Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1870-12-22

he had played with one many
a time at home, but that
was quite different from facing such a host
of those grinning, frowning faces. Their
gr1maces and scowls were meant for him,
that was clearl All the big noses seemed
to be snufhng at him with great relish. as
giants always do before putting little boys
In to roast, thought Rob. The jaws of a
black bear especially had just opened to
gobble him up. Altogether he was grow
ing very uncomfortable when he thought
he heard a footstep on the stairs, and fear
ing to be caught he hid behind a baby
wagon. No one came, however, and as he
felt rather hungry, he took out b remain
ing k and had a fine supper.
Why didn't Santa Claus come?
Rob was really getting sleepy. The bus
tie below was only a faint murmur above,
and so soothing that he stretched out his
tired legs, and, turning one of the woolly
sheep on its side, pirowed his curly head
upon 1t. 1t was so nice to lie there, look
ing at the ceiling hung with toys, the faint
hum of voices in his ears, and sleepily
thinking that, if he cared to, he might
Jump up and mount the finest horse or beat
the biggest drum in that great room. The
blue eyes grew more aud more heavy, the
place took on a misty look, the sounds be-
came fainter. Rob was fast asleep.
The evening wore on papas and mann
mas were on their way home loaded with
mysterious parcels. The clerks and GRAND
boys, too, seized their caps and left the
store in high glee-only one man stayed to
guard 1t. He went up stairs to turn down
the lights, but in his hurry did not notice
the little boy so snugly slowed away be-
hind the carts.
Midnight The bells rang loud and
clear, as if they had great news to tell the
world. What noise is that besides the
bells? And look, o look! who is that
striding up the room with a great basket
on his back? He has stolen his coat from
a polar bear, and his cap, too, 1 declare !
His boots are of red leather and reach to
his knees. His coat and cap are trimmed
with wreaths of holly, bright with scarlet
berries. -
Good sir, let us see your face,-whyI it
is the best part-of him,-so round and so
ruddy, such twinkling eyes and such a
merry look about those dimplesi But see
his long white beard,-can he be oldT1t,'
o, very, very old eighteen hundred and
seventy yearsI Is not that a long life, lit
tie ones? But he has a young heart,-this
dear old a kind one. Can you
guess his name? "Hurrah for Santa Claus %
Right!-the very one. E.1W lr
He put his basket down near Robby, and
with his back turned to, him shook the
snow from his fur coat. Some ofthe fakes
fell on Rohs face and reused him from his
sleep. Opening his eyes, he saw the white
figure, but did not stir or cry out. He knew
him in a twfnkling, though to his sleepy
eyes he looked more like a nice plump
angel than anything else. Very quiet he
lay, not daring to speak a word lest the
vision should vanish. But, bless his big
heart he had no idea of vanishing till his
nights work was done. He took a large
book from his pocket, opened to the first
page, and looked at it very closely.
Tommy Turner" was written at the
I ton and i1of holnW Wao q LITTLE
map,-yes, there was Tommy's heart map
ped out like a country. Part of the land
was marked good, part of it bad; some OF
the people were called civilized and some
savage Here n there We're little flags
to point out places where battles had beer
fought during the year,-like the flags in
the atlas, o know. Some of them were
black, and some white; wherever a good
feeling had o the fight there was 6
white one Love and Hate had a dreadful
tussel in Tommy's heart one day, but Love
won the field, and Santa Claus in triumph
| reared a white. flag on the very spot. In
another place a black one showed where
} selishness and generosity fought over al
l orange, but self-that wicked old genera
: who kills and enslaves so many good i'm
r pulses-carried off the orange. He hac
5 to pay roundly for it now, however, fol
Santa Claus shook his head grimlyS whsi
l his eye fell on it,-then he seemed to b
counting.
Tommy Turner" said he aloud,@"si1
white flags, three black; that leaves ;onl.
: three presents for Tommy; but we mus
t see what can be done for him"
So he hustled about among the toys, IN
soon had a ball, a horse, and a Noah's arl
5 tied up in a parcel, which he tossed int
the basket.
Name after name was read of, some O
7 them belonging to his little playmates
and you may be snre'Rob listened with hi
8 heart in his mouth I =
l "Robby Morgan said Santa Claus
I In his excitement thatsmallbey nearl
upset the cart, but Santa was so busy wit
T his map that he did not notice it.
"One, two, three, four, five; six, seven
h -Rob's breath came very short-"1ohStes!
s He almost clapped his hands.
zone, t%o, three, HACKS! Now I wor
der what Inat little chap would like
here's a drum, a box OIL tools, a knife. an
t school that day and then told a lie aboU
t it, I'd give him a rocking-horse."
Rob groaned in anguish of spirit.
"But bless himl he's a fine little fellow
e and perhaps he will do better next yea
if l give him the horse"
That was too much for our boy. Wit
a " hurrah !" he jumped up and turned
somerset right at Santa Claus's feet.
"Stars and stripesr' cried he; what
this"
"Come along, I'll show you the one
was the only answer Rob gave, Juggling
the fur Goa with all his might.
Santa Claus suffered himself to be lie
off to the pile of horses. You may b
e lieve that Rob's sharp eyes soon pickle
" out the one with the longest tail an
thickest name.
. "Wen, he beats all the boys ever I say
a back to the year onel What shall l &
! with the little spy" soliloquized San
% Claus.
3 90 dear Santa ClausI' cried Robb
x hugging the red boots, do just take N
, long with you; I'll stick tight when yC
slide down the ~chimbleyI'
70 Yes, 1 guess you will stick tight
e the chimney, little man."
y 81 mean to your back" half sobbt
Rob.
4 Santa Claus cant bear to see little foil
- in trouble, so he took the boy in b
p arms, and asked hin where he wanted
p go.
81 ITO Tommy Turner'S, and O. W
u know that boy in the awful old jack
d that likes pop guns" was the Breathe
% reply.
Il OF course he knew him, for he know