The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1874-12-24
J Lette1 From Santa Claus.

What do you think ! saw as | was go
ing down street this morning, wrapped
snugly in my fur-coat, and mutfled up TO
my eyes to keep out the cold? Two lit
tie mites of boys, Crouched up under the
shelter of some rickety old steps that led
into a wretched tenement-house. They
were shivering with cold, barefoot, hun
CRY, and big tears were rolling down their
checks Their mother was dead, and
five minutes before their drunken father
had kicked them out doors, and told
them to 90 and hunt up some breakfast
if they wanted any.
As | came near | heard one of them
say, 80 Jimmy it's almost Christmas!
How | wish old Santa Claus would come
down our chimney, and bring us a big
fire, and some shoes and stockings, and
Ocedus and oceans of bread and milk"
Why, Bob, amt you greeny now,
There amt no Santa Claus; it's all gam
mon"
Jimmys eyes flew wide open.
" No Santa Claus"
No, it's all stuff"
Jimmy's head went down like a flash,
and he set up such perfect howl of dis
appointment it brought the tears to my
own eyes. But | walked straight up to
them and said:
You're wrong, Jimmy, Santa is alive
and well as ever. You just come along
with me and see if he isn't" Then
took the poor, shivering little things into
the first warm, bright spot we could find
and set plate of smoking hot soup be-
fore each one, and it did my soul good to
see them eat. When they had finished
| soon put them where they will be
kindly cared for and went on my way
But what an idea-no Santa Claus, hey!
1t Is all stuff and CANNON about my rid
ing up and down and over peoples
houses, and going down chimney to fill
the children's stockings. That story
would do for the time when the chin
ney and fireplace were half as big as the
house, but for these days of narrow fiues
and air-tight stoves we couldn't think of
such thing. And, beside, there are so
many children now. ! have had to take
in great many partners or could never
carry on the business as it should be
done. | have great army of assistants,
who enjoy filling the little red and white
and blue and brown stockings full to the
brim after the dear little ones who wear
| them are fast asleep in their beds. And
| ! have another smdH army who help won
work. They have warm, loving, tender
| hearts, and they go about among the
| poor and suffering ones of earth and re-
port what they see to me, and soon after
| the very help and comfort which the
| poor souls needed most comes to them in
| some unaccountable way.
just take peep into my MOTEL book,
| dear children, and see how it reads
Poor old granny Griggs, not child
| or friend to look after her comfort; sick,
lonely and poor. Dear little Vi, Wy
| Brown will run in Christmas morning
| and hiss her wrinkled cheek, brighten
| up the poor little room, make her Guy
| of tea and bit of toast, and give her
| pair of new spectacles, and a Bible with
large, plain print"
Jamie Martin, little cripple, who
| has to lie on hard bed all day long
| alone, while his mother goes out to
wash shall have a wonderful chair that
| viii just fit his poor crooked back, so he
can wheel himself up to the windo'' and
see what is going onin the world. And
| he shall have nice childs paper every
week for a year"
" Lefty Gray, vino works in the fac
tory to support herself and little sister,
| shall have a great bundle of things,
warm stockings and fiannels, a new
dress and shawl for each"
/ Mike Donovan, who got hurt in the
mill, and is laid up for the winter, while
his poor wife is trying to support the
family, shall have a ff:y-dollar green
back to help them along"
"A minister's family in a small par
ish away out West shall have won
derful Cbristmas-box that will max,
their hearts sing for joy
There will be pair of chickens, 6
fat turkey or a can of oysters left at tht
door of many a parsonage. Many ane
many poor widow will find a cord Of
wood or ton Of coal dumped down il
her back ward on Christmas morning
Many and many poor soul who doesn'
know where TO turn for work 10 earn hi!
daily bread will find something to dc
that will keep the wolf from the door
Little girls that never had doll before
are going to have one now. Boys thai
never had pop-gun or whistle Will pop