The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-12-29

There is one other question should
like to ask" said Chubby.
"What is it?n
81 should like to know why your pack
seems sometimes to be very light when
there are heavy things in it, and very
heavy when there are light things in
it?' 10Y 1857 .' .''
"Now you have hit on my greatest
secret" said Santa.
"Oh, don't tell me, if you would
rather not said Chubby.
Il don't mind telling you," Santa re-
piled, "though | never mentioned it
before. You see our sort of people have
different weights and measures from
whatyou sort ofpeople have. Things are
light and heavy to us according to how
much they are good for. Now, here is a
package marked Sam Rothschild' 1t
contains chest of tools, a pair of skates,
croquet set, and so on--all what you
would call heavy articles. But to me
the whole concern doesn't weigh as
much as a good-sized goose-quill, be-
cause they will do the unhappy, dis
contentented, unreasonable Sam no
good at all. But there is bundle
marked Tommy JONES' containing a
tippet and pair of mittens knit by his
grandmother, new knife from his
mother, and a sugar-heart from his lit
tie sister Meg-all what you would call
light things, you see; yet they are so
heavy to me that / fairly stagger under
them, for know they'll make Torn Sc
Hppy that he can hardly contain HIM
self. Why, it seems to me I'm carrying
about five tons of happiness in that
bundle"
And sure enough, Santa had all that
he could do to lift Tommy's presents
into the pack, but tossed SANS in as if
they were so much thistle-down. Chubby
noticed something more than fatigue in
the old mans look as he came slowly
back with his empty pack, He was
troubled with something, that was very
plain. , ... ....I
Ibid we take everything out of the
magic-box, Chubby?" be asked.
Everything but my sled' said
Chubby. "Don't you know that we
picked violin and a pair of copper-toed
shoes out of the crack in the left-hand
corner?n .........
$50 we did" said Santa, land fished
that microscope out OF the nail-hole on
the right"
Yet he looked the box all over again,
holding his lantern close down, and
hunting every corner. There was moth
ing there but Chubby's sled.
Have you lost anything?' said
Chubby.
mo; but there's poor Phil, the lame
boy, in the next house. | wish l had
brought something for him."
Il suppose he couldn't use sled, if
he's lame?" said Chubby.
"Just the thing he wants Then his
brother Jack could draw him to school.
But we haven't one for him. that's
clear"
There's mine" said Chubby.
"What are you thinking OFF" said
Santa Claus.
Il was thinking said Chubby, "of
what Mr.. Marsh said when he was so
kind to me at the store. He said it was
q time to do good for Jesus sake, be-
cause Christmas was jesus birthday;
and should like to do some good for
His sake; and think He would like to
have me give Phil the sled; and | would
like to, too. 1t would be real Christ
mas present, then; and | should like to
see how it would seem them
Santa looked at Chubby for a moment
with glistening eyes. Then he stopped
and took the sled from the magic-box
1t was the heaviest load that he had
carried that night, and Chubby saw
how he staggered under it as he walked
off with it toward Pills house When
he came back he walked very brisklv,
and the sober look was gone from his
face.
"Chubby," said he, "would you like
home for Christmas present."
81 should like it very much if it was
a good one," said Chubby.
Santa Claus took his seat and spoke
to his reindeer Off they went like a
shot, through miles and miles of streets,
turning corners, crossing bridges, never
slackening their pace for an instant till
they came to a handsome old mansion
on the outskirts of the city. Here, at a
- NlSH--SH-SH lIOlu llclI HldSJeT, Jney
stopped still. ...
"This is the place." said Santa.
"Climb into my pack"
Chubby climbed in.
B., Am / very heavy?'' he asked.
Gas heavy as an elephant" said
Santa. 81 can't carry you. I'm glad
of it, though; it's sign they're going
to like YOU
"What shall do, then?'
Garry yourself
(Which way?n
Cup the rain-spout." ..
Santa climbed nimbly up, and Club
by followed him as well as he could; but
when he got about thirty feet from the
ground his strength began to fail, and
he felt sure he would have to drop. He
looked up and saw Santa looking down
at him over the edge of the roof.
"Climb little higher said he, land
you can reach my hand.n
81 can't" said Chubby; and with
that he woke up. a, nnu .. .
1t was broad daylight. Mike was
taking down the shutters, and Mr.
Marsh, who had just come in, stood by
the stove looking down at Chubby.
1t was only dream, after all, !" said
Chubby, jumping up and rubbing his