The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1874-01-08
CHRISTMAS IN A SHANTI.
BY OLIVE THRONE.

BY OLIVE THRONE.
"Bertie," whispered seven year
old Lily, mysteriously. 81 know
where to find Santa Claus. Barbary
told me-
"Where ?" dropping thea block he
was about to add to his house.
"Out on the hill," Lily went on
eagerly. "Barbara says that Christ
mas Eve the Christ Child comes
down on the hill, with oh lots, and
lots of presents, and picks them over
and gives them to Santa Claus to take
to the children"
"What hill?" asked BERTHE Jump
ing up from the floor.
"The one the moon comes over,
Barbara says" answered Lily. "And
l guess it's that one'-pointing to the
peak of a mountain miles and miles
away. "Christmas Ewes this very
night" she went on earnestly. "Let's
you and / 60 up there and see him,
and pick out our own presents"
"Well," said Bertie, always ready
to do anything Lily suggested.
sWe mustn't let Barbara see us, or
she won't let US go, said Lily. But
l guess she'll be glad when we come
back with lots of nice things
sI'll bring her horse at she can
ride said BERTHE.
sAnd I'll bring her new dress
that'll drag on the ground, said Lily,
starting down stairs, and BERTHE fol-
lowing. Barbara had gone to the
kitchen for few moments mamma
was busy in the parlor with compa-
ny and nobody saw the two chill
dren creep down the stairs, open the
front door and slip out.
Il wonder which way it sis p said
Lily, when they bad reached the
side walk. 'Oh I! l guess it's that
way, cause there's the hill and she
turned the way that led from the viii
lage to the woods.
The sun was just down when away
the children tramped, too much ex.
cited to feel cold, though they had
nothing around them, and too much
afraid of being overtaken by the
nurse to linger. When they reach
ed the woods, it looked rather dark
and Bertie was afraid to 60 in, but
Lily said they would soon be there
she guessed and the Christ Child
would take care Of them, cause he
loved little children.
So hand in hand they entered the
dreary wood. 1t looked much dark
er inside, and in fact, the short win
ter day was about over and nigh
was falling fast. Anxiously the wan
derers moved along, not saying much
and running when the ground was
smooth, and stumbling over roots
and sticks when the ground was
rough.
sI'm cold, and want mamma,
burst out Bertie at last. SO am
cold,' said Lily, 'and l guess VIZ
must be most there /; and then think
how nice it'll be p
'Will it be warm 2 asked the anx
ious little voice.
sOh /! of course and light said
Lily cheerfully. 'And plenty of nice
things to eat
Il want something now,' walled
Berthe, the tears rolling down his
cheeks.
sWell, don't cry, We'll soon be
there now,' said Lily, in a soothing
motherly way.
And on they trudged through
stumps half up to their knees, falling
over logs, scratching their faces OF
bushes, hungry, cold, wet, and a
last frightened, when the snow be-
gan to come down so thick and fast.
Il want to go home,' sobbed Bur
tie.
well, We'll 90 then,' said Lilly
and they turned round and began to
retrace their steps. But alas, they
had not come straight, and they only
went further and further from their
home.
The prospect of going home quiet
ed Bertie for a while but when
some time had gone by, and it wa'
almost totally dark, and they could
see nothing, and ran against tree
and hurt themselves, even Lily
courage began to fail, and the tear'
ran down her face, though she triet
to choke them back. Bnt still the,
stumbled on.
Don't cry, Bertie,' the brave LITTLE
creature said after awhile. 'If W.
die out here in the woods, maybe the
robins will cover us with leaves, al
they did the children in the woods il
my little book.
Il don't want to be covered will
leaves sobbed BERTHE, who couldn'
see any consolation in tn at.
Just at that moment, as tn ey came
out from behind rock, they saw ;
light. Lily was ablaze in a moment
sThere it is There they are! i sh'
cried.
Look Bertie That must be the
place. And they hurried on losing
the light now and tn en-, as a tre,
came in the way, and finding it again
in q moment.
When they came near the light
they saw that it came from a win
dow, and when they came close t.
it, they saw it was a small house anc
a door was beside the window. Lii,
knocked, and in moment it wa
opened by an old negro-old ant
bent, and white haired-who gazet
at the two children as though the,
were ghosts.
'Please sir, are you Santa Claus
asked Lily with trembling lips ant
tears on her cheeks.
Santa Claus p said the bewilder
ed negro.
Bless yo' heart, whose thatp Bu
come in out o. the storm. Yo' mus
be nigh froze to death. Who's com
with you p and he peered out int,
the darkness.
NO ene,' said Lily timidly, hal
afraid SShis looks, yet reassured b
his good natured voice. 'We com