The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1877-12-20
LITTLE DAY AND SANTA CLAUS.

Aunt Annie, as she sat reading IN
comfortable easy-chair by the library
fire. Aunt Annie was very pretty
young lady, with large blue rosette
on the top of her head, and Day said
that she looked just like the beautiful
ladies in fairy tales.
1t was delightful room, too, on that
cold, snowy, December day-every-
thing about it looked so Ud'7n and the
cheeks of the small boy who sat in such
funny little heap at the writing table,
were glowing like roses.
When anyone asked Day how old he
was, he did not say Five but ''six in
February" for he was in great hurry
to be man; and he felt very old in
deed. now, as he replied gravcly to his
aunt's question:
81 am writing a letter, Aunt Annie
"a letter to Sandy Claws
"Whatcan you possibly have towrite
about to Santa Clausp'' said Miss Annie,
in great surprise.
Il am telling Sandy Claws what l
want for Christmas; for how is he to
know, Aunt Annie, if don'tp"
So Day read his letter aloud, and this
is the way he wrote it, or, rather, print
ed it, for that was all he could do:
DEER SANDY CLAWS, i think you have got a
very quear name and should like to no If you
have got claws and what makes en- sandy. But
that ant what i'm goan to rite about. Ant
Amy sef stick out my tong when rite but
hope you woan't mind that cos / don't meme
it for makein faces. no that you got lots of
things and should like big Slead and a Box
of sodgers and a pistil that will go off. i'm
Trade must stop now.
Aunt Annie tried very hard not to
laugh, as Day looked up for her APP
prevail and then she said, sBut have
leaves bundle of rods, instead of pres
ents, when children are bad?'
"Am | bad?' asked Day, quite seri-
ously.
II thought l heard screaming and
scolding this morning." replied his
aunt, "when nurse was getting a little
boy dressed
Day hung his head for a moment or
two; and then he carefully folded his
letter and put it up the chimney. "Now
he'll get it," said he gleefully, "cos
that is where he lives"
The little note very soon fell into the
fire. and was burned; but Day did not
know that.
Scarcely day passed without his
writing letter to Santa Claus. Some
times he had been quite naughty, and
would beg his imaginary friend not to
bring him bunch of rods; and very
often he would see things that he liked
better than the things he had asked for
before, so that Santa Claus was getting
quite puzzled as to what the little boy
did want.
Great preparations were made for
Christmas at the Dunsfords'. 1t was q
large house, and it had bright, pleas
ant people in it; and they wreathed it
with evergreens, and brought flowers
from the conservatory, until it looked
almost like summer, indoors at least.
But outside, there was snow and sleigh
bells, and what people called an old
| fashioned Christmas; and the fires
blazed and roared, and icicles hung
over the windows, and people looked
cold and happy, and everyone seemed
to be expecting something pleasant.
Before Day was tucked into his pretty
crib, on Christmas Eve, he had watched
the hanging of the stockings in the din
ing-room-for all the grown people
hung up their stockings too at MIR.
Dunsford' sand the largest one had
Days name pinned on it.
The little boy was generally asleep
almost as soon as his head touched the
pillow; but tonight he lay wide awake
some time thinking of the naughty things
he had done lately, and trembling for
fear that Santa Claus, in spite of all his
letters, would put him off with bunch
of rods. He was really afraid that he
deserved it, and he shivered in his warm
little nest at the thought; but finally
his eyelids grew very heavy-and he
knew nothing more until the next morn
ing,
1t was scarcely light enough to see,
when a little white-robed figure stood
beside the stockings. He was almost
afraid to look; but presently he was
quite sure that there were no rods in
his; and his eyes grew large and
round with astonishment at the beautl-
full things that were piled up under his
stocking.
Everything he had asked for was
! there-sled, soldiers, marbles, puzzles,
paints, kaleidoscope, picture-books.
They seemed to cover whole table;
and scarcely believing his own eyes.
Day exclaimed: "Well, if Sandy Claws
amt the most forgivinist old fellowr'
Then papa and mamma and Aunt
Annie, who were watching him without
his knowing it, laughed heartily at his
amazement; and Day rushed at them to
display his treasures.
But there was a note in the middle of
the table, directed to "Master Day
Dunsford," and papa read it aloud:
Santa Claus gives the little boy whowrote
| to him so often all the things he wanted, and
| hopes that he will give in return to his kind
| papa and mamma what they want, his obedi
ence and improvement.
Day was very much pleased with his
letter, and he is trying hard to follow
| its advice. e.-Etla Rodmdn, IN Youths
Companion.