The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1877-12-21

| h4uCA VI the EeLldl Clu ulhu lOI NLOH
little Ruth was waiting, but he had never
heard OF his paying a visit or tranaactine
any business in the day time. SO he
told her; but she, looking sorrow;ully
wise, answered:
g Yes, know he goes down the chin.
neys at night, but tomorrow is Christ
mas, Aunty says so, and Santa Claus
must come here to-day to get his trees. y
Why, yes his trees like this, you
know" and after a slow, numb sort OF
| search for something in the depths of her
pocket, her cold little hand drew out a
leaf OF child's story-book, torn and
soiIed, but bearing on one side a highly
colored picture of the good Santa Claus.
There" she continued, eagerly, see
the tree he has on his arm-they don t
grow in the city; see, he must come up
here to get them"
a understand; but Why wait here in
tho cold for 2z44ssY- sa..Ien -o-nignt ne viii
come down your chimney with all sorts
of pretty toys %
"But he won't come; he does not
know the house is here he thinks all the
boys and girls live dewn there in the
city; SO when he comes to get his tree m
going to say, Please, Santa Claus, l
live here ON the hill. Aunty says Pm
pretty good. Can't I have a doll-baby
and picture book?'
100, ,-I-.- 49,, l..
when he spoke again to ask her name,
and then he lifted her to her feet and
said:
"Pll tell you what we will do, Ruth.
You go home before Aunty misses you
and thinks you are lost, and I'll stay
here and watch for santa Claus"
She shook her head.
You'll get tired and go away"
No, I won't; I'll wait until 1 see
him."
Truly %
"Truly."
Little Ruth raised her face and Hol-
land kissed her baby mouth.
Where do you live, child %
Only little ways back in the woods;
there is the path" And running across
the dead leaves she struck into faint
narrow path, and following it disappeared
behind the trees. Holland watched her
out of sight, then tySag his handkerchief
to the top branch OF that tree which
Ruth had selected as the very one Santa
Claus most wanted, turEed his face city
ward and strobe down the hill.
Low down in the west he noticed a
long golden rift in the dull gray sky,
and it widened and broadened until
the golden glory burst its bonds and
flooded all the scenes with wintry sun
light. Even 50 had the childish faith
of little Ruth forced its way through
clouds of loneliness and grief to fill
his heart with sunlight. More than
one woman smiled that night at John
Holland as he stood in a crowded
store, examining with supernatural
gravity dolls dressed and undre-sed.
n AlsA.s ~~~sso-4 carried his,a and his
bO oks and toys out from the city and
up the woody hill to Ruth's poor home.
After peering into the window like an
amiable burglar lie summoned Ruth :
aunt. A few words outside the door, a
gentle little laugh, tear or two, a great
rustliDg of paper, and then the door was
closed, and Holland, whistling softly to
himself, made his way to the tree from
which waved a white handkerchief, and,
after much hacking, pulling and digging,
succeeded in removing it. Driving home
under the starry sky great tears filed his
eyes as he thought f " the wife and baby
boy gone before; ;" there was no curse on
his lips, only a tremulous smile, as he
thought of the joyous awakening for
little Ruth tomorrow. Next day Johr
Holland gave a dinner; there were four
at the table-HolIand himself, Ruth
Ruth's aunt, and Ruth's doll Rosey, who
ate nothing, but looked lovely and smiled
| indefatigably. 1t would be hard to tel
how many times Ruth laid her dollOn Hol
lands knee, whereupon her waxy eyelidi
instantly would close and she fell into s
most profound sleep. 'Twould be harder
still to tell how eagerly she questioned
him az to the exact appearance of SAINT;
Claus when he came for that tree-tht
very tree she sat beside when she wa
waiting.
And John Holland telling stories tC
the little Ruth, hugging her precious
Rosey, had indeed a Merry Christmas
for on making the happiness of anothe
he had found his own Clara Morris, n
NJ Y Graphic.