chimney. So pinehiag
Grace violently, she whispered, Quick,
quick! hear him, sure" 1e. a,sF
Grace jumped at once, and there they both
sat up in bed-their eyss wide open, caps
pushed back listening for sounds from the
chimney. '.- .,
Presently great scratching was heard
and down bounded black Tip the old cat,
on, of the cupboard in the chimney, where
he girls kept their playthings. @ -.-F
'Oh, Tip. said Grace, I'll wiring ysur
neck, if ever you frighten me so again
.And now,' said Ada. sits ,ny turn 20 sleep.
and yours to watch, Miss Grace s.as77s
So Ada doubled herself up together, and
.oon slept, while Grace stretched her blue
eyes wider and wider. to be sure of being
awake. ......... ...- sig. 20 ssa' q
Bat no noise was heard, exccp, Ada's loud b
breathing, and Milly. down in Mrs. Stuarts
room crying with ear sche. ra ..-.,-..- sa
Grace heard the clock strike twelve, and
now, thought see, he'll surely come! 80
Finally Milly stopped crying, the house,
became quiet, AMI Grace tiled to sing, to
keep awake But the more she sang, the :.
sleeper she grew, till. coming to 'three ;.
geese in flock her little head dropped, her
eyes closed, and poor Grace forgot all abont z
for Santa Claus. s..t -,
The next thing she heard was her Auns
Stuart wishing her uncle a Merry Christ
mas and Milly screaming Tor the glass pea -
,sck Santa Claus had lett for her. so 8 %
s.Why Grace said Ada, Il left you watch
ing
iAnd did watch said Grace, 'and he ?
iid'nt come--ani yet--oh. see our stock
ngs.'
Out of bsdflsw the, itt.e girl,, and taking
their stockings, they counted out candies
and nuts. each new doll with moving eyes
aud plsee sIor crying, cook-stove, and
plenty of pots and kettles, dishes, knives aad
forks, and everything you would suPPosd .
loll would wish Cor, in housekeeping.
rThat Chrlsss;ss. What merry wish--
ings. What se7d time with their eousing
70 the street, But after sii, TO think tnsy
ched, and watched, .snd never saw or
heard cd santa Clsrs at ALL" 4.