The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-12-23
gave her 4Ilo ic,- ico,, and lie looted 50 -a -aood. 4

iittlc look TIC
bowl and ran up stairs, and Nina ran
down the streets that she knew led 10
tho river, ns fast rs her feet could carry
her. She had two cents i'll her pocket.
and thought that would pay her faro.
A sailor was standing near a frnit stand
s1ina looked up into his round, brown
face with confidence.
"Mr. sailor" size said, twill you tell
me which Of those ships go to Ger.
many?"
why, that one yondcr. my little lass,
pointing to ono ., = which tho German
flag foated. Nina thought lie
meant the It'll :ry-boat that ran to
Weehawken.
''Thank you, ST. sail, and flew away.
a bel! was ringing; ,l:c hurried past tic
Terry house, droppi '"r two cents into
the hard oi the + i,stcr, and tho
boai was off the Il, nent.
1t did not take l. cross the river.
and Nina went oll ,..urc and looked
about. A great, good -natured looking
man sat smoking his pipe 81 the door OF
shoemaker's shop.
Minn went up to him and said softly:
Please, sir, will you tell mo whcro
Mr.. Santa Claus lives?"
Mr.. Santa CLAUSE" said the man, in
broken English. "Vcll, do not know
does lie keep show or work at trade?
You tell mo vot he is, den maybe 1 re-
member him.
Don't you know: 1 though. every
one knew Mr.. Santa Claus" said Nina.
"He--he makes toys for littlo children"
''So!" said the Germanl $50. Yas.
know. Go up dis street and along to
Tho next corner, den you SEQ little gate.
Behind dat you find do man dot makes
toys for dc children"
Mine said that she WAS much Obliged.
She felt TINT people wcre amiable in Ger.
many, and her hopesrose high. She fol
soon camo to high fence There was n
gate in it. She lifted the latch and
opened it, and before her was low.
brown house. Softly phe crept up TO the
window. Yes, yes; she had found Santa
Claus at last. Thcre, before tho fire. sat
little fat old man, with white ,hi,r and
rosy cheeks, }r1f,a4 }}r1f,4' at work with turning
7iatiio.. An old woman, as rosy ns h. wrs,
was glulng pieces OF wood together with
brush-toy chairs, tables, bedslaads,
wagons, milk-maids jointed dolls: md
ut table ant four little girls painting
away at the finished toys with the bright,
est colors. Oh! this was delightful. and
Santa Claus and his wife looked 80 kindl
Nina knocked on the door. Some one
cried, Herein" and she entered.
She stood Mt the threshold and drop.
ped the little courtesy her mother had
taught her, and said:
Please, Mr.. Santa Claus, l want to
speak to You particularly. 1t is about
Christmas"
SOL cried the old gentleman-nnd
truly he was German-rising. "l,,,.
what did you call me, little one?'
Mr.. SANTA Claus,' said Nina. t"I'ye
been looking foryoh Snll dny, and poor
mother is 80 sick. That is why I want
to see you. You used to como in Mt tho
window on Christmas owe when she lived
IN Germany, and you always put some
thing IN her shoe, and now she cannot
earn money because she is sick. l want
you to come down the chimney and put
enough in her stocking to last until she
ls well, for father is dead, and we hnye
nobody who cares for us. And yo,,-ohl
you are 30 good. always going over tho
roofs on Christmas eve, aud giving pres
cnts to everybody"
"The child thinks v,u arc Santa
Claus, whispered the old German wo.
man in her husbands enr. "Oh. how
like sho is to our little Nina, do you not
see?'
tho old mnn. HTf-i,F
eyes, ''said Nina, cit is my nnotl.cr'aS
language. Yes, l speak it very WE'LL"
And what is your namc?" asked the
old gentleman.
"Mina Hoffman, Mr.. Santa Cla.s, !.
you please" replied Nina
The old woman caught her husbands
arm.
"Be quiet. bo quiet" whispered the
old man. "It is common name"
"And how did you think of coming
here. my little mniden?"
Because you were so good" aaid
Nina. To-day mother cried and told
mo how pleasant it used to bc in Ger
many; and oh, Mr.. Santa Claus YOU
must know where her fnther and mother
are: She said she ran away from them:
ana know she thought it WINS very.
naughty only what could she do II
they wouldn't let fnther como imp"
Hans, Hans, it is our daughter!'
cried tho old woman. "Whnt was the
name Of your mothers fatherq"
cit was Ansen, Mrs. Santa Claus"
/. d Nina.
Tho old lady began to cry. She
caught the child in her arms and kissed
her fondly.
ooh, good Mrs. Santa Claus YOU will
ask Mr.. Santa Claus to help mother,
won't you?" pleaded Nina.
But now the old couple took her by
the hands and led her away to IN inner
room. where the old lady r,lmaged in the
drawer OF o little burcnS.. and brought
out an old.fashioned daguerreotype.
"See, child" she said. Don't this
look like any one you know?"
1T looks like mother" cried Nina,
only-only not so old"
1t is enough, said the old gentleman.
"Child, God has sent you. I nm not
Santa Claus. am only an old toy-maker.
working here in nWeehnwken-in q strange
country to which J came from my fathers
land. But my dear, am your grand
father. and this il your grandmother.
We came to America to look for onr
daughter when We heard she was n
widow, but we could not find her. Now
we are going to 90 and take care of her.
We will go with you. And again say,
God sent you"
SO in few moments Nina and her
grandparents were on their way across
tsiiio sscc::--yy
1t was late in the afternoon when they
climn.d the stairs of tho tenement house.
Then the old people waited outside in
the entry, and Nina went int, tho pl VI.
half-furnished room and found little
Biddy Flynn still waiting patiently.
''What happened ye, MinaS" sho
asked. .sThe mother has been fretting
for you"
ssOlt o;:,a, 49,,