Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-01-10
Childhood's Faith.

ger tnan nCtlOn, received q striking
and pathetic confirmation in our city
a few days ago. On the Friday be-
fore Christmas there was delivered
at the postoffice letter addressed to
Mr.. Santa Claus, Chicago, Ill. Itwas
incl0sed in soiled yellow envelope,
one end of which was torn open, while
the triangular flap which should fold
down upon the back was altogether
gone, leaving the written sheet par.
TALLY disclosed and in very insecure
condition. The residence of Mr.. San
ia Claus being unknown to any of the
mail-carriers, the letter was referred
to the official who decides the fate of
vagrant missives incompetent to de-
clare or to reach their destination.
Curiosity was excited by the singular
appearance Of the letter, and it being
quite open to inspection, it was re-
moved from its scanty inclosure, and
intelligence of its aim and errand
sought in its contents. The epistle read
as follows:
"Mr. Santa Claus Mama says that
papa has been out of work SO long
that you will forget to come to our
house, but Willie & Ruth will feel so
bad that thought would write to
tell you to come if you could. 1 am
glad learned to write at school, for
if l had not would not know how
to get word to you. We live at 5Si
Ambrose street, and my name is An
na Mckenzie.
Ifyou have any dolls left bring one
to me and l will be so glad.
ANNA.
forgot to tell you that papa can't
get any work, and mama feels so bad
because the money is most all gone
and baby's shoes are worn out. Wish
l knew some of your little girls so l
could see all the play things-it would
be so nice.
l could not find any other envelop."
There was a dewy moisture OBJ
scuring the sight of the official as he
the reading, and an i'm
pulsive movement of sympathy in the
region where manly heart was
throbbing. The sweet faith and sim
plicity of the little child had pleaded
for hearing in artless accents that
could not be resisted. The letter was
submitted to the higher authorities in
tho postoffice, producing upon each
the same tender impression, and then
q couple of gentleman drove to No.
5S Ambrose street, to verify the iden-
tity of Anna Mckenzie. The story
told in the letter proved every word
true, and little Anna was waiting in
the confidence of sublime belief for
an answer. She exhibited no sur
prise at the visit Of the gentlemen, re-
garding them as veritablc messengers
dispatched by the benign Kriss-Krin-
gle. "She had seen Santa Claus she
said, "climbing up the lamp-post on
ly the night before, to see if they were
good children and deserved any pres
ents."
The mother was taken completely
by surprise, for Anna had kept in her
own breast the secret OF her appeal to
the Saint whose blessed mission is to
make the hearts of children happy at
the anniversary of the infant Christ's
advent in lowly manager. Anna had
found stray bit of paper on which
to write her message, aud had picked
up in the street an envelope with a
printed address to the "Herald and
PresbUke,.. Cincinnatin This she had
turned inside ont IN order 10 conceal
the old inscription and find place
for her own, but in the process had
covering. But Il held together until
she had slipned r. in the hoy on the
lamn.noat. and would not santa
Clans. in his ;llimitahle wisdom and
ooodness taEo caro- ~ ali tha rest
Noth;nr ;s mora tnncb;n q than tho
boundiess trust of q child.
The gentlemen hora hack n the
nost. ottsce tho ;nformat;or thev had
rained and than tho ~ ofs;c;a, wbn Mad
f@irst @ road d. Anra,s ma II. ,ettar % wemt S shnnt
amono sha amnIovons ns tha ;nst,tn.
t;on haar;n I = tbe y,n;sa;vo Ms ~ for sn, narnsa, ]
~ mo; ono hand ana I hnld;nn tho M otbar in
a cnY.shana rn,. tha .ssea;nt ~ tho
co;ms ,,,h;dh ,n;n.. G NJ ha dn"a4aJ .oworJ
the | I;ttia ia.tar-wr;,ar,s A1 Gh,;stmas.