The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1880-12-22

tell me which Of those ships so to
Germany?'
why. that one yondcr, my it,
tie, lass pointing to one over
which the German flag foatcd.
But Nina thought be meant the
little ferry boat that ran to Wee
hawken.
Thank you,' she said, and flew
away. A bell was ringing; she
hurried past the ferry-house,
dropping her two cents into the
hand Of the ferry-master, and the
boat was off the next moment.
1t did not take long to cross the
river, and Nina went on shore
and looked about. A great, good
natured looking man sat smoking
his pipe at the door of q shoe
makers shop.
Nina went up to him and said
softly:
please, sir, will you tell me
where Mr.. Santa Claus lives ?
Mr.. Santa Claus 2 said the
man, in broken English. Well,
l do not know-does he keep
shop or work at a trade? You
tell me vot he is, den maybe re-
member him.
Don't you know: l thonght
every one knew Mr.. Santa Claus
said Nina. 'Ile--he makes toys
for little children.'
'Sor said the German ! so.
Vas. | know. Go up dis street
and along to the next corner, den
you see a little gate. Behind DAT
you find de man dot max es toys
for de children
Nina said that she was much
obliged. She felt that people
were amiable in Germany, and
her hopes rose high. She follow
ed her old Germans direction and
soon came to a high fence. There
was q gate in 1t. She lifted the
latch and opened it, and before
her was a low, brown house. Soft
ly she crept up to the window
Yes, yes, she had found Santa
Claus at last. There, before the
fire, sat a little fat OLD man, with
white hair and rosy checks, hard
at work with a turning lathe. An
old woman, as rosy as he was,
was gluing pieces Of wood togeth'
er with brush-toy chairs, tables,
bedsteads, wagons, mlIk-malds'
iointed dolls; and at table sat four
little girls painting away at the
finished toys with the brightest
c 5lors. Oh! this was delightful,
and Santa Claus and his wife look
ed 80 kind!
Nina knocked on the door,
Some one cried, 'Herein,' and
she entered.
She stood at the threshold and
dropped the lite courtesy her
mother had taught her, and said
please, Mr.. Santa Claus, | want
to speak to you particularly 1t
is about Christmas
sSo!' cried the old gentleman
and truly he was g German
rising. But what did you call
me, little ono?'
Mr.. Santa Claus said Nina.
I've been looking for you all day,
and poor mother is so sick. That
is Why l want to see you. You
used to come in at the window on
Christmas eve when she lived in
Germany, and you always put
something in her shoe, and now
she cannot earn money because
she is sick. | want you to come
down the chimney aud put enough
in her stocking to last until she is
we'll, for father is dead, and we
have nobody who cares tor u.s.
And you-oh! you are so good
always going over the roofs on
Christmas eve, and giving pres
ents to everybody
The child thinks you are Santa
Claus whispered the old German
woman in her husbands ear. on
how like she is to our little Nina
do you not see?'
DO you speak German, child ?
said the old man.
Yes said Nina, 'it is my mo
theirs language. Yes, L speak il
very we'll
and what is your name p askec
the old gentleman.
Nina Hoffman, Mr.. Santa Claus
if you please replied Nina.
The old woman caught her hus