The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1877-11-22
POLLY.

| AT the tca-bell's sound his dreams have flown,
| y And naught but a hungry boy is he.
Ella Fdrmdn Ia VIDE iTdke-
POLLY.
A BefOrc.C Christmas story.
"SANrACLAusr exclaimed Ned, half
mockingly.
Yes insisted Mamie, whats he
going to bring you, Ned?'
II don't know, and don't care
much" he answered, "for there isn't
any Santa Claus.
"Why, Nedr' cried Mamie, in as
| constituent. Even my big brother be-
lieves in Santa Claus. He's coming
home from school tonight, and we're
going to hang up our Stockings
"Pshawr' said Ned, II must go
home. Goodbye"
Merry little Mamie stood in amaze
ment, and then ran indoors to her
mother with her perplexity.
"Why, motherr' she cried, "Ned
Huntley said there wasn't any Santa
Claus, and he was real cross about it
too"
"Well, Mamie" said her mother.
81 wouldn't take any notice of Ned's
being cross about Christmas-time. The
Huntleys don't keep Christmas.
Don't keep Christmas!' exclaimed
Mamie, astonished beyond measure.
Seeing that her mother was busy, she
took her doll, Helena Margaret Con-
stance Victorine, in her arms, and
talked the matter over with her.
| Il IL. L a,1H
she, "they don't keep Christmas at
Ned Huntley's house! l don't know
just what mother means by not keep
| ing ii, for you know Santa Claus comes
down the chimney, and so he can get in
during the night and leave Christmas
there. Oh, yes, but they don't keep it.
They turn it out, / suppose, just like
mother told me they acted about the
dear little baby Savior; they hadn't any
room for Him, and guess Mrs. Huntley
hasn't room to keep Christmas in.
| | wonder what she does with the
Christmas things Santa Claus bringse
| l wonder if she throws 'em away? l
mean to go and ask herr and putting
her child carefully in its cradle, Mamie
started.
There was some truth in what Mrs.
CASTOR had told her little daughter; the
Huntleys did not keep Christmas in a
loving, hearty way. They keptit in so
far that on this very afternoon Mrs.
Huntley was busy making the mince
pies, dressing the turkey, and doing all
she could to be beforehand with the
extra Christmas dinner. Mr.. Huntley
had just stepped into the kitchen for a
moment to say 10 his wife, "What have
you settled on for Ned's ChristmasP''
1--WE bought him pair OF arctics-
he needed 'em; and if you want to
| spend more than common, you might
| get him half dozen handkerchiefs.
"Well, wife, was thinking that per-
haps''- the farmer tried to be particu-
lar about his words, for Mrs. Huntley
did not seem in very good h,pnor-
81 was remembering how you used to
enjoy giving the young ones candies and
toys; so, perhaps"
'"Now, Noah Huntley, I'm surprised
at you! Buy candies and toys for a
great numbering boy like Ned? Why,
you must be crazy, man! The next
thing will be that you'll want a Christ
mas tree yourselfr'
| "Well, and it wouldn't be a bad
idea,' thought the father. There's
my man, Fritz, he has been to the woods
and cut little tree for his children,
and he seems to get heap Of pleasure
out of it. All! if only little Polly had
lived" Strangely enough, the wife
was thinking the same thing. as she
sliced and sifted and weighed II
little Polly had lived it would have been
different, but we can't throw away
money on nonsense for Ned
A little red cloak flashed by the win
dow, little bright face, just abont the
age of .our little Polly's," peeped in
at the door, and Mamie asked, MAY !
come in, Mrs. Huntley?'
-" Certainly, child. Here's fresh
cookie. / suppose your full of Christ
mas over at your houseg
"Oh, yes, a'am! And I'm SO sorry
you don't keepit. What's the reason?'
Don't keep it! Why, we have reg
ular Christmas dinner as sure as the
25th of December comes round, and pa
| gives me new dress, or something
that / need, and we give Ned suit of
clothes, or shoes, or something that he
needs"
"Well," said Mamie, "but like our
way best. May tell you how we keep
Christmasp''
Talk away. can listen.''
swell, you see, a good while before
Christmas my mother begins to get
ready, and often see her hide up some
thing quick when / come in, and
then she laughs, and I think, .Oh,
yes, something's coming, and then
mother takes me in her lap and
tells me how Jesus is coming, and how
He did come. Do you know, Mrs.
Huntley?''
"You can tell me, childp''
"You see, He came long, long
time ago as little baby. Mamma
says that he began at the beginning, so
that no little child could say, can't
be like Jesus, for Jesus never was SO
i little as me- That first birthday OF
His, there wasn't any room for Him at
the tavern, and when the dear little
baby jesus was sleepy, they laid Him
right in stable manger, and the
shepherds found Him lying there.
Christmas is His birthday. and ]
suppose they give all the chill
dren presents because Jesus loved
little children, and then Santa Claus
Oh, Mrs. Huntley, that what 1 came
about, and ] most forgot! If you don't
keep Christmas--I mean as we do, !"
she added, as Mrs. Huntley frowned,
and If you don't use the things that
i Santa Claus leaves here, can't / come
over and get 'emp Only I'd rather Ned
should have 'em.'
4 Child alive! How your tongue
runs! Here, now, take these cookies
home with you"
THANK you. ma am. And you'll
remember about Santa CLAUSE" said
| little Mamie, as she walked away with
her cookies.
Mrs, Huntley worked on for q
few minutes longer, and then, leav-
ing her dishes, she went to her own
room aud opened = bureau draw
sT. There lay bright little dress
and pretty white apr0n-P olIy's best