National Republican., 1880-12-25
What Santa Claus Did.

Written, for The National Rcpnbicdnl
Katie was about nine years of age, and Teddy,
her BROTHER some two years younger. From early
morning until after the gas.lnmps wcrc lighted
they had wandered up and down the busy streets;
and then II happened that upon the eve of Christ.
mas Day they sut hungry and shyerng with cold
In the wrotchcd abiding place which to them was
home.
The room was dark, except where few feeble
rays of light occasionally lllckcrcd In through the
shattered window from the lamp upon the oppo-
site side of the way; and IL was not only dark but
altogether cherries. There was no furniture no
fire, no beds of ease or comfort.
1t was cold, very cold. without, the snow lay
very deep and white. piled here and there in huge
drifts and the chilling blasts swept with reckless
fury up and down the streets and around the cor
ners, seeking ont belaed travellers whom necessity
compelled to be abroad, and teaching them In no
friendly manner the rigors of n northern winter
Upon the hearth In the dc 'Olutc room smouldered
few ashes but they gave warmth. lowering
above them sat the two children, between whom
and the door stretched q Soit, white carpet, woven
from the snow-hakes which had driftcd in from
the strcetsthrough many an opening.
In all the great cty-and II contained multi
tudc of subjects t for the deepest pity-here were
no two human beings to be found whose past had
been so miserable, whose lot was then SO pltitul
and whose future seemed so hopeless as had been,
was then, and appeared in the future to be the lot
of the two who sat in that drcary apartment.
They had never known fathers care, and for
three long, weary years the love Of mother had
been stranger to their hearts. While she lived
things were bad enough, but yet she had never
been anything else to them than kindness
They had been poor very poor; and yet, until
she died, Christmas had never come without bring.
ing some token other love.
Three years In young life hedgcd about with
suffering and sorrow seem almost all eternity; uud
Katie and Teddy had IN that time grown far be.
yond their years They had learned ull the dread
secretsof grief and pain-sccrcts which by right
belong TO none save men and women-and had
formed an acquaintance with the wiokedness of
the world, but which, thank God had thus far
failed to do them mortal harm.
The woman who had assumed sort of owner.
ship over them AFTER the death ofthclr mother was
now hersclfdead. During her life she had treated
them most unkindly-had forced them to beg and
even to steal at times, and beaten them cruelty
whenever they returned to her empty.handed;
but 1t is doubtful ifcven her presence would not
have been exceedingly grateful to them upon that
one particular Christmas eve-they felt SO lonely
and utterly forsaken In the world.
All day they had walked the streets looking In
at the shop-windows sparkling and blooming In
holiday attire All day they had feasted their
eyes upon the tempting displays of candies, and
nuts, and luscious fruits, cakes, pies and other
good things which the rich may always have If
they will the poor Seldom but which the paupcr
may never enjoy. They had stood upon opened
gratings in front OF splendid establishments glow
ing with the warm, rich colorngs ofgarments fit for
kings or queens to wear and as the warmth from
the furnaces in the basement envcloped their
chilled forms, ah ! how they had sighed not
Tor splendor nor riches, but for liles bare com.
forts.
hal
costly curtains lace into happy homes, and seen
merry, brighteycd children clothed In luxury,
brmming over with joy, and afler having behcld
such visions from another world than theirs, they
sat In the darkness of night and the presence of
cruel suffering and dlrest want And yet they did
not despair. Brave, young hearts! There was, at
times an almost joyous ring in their voices as they
recounted to each other the scenes and events of
the day and they had eaten not q morscl since
lhe night previous! 1t was really wonderful the
hopefulness of their natures. Before lying down
upon the bundle ofmgs which served them for abcd,
Ihey even took on each tattered apology for
stocking, encrusted with ice and CRIME of the
streets, and hung them up by the empty Fireplace
Oh, the simple faith Of childhood!
Neither of them could read even the large letters
upon the signs along the street. but Christmas has
all alphabet of It's own--one which all children
can read and understand-aud SO they hung on
their worn stockings in accordance with the old
tradition which has been handed down from gem
Grafton to generation Though eighteen hundred
years of time and more.
perhaps" said Katie Santa Claus may come
10 us tonight, we want him so bad. And besides
we've grown so much bigger (they were mere mid.
gets of the human race) he'll be more apt to see
u.s."
Teddy looked rather dubious, but made no OBJ
lection He was too drowsy to talk much, and
numbncss was gradually creeping over him and
3D. without further ado, after breathing short
simple prayer, prompted, perhaps, by their ncces
stiles or perhaps by spirit of pure DEVOTION they
sought forgethllness In sleep.
Occasionally some low-murmurcd words would
escape them. Once Teddy cried ont as though In
pain, and Katie sobbed oh. TN so cold" But
presently all within became silent.
without, the winds roared and whistlcd, and the
signs and shutters creaked groaned and ratified
but the seepcrs were not disturbed.
Trouble and grief had, SO far as they were con.
cerned, been swallowed up In slumber's most pro-
found dcpths-dcpths which, possibly, might
never again be disturbed by the cruel awakening
to the dread realization of existence.
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II,