The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-12-14

in spite of the cold, az he pocketed his
prize and ran home rs fast as he could go,
for he knew bis mother would feel anx-
ious about him. His dear, patient mother,
who met him at the door with the brave,
sweet smile that he knew and loved so
we'll, took off his cap and comforter, and
then they drew their chairs az near as
possible to the FIRE, for the room was cold,
and drank hot tea without milk or sugar
and ate bread without butter cheerfully,
for it made them happy to be together.
"I have got some nice beefsteak for
our Christmas dinner, with potatoes, and
sponge cake for dessert, dear" said the
mother, stroking the curly head which
lay on her knee.
"Oh, mother, darling, won't that be
nice ?-and you must hang up your stock
ing, too" said BERTHE, earnestly. =.
81 am afraid / shall find it as empty
as yours will be, my poor boy" an,
swered his mother. "Santa Claus Will
skip over us this Christmas; but per-
haps he will come next time.
"Never mind, mother. Do hang up
your stocking just TO please me; 1t cant
do any harm, you know" begged Ber-
tie.
every well, dear, I will if you want
me to-" she answered. "And now you
must go to bed, for you must be very
tired after your hard days work; but
first you shall help me hang up my
| stocking"
This arrangement afforded n fine OPP
portunity for BERTHE to slip his little
A. I. - he Zoo Of fhn atnQkInn
and casual observer would never have
suspected that it contained anything at
all This done, BERTHE went to bed, and
in few minutes slept heavy, dream
less sleep.
Suddenly he became conscious OF en-
unusual noise in the room where his
mother was, and, through the half
opened door of the tiny closet in which
he slept, he saw tall figure in a long,
shaggy coat trimmed with fur, with
snow on some parts of it. The being
had dark hair and curly brown beard,
and looked of gigantic size in the dim
light.
"Why, it is Santa Claus T. thought
BERTHE, hardly daring to breathe lest the
vision should vanish. "And, oh he is
talking to mother. will listen to what
he is saying; but wish was not so
sleepy"
He lay down again in bed, but he was
reused again, however, by being lifted
from his bed, and on half opening his
eyes saw that Santa Claus had taken
him up in his arms, and was wrapping
him in something very thick and warm,
while his mother stood by laughing and
crying all at once. But it seemed as if
nothing could ever wake him up entire
ly that night.
care you Santa CLAUSE he muir
INJURED drowsily.
81 shouldn't wonder, my boy; it's all
right now go off to sleep again. l will
take care of you and your blessed
mother :" and Santa Claus eyes glis-
tened as though there were moisture in
them, and his voice sounded so kind TIC
BERTHE that he felt sure that it was all
right, and went to sleep again directly.
Not so soundly thougA but that he
was half conscious of being car
ried swiftly somewhere by horses
with jingling sleigh-bells, though
he did not know whether they were go
ing through the air or not, and finally
being put in bed that was so comfort
able that he hardly had been in it sec
ond before he went off again as sound as
top, and forgot all about Santa Claus
and his performances.
He opened his eyes the next morning
to find the bright sunlight of beauti-
full Christmas morning streaming into
the room, which was strange, for his
closet had no window.
Why How! What !
What had happened? He was not in
his owp little closet at all, but in great
soft bed in a room all filled with beau
tiful things, and fire burning brightly
in the CRATE, and over him stood his dear
mother; and-yes-he remembered now
there was Santa Claus himself, only
without his shaggy coat.
"Bertie, BERTHE, darling, wake up ~
said his mother, kissing him. at is
Christmas morning, and a merry Christ
mas it is for us, dear, for Uncle Egbert
has come home ~
"Oh that is lots better than Santa
Claus" shouted BERTHE, and threw his
arms around his uncle's neck; and there
never were three happier people than
Santa Claus and BERTHE and his moth
er that Christmas morning.
But Bertie's mother always wore lit
tie blue heart attached to her watch
chain, and seemed to value it more than
anything else she possessed. The IN
qutreT.