The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1880-12-23
LOOKING FOR SANTA CLAUS.
A Good story for the BOY. ana Girls.

One W1ntry day uttle NINA arose IN
the morning and found that her mother
was not up.
This was strange, for the sun was high
and his beams fell aslant through the
bigh garnet window upon the bare floor.
The stove was cold and the coffee-pot
stood empty on the shelf Nina laughed
at the thought that she had walked be-
fore her mother. She slipped on her
blue wooden dress, her large checked
apron, her knitted stockings, and her
thick shoes and having washed her
face, and braided her hair in two tight
! little pigtails, crept around to her moth
er's bed. intending to kiss her awake.
But her mothers eyes were wide open,
her cheeks were red, and her hair was
tossed about on the pillows.
ooh, my child" she cried, as she saw
her little girl, "what shall we do now? I
am i'll. have fever of some sort. My
head is as heavy as if it was made of
lead I am not even able to rise, much
less to go about my work. We shall
starve together, you and /, poor, IN
happy widow and orphan that we are. +"
ooh, no, mother" said Nina. eve
need not starve. I can make the coffee,
and go and buy the bread and sau-
sage"
9'Child, child" cried the mother,
every soon there will be no money
to buy anything 1 have felt myself
breaking down for week. I have no
hope now. must send for the doctor,
and when he finds am not able to pay
him he will send me to the hospital
You, poor little soul, you will soon be
motherless as well as fatherless."
The poor woman hid her face in the
pillow. Nina wept Tears ran down
her cheeks; but she soon went to the
stove, and kindled fire, and made the
coffee, as she had seen her mother do
it
''The coffee will do you good, mother"
she said But the poor sick mother was
too feverish TO taste it.
Then, indeed, Nina felt that every
thing was wrong.
christmas time Christmas time -
repeated the poor woman, talking more
to herself than to her child; land Christ
mas used to be 80 happy"
At this Nina crept closer to her moth
er's bed. Yes, in two days Christmas
would come. She had looked forward to
it So She had hoped that she would
find in her stocking wax doll with blue
eyes, and candy basket full of sugar
plums, OF least; but she should not care
for them If her poor mother were so
sick.
"Oh1ld! go to the old doctor, said the
mother. $50 tell him to come quickly I
l must be made well if he can do til Col |
Cor
Nina put on her hood and ran away. |
The good old German doctor came back |
with her, and felt his poor country wo-
mans pulse, and wrote prescription,
nd Na1 L. L
oade her take care of her mother. But i
he child took nearly all the small purse
to pay for the powders he had
'rdered, and though she watched by her
nother's bed all day, the mother grew
7orse. She lay tossing to and fro, talk
ng of the past.
cit was Christmas time when I ran
way with your father, she said with the
uick speech of fever. "My father did
OF like him, nor my mother either; so
e ran away and were married We
lme to this country in a great ship. We
ere very happy until he died. Nina,
0 you remember how good he was to us
st Christmas? All, only for you, only
n leaving you, my little girl, it would
Gem best for me that 1 am going to
i'm.
Christmas Oh, in Germany, at
ONE In Germany, We always had a
christmas tree, and we sat together in
le parlor, and the window lifted and st.
ichOlas came in. He gave us toys and
fits of all sorts. We were glad, and yet
1ghtened. Our wooden shoes were set
l n row on the hearth at night. In each
e found some gift. Such a supper
ancingl music
81 wonder whether my old father is
RI rln.aN1 ,,l1 1
Thether they forgive me?"
She wept, but little Nina sat thinking.
he thought of Santa Claus-old st.
Iicholas, the good Christmas friend of
Ii good children-he who would come
own the chimney, or in at the window,
nth any gift he pleased. Surely, if he
'as so good to her mother when she was
little girl, he would remember her now
hat she was sick. But how was he to
now? He could, if he pleased, give her
lother plenty of money. OF that she
elt certain. But how was one to find
i'm?
Mother, !" she said, ''where does Santa
llaus live?"
The poor mother was fast growing de-
rious
What did you ask ?" she said, dreami-
7. ''Where he lives? Oh, I do not
now"
But he could do anything, give any
hing he chose p asked Nina.
Eyes, said t'ne feverish woman. "yes
yes; tell him to give me ice-nice, cold,
ice-tO cool my head-ice,
,e."
ooh, 1 wiz get you some ice, mother"
aid Nina. II will go to the grocer's and
ct some"
She TOOK 8 bowl from the closet and
emmy from the old purse, and ran out of
ne room,. shutting the door softly be-
ind her
There was a grocery in the lower part
me mousse, ana sne went into It and up
, the counter. A rosy-fsgced Dutch boy
ave her the ice, and he looked so good
atured that SD e asked him a question.
DO you know whelte Santa Claus
ves?" she said.
The boy SCI atched his head.
'.1es-he Ibis in Germany" he said.
Mlna's heart leaped high
'Blddy-little BiddS Flynn" she
allied % a child passing the door, evil
On take this bowl of ice up to my moth
r, and give her some. and stay by her
nul / come back. 1 IL only be gone a
w moments"
Gcod-natncal E.tle R:5l- .oSL tks !
----NA Aa-AA cA-AAEes Allu AIlllA Z
own the streets that she knew led 10
be rIvc-. rs fast As he's feat could carry
er. Size had two ce.tS II her pocket.
I'd Thought that yeozfd pay her fare
A sailor Was standing near fruit stand
Ina looked up mo his round, brown
~ with confaenca.
Nh sailor. she sad. s'wiu Won tel
BE- which - those ships 50 % Ger
lz-yr~
w ay. that usie wonder. nv lttle las.
CEEt1rg a. oue over which the German
~ E1s.1l But Nins thoEEht he
.ea-t -ke ht-lc fe-ry-bost thai ran e
] c.e11ukcn-
.-rhszk WI. she szid. and few awav.
b.,a vlrs ringing. she hurried past tie
rry-lclss. dn1pFIng her tvo oCEts into
10 bad q The ferry u,sSier. add the
90 "a - the uext 1,claout
lt "a - taks lOuE b. cruss tho rivcr.
"a Ma wcnt on shcro krd Looked ,
s'gt a grcGt. gcoi-nafurcd lo,1kiug /,
a. SIT s,-ioking his pipe 81 The door q +,