The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1880-12-25

/ tnab she was SICK. but now was ne 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
Clans live?''
The poor mother was fast growing de-
lirious.
WHAT did You ask ?" she said, dreami-
ly. Where he lives? Ga, l do not
know"
"But he could do anything, give any
/ thing he chose o. asked Nina
! Yes, said the feverish woman, "ves
! yes; tell him to give me ice--nice, cold,
| ghttering ice--to cool my head-ice,
ice"
"Oh, will get you some ice, mother"
said Nina. Il will go to the grocer's and
| get some"
She took bowl from the closet and
penny from the old purse, and ran out of
the room, shutting the door softly be-
| hind her.
! There WAS a grocery in the lower part
of the house, and she went into it and up
! to the counter A rosy faced Dutch boy
gave her the ice, and he looked so good
natured that she asked him a question.
! UD Won KNOW where oHllla OIluS
! lives?' she said
! The boy scratched his head
"Yes-he Ibis in Germany" he said.
Mina's heart leaped high
"Biddy-little Biddy Flynn" she
called to child passing the door, twill
you take this bowl of ice up to my moth
er, and give her some. and stay by her
until | come back. I'll only be gone
! few moments"
Good-natured little Biddy took the
bowl and ran up stairs, and Nina ran
down the streets that she knew led to
the river, as fast as her feet could carry
! her She had two cents i'll her pocket,
and thought that would pay her fare
! A sailor was standing near afrliit stand.
Nina looked up into his round, brown
| face with confidence
MIR sailor, she said, twill you tell
me which OF those ships 60 to Ger
many?"
"Why, that ono yonder, my little lass, ="
1 pointing to one over which the German
| flag foated But Nina thought he
meant the little ferry boat that ran to.
! Weehawken.
"Thank you," she said, and flew away
! A bell was ringing: she hurried past the
! -nOubt', tlODIillH IitI Two ttnbS AillO
! the hand of the ferry master, and the
boat was off the next moment
1t did not take long to cross the river,
AID MINI went Oh shore and looked
about A great, good-natured looking
nan sat smoking his pipe at the door of
a shoemaker's shop.
Nina went up to him and said softly:
"Please, sir, will you tell me where
| A. G,,+o (1o,o Ex-a.oD
"Mr. Santa CLAUSE" said the man, in
J broken English ''vell, / do not know
does he keep show or work at trade?
member him
Don't You know: I thought every
one knew Mr. Santa Claus" said Nina
"He-he makes toys for little children"
'sSor' said the German! 80. Vas
I know. Go up dis street and along to
the next corner, den you see little gate
Behind dat you find de man dot makes
toys for de children"
Mine said that she was much oh'i
She felt that people were amiable in Ger
many, and her hopesrose b, III. She fol-
lowed her old Germans direction and
gate in it.. She lifted the latch and
| OPCIICo IL, itill DtlOlC lltI WHO lO",
brown house. Softly she crept up to the
window. Yes, yes, she had found Santa
Claus at last There, before the fire, sat
little fat old man, with white hair and
rosy cheeks, hard at work with turning
lathe. An old woman, as rosy as he was,
was gluing pieces of wood together with
brush-toy chairs, tables, bedsteads,
wagons, milk maids, jointed dolls; and
| of fahlo sof forr littla r,ir1e ,,aiptipo
away at the finished toys with the bright
est colors. OH this was delightful, and
Santa Claus and his wife looked SO kind!
Nina knocked OH the door Some one
cried, Herein" and she entered.
! She stood at the threshold and drop
! ped the little courtesy her mother had
Taught her, and said:
Please, Mr.. Santa Claus, want to
speak to you particularly. 1t is about
Christmas"
''Sol' cried the old gentleman-and
truly he was German-rising. "But
what did you call me, little one?"
"Mr. Santa Claus, said Nina. Give
been looking for you all day, and poor
mother is SO sick That is why want
to see you. You used to come in at the
window on Christmas eve when she lived
III 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
is well, for father is dead, and we have
nobody who cares for us. 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 wo-
man in her husbands ear. "Oh, how
like she is to our little Nina, do you not
see?"
''Do you speak German, child?" said
the old man.
EYES," said Nina, sit is my mothers
language Yes, speak it very we'll"
"And what is your name?" asked the
old gentleman.
NINA Hoffman, Mr.. Santa Claus, ii
you please" replied Nina.
The old woman caught her husbands
arm.
BE quiet, be quiet" whispered the
old man. at is a common name"