The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1880-12-22

LOOKING FOR SANTA CLAUS.
A aood story for III, Roy. and Girls.


One wintry day little 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
high garrett window upon the bare floor.
The stove was cold and tho cotfee-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
f,lce, 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 / am not even able TO rise, much
less to go about my work. We shall
starve together, you and !, poor, I'M
happy widow and orphan that we are. )"
"Oh, no, mother" said Nina. eve
need not starye. can make the coffee,
and go and buy the bread and sau-
sage"
Hohild, child" cried the mother,
every soon there will be 10 money
to buy anything / have felt myself
breaking down for q week. I have no
hope now. l 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 US 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 lindled 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; "and Christ.
mas used to be so 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
llums, at least; but she should not care
for them if her poor mother were SO
sick.
Child! go to the old doctor" said the
mother. "Go tell him to come quickly |
Unjust be made well if he can doit! Go!
Col"
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,
and patted little Nina OH the head, and
babe her take care of her mother. But
the child took nearly MI the small purse
contained to pay for the powders he had
ordered, and though she watched by he,
mothers bed all day, the mother grew
worse. She lay tossing to and fro, talk
ing Of the past.
''lt was Christmas time when ran
away with your father" she said with the
quick speech of fever. "NTy father did
not like him, nor my mother either; SO
we ran away and were married. We
came to this country in q great ship. We
wore very happy until he died. Nina,
do You remember how good he was to US
last Christmas? All, only for you, only
for leaving you, my little girl, it would
seem best for mo that l am going to
him.
"Christmasl Oh, in Germany, ut
home in Germany, we always had n
Christmas tree, and we sat together in
the parlor, and the window lifted and st,
Nicholas came in. He gave us TOYS and
gifts OF all sorts. We were glad, and vet
frightened. Our wooden shoes were set
in row on the hearth at night. In each
we found some gift. Such supper |!
dancing! music
II wonder whether my old father is
dead: whether my old mother lives;
whether they forgive mo?'
She wept, but little Nina sat thinking.
She thought Of Santa Claus--old ST.
Nicholas, the good Christmas friend Of
all good children-he who would come
down the chimney, or in at the window,
with any gift he pleased. Surely, if he
was SO good to her mother when she was
a little girl, he would remember her now,
that she was sick. But how was he to.
know He could, if he pleased, give her
mother plenty Of money. OF that she
felt certain. But how was one to find
him?
Mother" she said, "where does Santa
Claus liveP'
The poor mother was fast growing de-