Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-01-01

then another; and finally went to bed,
thinking tomorrow would come more
quickly that way than any other. Then,
leaving him asleep, at last, we bundled
up and went out for a little walk down
the road, to Leech Lake, we'll trodden
now by the lumbeTmen's feet. WelOOked
in a moment as we passed the logging
camp, finding the "DeacOn's seat'' in front
of the great fire filed with dozen men,
listening to some story from Mr.. Lee, the
oyerseer, who started up as he saw US and
came to the door.
81 was telling 'em a bit about Christ
mas in the Old Country, ma'arn, :" he said.
"I'm English born, you know, and many's
the time I've been out half the night.
singing Christmas waits. But that's long
ago. Most o. mine these years back have
been in the woods, and [ allow we NAV as
well work tomorrow as lay Off Here's
something for the little chap, though. He
ought to have some sort o. Christmas.
Goodnight to you, ma'am."
ut does seem as if Santa Claus would
have a wild time driving over these dark
rine-tops," the doctor said, as we turned
from the bright doorway to the night, and
stood for a moment watching the pale.
north. "What dense forest everywhere
but in this little clearing, and how drear-
ilv, far away, home seems tonight. We
must do something lively. I think I'M
90 up on our roof, and see how our chin
ney looks at the top"
"Softly, then" [ said, COR you NAV
waken Harry"
And so we crept to the back of the
hn oh IL
the ground, and [ watched as the ascent
was made.
The dress for that country is, on the
whole, not altogether civilized, and I
think our best friends would have studied
a little before recognizing the couple who
stood there-DoctOr especially, buried in
a buffalo overcoat, a mighty many-coIored
scarf wound about his neck, a fox-skin
cap with lappets tied over his ears, moe
casin boots and rabbit-skin mittens. The
snow crunched as he stepped softly to.
ward the chimney and looked down :;
starting back in a moment, as if he had
been shot The roof sloped suddenly;
and, forgetting where he was, he lost his
footing and rolled over and over to the
bottom, half burying himself in a drift,
and laughing so it was impossible to help
him out.
'Hushn' he said. "That child was
looking straight up the chimney, and
such pair OF eyes [ never saw"
cpl 90 in" said, listening for some
sound. "He may be terribly frightened. "
"No, don't, unless he calls out" said
Doctor "He didn't look frightened. only
wonderfully surprised. Wait awhile"
No sound from within. And after
time we walked on; coming back shortly,
to find Harry sound asleep, and smiling,
as if in the midst of pleasant dreams.
Long before daylight next morning he
had reused us with his EXPLANATIONS over
the fat and bullying stockings. And, as
we threw on some wraps and come out to
look with him, he met us triumphantly.
Nobody need ever tell me again there
isn't Santa Claus. Why, l saw him my
own self"
"What an idea, Harryr'
"Ohl but | did. 1t was when you had
gone to walk. I heard a little crunch,
crunch, on the roof; and [ was bound to
peek, an / wasn't a bit frightened, either
I looked right up, an he looked right
down; an he laughed, soft could see his
teeth. An just look at my stocking! Did
you ever? Crackeyp
Harry sat down to his, and we to ours
all of them most astonishingly full, and
giving plenty to talk about the whole day
long. And toward evening Harry wrote,
or, rather, printed letter to his mother,
copy of which you shall see, spelling
and all:
RED LAKE, CHRISTMAS.
DERE MOTHER:
Sandy Claws did come. I did not think he would
l saw him looking down the Gimme, and he saw
me. was not afrade one speck. He gave me a
big knife. mister Lee says he knows about that
knife, but guess not. There was candy and nuts
and razans, and book, and cake. CESS misses
weeks put inn the cake, it tasted like hers. tell
Pole love her. l want to see you all. Yours
truley, HARRY MORRILL,.
N 7. Independent.