The Indiana State sentinel., 1880-12-29
know what will do for the baby.
How Three Children Saw Kriss Krlngie and
How They Talked With the Old Fellow.

From the top clean down to the toe"
How Three Children Saw Kriss KrIngle and
How They Talked With the Old Fellow.
Philadelphia Times.I
''I just believe there never was a real live
Kriss Knngle,' said VIII.
"And that's what l think" said Nellie.
"Me sink So too" said Ned.
1t was Christmas Eve and the children
were paying a visit to Aunt Rebecca and
Uncle Timothy, who lived in an old-fash-
ioned f. m house near the Chesapeake Bay,
In Maryland. Supper had been over two
hours aud the children had talked so much
about Kriss and the fun they were going to
have the next day that they felt very
sleepy. They had hung their stockings on
nails that we're driven in the fireplace wall,
for in Aunt Becky's old-foshioned sitting
room the chimney was open and NICE
warm backlog fire burned every day.
$50 YOU don't believe in good, kind
Kriss?" laughed Aunt Becky.
"When was boy" said Uncle Tim,
Owe always found something in our stock
ings on Christmas morning. One time
Brother William and tried to sit UP all
night to catch old Kriss."
"Did you catch 'im2" asked Nellie, eager
Iy.
mo- said Uncle Tim," ''we fell asleep
while watching, and next morning we found
two hickory switches in our stockings"
''Ouch, did zoo try, Nunkey2" said little
Ned.
"Well, we began to feel hurt and to think
thht Od Kriss had punished US for not be-
Heving in him when both Of US found
bright silver dollar way down in the toes.
Now suppose you children watch tonight.
Wen bring your bed and crib into this
room and leave the lamp burning, and
maybe when Kriss comes he viii make so
much noise getting down the chimney that
you'll wake up and see him."
"Ohl that's just jolly exclaimed the
three children.
So Uncle Tim called the stable-boy, Joe,
and told him to fetch in the bed and the
crib. Joe was quite an odd-looking lad. He
was tall for his age and was almost as slim
as the hitching-pOSt at the yard-gate. Two
years before, while Uncle Tim was in the
city, he found Joe on the street, ragged,
rough boy, who looked as though he were
half starved As the chimneys at the old
farm house needed sweeping Uncle Tim
took Joe home with him, and Joe lived
there from that time on. Joe put the bed
and crib in place and very soon the children
were fast asleep. Once VIII opened his
eyes and, remembering he was to watch for
the coming of Kriss, he looked toward the
fireplace. The FIRE had gone cut and in
the place of the backlog was pile of gray
ashes. The stockings had not been touched.
The lamp burned with dim light on the
n,antel. Viii muttered to himself that he
didn't think Kriss would come at all and
again fell asleep.
''Tick-tick, tick-tick," went the old clock
In the corner. A little mouse peeped out
from under the bureau and ran across to the
cupboard. 1t was midnight and very STILL
Suddenly Nellie pinched Will on the arm
and said: Listen, WHAT'S that2" VIII rub
bed his eyes and looked at the fireplace
The pile of gray ashes still rested about the
feet Of the brass andirons. The stockings
still hung untouched. The lamp still burned
with dim light Nellie and Will fixed
their eyes on the black opening of the chin
ney just under the mantel and waited. The
mouse, which had been nibbling in the cup
board. ran to the middle Of the floor. raised
its ears and all at once flew under the bureau
as fast as its feet would carry it.
"That mouse heard something" whispered
Nellie, ''and L really think old Kriss must
be coming"
''Looki lookp' Will exclaimed, "don't
you see foot there in the chimneyP L see
it-and there's another foot-just lookp
a'ShI 'shl ship said Nellie under her
breath, punching little Ned and pointing to
the fire place.
Six ewes were as wide open as could be
and, truly, those six eyes saw funny sight
First two feet came down the opening in the
chimney On the feet were very queer
shoes, which turned up at the toes like the
runners of a sled. Next a pair of legs,
clothed in red trousers as wide and baggy
as balloon, came into sight. Then the
edge of great coat that looked like buff
falO robe turned inside out was SEEM then
two hands with wooliy gloves on them, and
finally a face covered with long, shaggy
whiskers. When Kriss got bis feet on the
andirons he stepped into the room and
to the children to be as big as butter
plates.
"Hoi you're awake are ye2" said Kriss, in
a voice Ike thunder.
hsYes, ma'am" said Will, family.
"Hel he" laughed Kriss, in wee, small
voice; "Pm not a ma'am, I'm sir. l
thought you youngsters were in the Land
o. Nod, or I'd have kept on to the next
house"
awe were so anxious to see you, dear. good
Mr. Kringle," said Nellie.
s4You were, eh? But what if get mad and
roar and shake the house DOWN."
"Please don't, Mr.. Kringle; we'll go right
to sleep this minute"
''Then I'll wait here until you're asleep"
said Kriss. So Kriss took seat - the big
armchair and waited. By-and-by little Ned
whispered: "Mr. Kiingle-"
'sWeil7" said Kriss.
4sPse aseep, Mr.. K'ingle,' said Ned.
Kriss laughed and went over to the stock
ings. Into one Of Willis stockings he
showed glittering thing of steel and In
to the other stocking another bright thing
made of steel. Will, who was watching
from the corner of his eyes, said TO himself;
Il wonder if they'll fit; it's cold out doors