The Lincoln County herald., 1872-01-11
The Real Santa Clause.

The sojourn Of the Blossom Club 10
San Francisco last summer was made add.
tionally pleasant by the hospitality Of
Mr.. VIM. Lent, tho millionaire banker Of
that city. Mr.. Lent is q brother Of ex.
Senator Abraham Lent, the great domino
player, who is soon to take the place of
that model Of all the virtues, the Hon.
Nathaniel Sands, as Tax mmissioner.
Tho Blossoms have ever since kept warm
corner in their hearts for Mr. VIM. Lent,
out Of gratitude for the attentions he
showed them. He arrived in this city o
few days ago on visit and was cordially
received. Wishing to see little of New
York life under the gaslight, he left his
hotel on Saturday evening last, strolled
into Grand street, attracted by the crowd.
He wanderd along eastward, lost in won.
der, until his attention became attracted
by the wistful glances Of group of
ragged urchius who we're covetously con
templatiug the tempting array Of toys
spread out in the bright glare of one of
the show windows, near the corner Of AL.
len street. His heart was touched, and
drawing near unobservcd, be stopped and
| listened.
The boys were descanting with earnest.
ness on the merits Of the different articles
on exhibition, and singing out with en-.
thusiasm such toys as they severally pre-
fersed. There was q tone of sadness in
each tiny voice which told of empty
purses at home and the conviction that
they we're fondly harborng hopes which
| ko
word Mr.. Lent slipped quickly past them
into the store and purchased every toy
he had heard the children mention, the
group Of waits meanwhile gazing at him
through the window with admiring eyes.
When he came out again his arms were
full of plavthings. lie approached the
astonishcd boys and handed each the gun.
or drum, or huge, wagon, sleigh, or
hobby horse, which faw moments before
had been the special object of his unat-
taiDable ambition. Then laying them in
stupor over their unexpected good
fortune, he dashed into the crowd and
saun cred on until he came upon another
group in front of another store, when he
repeated his beautiful deed of Christmas
charity.
Grand street was full on Saturday night
of poverty stricken little ones, drawing
an additional misery to their starved souls
through greedy eyes which appreciated
with an intensity unknown to wealthy
boys the playthings intended only for
rich mems sons. From one group to an
other did the good representative of Santa
Claus glide, making every childish heart
overflow with delight. About $500 melted
away between 8 and IL p. NJ and Mr..
Lent's last dollar would probably have
found its way into the pockets Of the
storekeepers but for the small army which
grew at his heels, clamoring out fervent
Thank you. sir T. and "God bless you,
sir !! Unable to bear the load of graft
tude which was accumulating on his
, shoulders, he hurried to the Bowery aud
} took refuge in passing car, which bore
} him to bis hotel.
Hundreds of thankful hearts will learn
to- day for the first time the answer to
: their constant inquiry. "Who is he p
Mr. Lent declares that it was worth FIVE
} times the amount expended to witness the
happiness reflected in the countanres OF
the little boys. And what was ex Senator
Abraham Lent doing on Christmas He
was demolishing an entire roast pig il
Mr. John Morris's residence on Swenty
t FIRST street.-New York Sun.