Mower County transcript., 1871-12-28

chimney. took out wax doll, curly
dog, and a candy tiger, and jumped out
of the sleigh. 1t occurred to him at
that moment that perhaps there were
no children III that house. His father
always knew, but how he knew
Kriss could not think. Suddenly he
remembered that his mother had said
that there was warmth in the house
where children dwelt so he laid down
the toys, took of his glove, and felt the
roof, but it was icy cold. He then
jumped into the sledge and drove on,
stopping ON several roofs to try them,
but they were all cold. This, it was
plain, was not the way to find out. He
then thought he would go down the
chimneys and look for the children.
At the next house he accordingly left
his toys in the slelge, jumped out,
sprnng down the chimney, and found
himself in Il large room, where little
baby lay asleep in crib, and her moth
er near her IN a big bed. He then went
back, and getting the toys, laid them
beside her. But he soon found that
going on such exploring expeditions
first was rather tedious work. His
father always strapped bag on his
back, as every one knows, but they
were all to big for Kriss to carly so he
filled his pockets with little things,
stuck as many as possible in his belt,
strung some around his neck, and so
dressed up, jumped down many and
many chimney.
H., was just going to step into his
sle,ge, after many hours of busy work,
when he happened to glance Dp at the
sky, and saw that it was nearly day
H. had intended going farther, but now
had no time. He took out all his toys
but they were almost all gone
placed what he had on good straight
roof, close to the chimney, whipped up
his deer, and galloped home. He had
expected to have reached home before
his parents had awakened, but although
he took shortcut home, he saw the
smole curling up through the keen
morning air before he saw the house
and so knew that his mother certainly
was up. He managed to drive quietly
into the stable, and mad just unharness-
ed the deer, and was about to give them
some moss, when shadow darkened
the door he looked up, and there
stood his father! Kriss did not feel very
comfortable, but his only course was
plain; he followed the never
forgotten example of George
Washington under somewhat similar
circumstances, and owned up. Tue
only reply Santa Claus made was to tell
him to come into the house and get his
breakfast. After the meal was over
they oil sat down around the fire, and
little Kriss had to give full account Of
his adventures. After he had finished
his story, to which his parents listened
in perfect gravity, they sent him out to
feed the tame bears and walruses,
while they talked the subject over.
Mrs. Claus sat on one side of the fire.
place, Santa Claus on the other. They
were silent for moment; then he
looked at her, she looked back at him,
and then they both laughed. It
certainly was very funny to them,
but it would not do to let him
go unpunished, or he would
travel off whenever he pleased, and per-
haps make Christmas once month. 1t
was easy enough to find something to
whip him with, for Santa Claus had
some very fine switches oil ready for
stockings OF bad children, but he never
succeeded inflicting this punishment,
for as soon as Kriss began to cry--and
he generally started as soon as he saw
the switch-his mother always ran and
took him away. This being out of the
question, after much discussion, they
concluded to make him keep up the fire
in the cave of ice for three months.
Santa Claus used to make his glue
there, and do various odd jobs that
Mrs Claus did not like to have done at
the shop; and as the lire had to be
kept up regularly, and 80 needed wood
every day, they knew it would be a Sc
we're punishment to Kriss, as he hated
stated tasks.
But when this sentence was carried
into execution it was found that Kriss
was bright enough to make fun out of
it. He determined, it seemed, that ii
he had to make fires, they should be
big ones }; and he piled on the wood
until it could be heard cracking and
roaring clear to the north pole. The
reflection was often seen in the United
States, and set all the learned men tc
wonder why there should be so many
displays Of the aororn borealis that
year. If they had only known that
they were caused by Kriss heaping pine
wood upon his fathers fire, it would
have saved much trouble and more
talking.
But the consequences of Krlss's frolic
did not stop here. When the people
whose houses he visited arose the next
morning, they were astonished to find
the presents in their rooms. Some o1
them thought that there must be new
fashion regarding the time for Christ
mas gifts. Others thought they must
have made a mistake in the date. One
old lady was so fustered that she ran
down into the yard and killed hel
Christmas turkey with her own hands,
she was so afraid that it would not be
done in time. In one town, where he
had been especially liberal, the neigh.
bors ran in and out Of each others
houses asking what day of the month
it was, consulting almanacs, and won
dering what it all meant. The chill
dren, however, we're perfectly satisfied;
and when they received the second in.
stallment of presents from Santa Claus
himself at the proper time, they were
so delighted that they wished there
could be two Christmases every year
1t was funny, however, to hear OF
the way Kriss distributed his pres
ents; for as he knew nothing of the
several inmates of the houses, he be-
slowed them as they came to hand
He left q solitary old bachelor an ivory
rattle and little crying pussy cat; {
little girl, not yet three months old
had pair of skates left upon her era
lie; boy of ten found little white
hood and tiny silver thimble in hi.
room; severe old maid, who did no
thing but knit coarse, hard, but very
durable stockings for her little nieces
and who hated games as inventions O.
Sutan, found set of ten-pins and {
backgammon board set out upon he]
table; whole family of children hnc
nothing to divide but an empty pic
ture frame; and grave old minister
WIS surprised when he came into his
study to find fine little fiddle lying
just on top Of his half finished sermon
for the next Sunday.
But, puzzle as they might, nobody
ever found ont the truth of this frolic
As for the toys Krlss left on the roof,
do not know what became OF them
} Santa Claus looked for them, but il
vain; so it would, perhaps, be we'll t.
say now that if any boy or girl livin!
in Il town northwest of Boston fonnt
some toys, one being walking dol
md another fishing pole, upon q roo
close to chimney, in the winter @