National Republican., 1880-12-25
Ill.

The next morning Christmas, when the family
met at breakfast, Katie and Teddy, who were yet
sleeping soundly, were the chief subjects Of con.
yerSaton
The Jermyn childrcn-Tom, q rollicking boy of
thirteen; Susie, dark.haired girl Of eleven (;
Jessie, winsome little creature of nine, and
Charlie, the pet of the household, fairfaced,
rosy checked, roguish little fellow Of some six
summers, were wild with excitement. They cs-
tablishcd as II were, line of messengers between
tho breakfast room and the chamber above, and
almost every minute one or the other would steal
upstairs on tipoc to see If their unexpected guests
manifested any disposition to wakcfulncss.
The Christmas tree standing in the large luxu-
riously furnished parlor was entirely forgotten.
Appetite vanished. As Charley said, Every
thing was standing on its head"
Even the Doctor and his good wife were boiling
over with curiosity to witness the "coming to" of
tho young strangers,
1t was nearly noon when the nurse came with
the information that there were signs of "get-
up" as she termed It, and Immediately everybody
aockcd up stairs, taking positions In small con-
servatoTy which opened of from the chamber,
thus enabling them to see and hear All that should
transpire without the danger of being themselves
perceived
Katie was the first to awaken. 80, Teddy I've
had such q nice dream, she was intending to
say, but she never said it. There she sat- straight
up In bed, her hair falling about her like golden
mist there she sat, staring ull around the room as
hard as ever she could, with her eyes shut.
The children could hardly help screaming out.
right when they saw her rub her eyes with both
hands, open them, shut them up and lGb them
again, meantime taking occasional peeps at the
fire in the CRATE, at the pictures upon the walls at
the bed, the carpet, everywhere.
"Teddy," she again called, but this time almost
In whisper; "Tedly, where nre your
Teddy yawned, rolled over once or twice, straight.
cncd himself out, yawncd again, sat up and opened
his eyes. But he shut them quicker than had
Katie her own Presently he slowly opened first
one eye, then the other, gave long, low whistle,
and fell backward upon the pillow in II helpless
sort of manner, cxclNlming, as he did so, "Oh,
Lordy!"
Just then his sister, who was becoming alarmed
ut the strange silence, called to him fer the third
time
Upon hearing her familiar voice he sat up and
even yeuturcd 10 unclosc both eyes simultaneously.
Thea he saw the FIRE, and the pictures and fur
niturei and he saw something else that made his
young hear, leap with the widest Joy. Hanging
on each side of the m0ntlepiece, plump before him,
were two enormous stockings, apparently stuffed
to their fullest capacity. So full, in fact that a
goodly portion Of their contents were plainly vsi
bic.
The temptation was too great for him to bear.
Good gracious Hooray! whoop!" yelled Teddy as
with one bound hc sprNng from the bed, "Santa
Claus has come; aiut II iolly!" and then he be-
audancing n Jig, breakdown and Highland.fing
all In one capcrlrg around the room like young
lunatic,
Katie still sat, nov with both eyes wide open, In
the breathlcss expectation Of seeing Teddy turn
into a fake of snow, n cloud, or DC resolved into
some other unknown quantity; bnt he still kept
up his pranks, ''oh glory ho suddenly cried us
his dance brought him close up to tho crate full
of glowing anthracite. "oh glory; It's real fire
its hot" aud he hastily backed oil, rubbing his
bare legs with both hands, "its--." Come and
pinch me, Teddy" Interrupted his sister in weak,
trembling voice; IL can't wake up"
Ted performed the broihcr,y act ana then, with
n sudden impulse of great JOY, placed his arms
around Knties neck and kissed her. Tears came
into the eyes Of more than one OF the lockers on us
they beheld the anhctlonale c0res5.
"Are you sure were iomc,0lere'' asked Katie
"I-l'm afraid we amt"
"ofcourse we be- responded Teddy; "whered
we be If we wasn't?"
"But" expostulated his sister, we amt here--I
mean, we're In some other place.
80, so long" interrupted Ted, with all the i'm
portnuCe OF q sovenyeArold; Eve must be here
How could we be here II we wasnt?' And with
another whoop and bound he was at one of the
stockings, exploring Its depths.
lie first brought out large, luscious orange into
which he set his small white teeth with boylsh
vigor. "GOlly, Sis, It's nlco,' he gurgled, as the
sweet juice ran down his throat. "'F this Il
nowhere then don't want to be somewhere, that's
ALL"
Having finished the orange, he made another
dive, bringing up a handful Of raisns and nuts
With these he began to I'LL his mouth, meanwhile
calling TO Katie to come to his relief
~ sny Sis, get upi it's all right, We've been and
gone an got-what dye call Implanted some
whore olse2'
Katie slowly slid her feet ont Of bed, aud as