The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1880-12-19

whether my old mother lives; whether they
forgive me!"
She wcpt, but little Nina sat thinking
She thought of Santa Claus-old St. Nicho'
las, the good Christmas friend OF all good
children--he who would come down the
chimney, or in ut the window, with any
gifts he pleased. Surely if he was so good
to her mother when she was little girl, he
would remember her now that she was SO
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 she to find him Z
"Mother" she said, "where does Santa
Claus live"
"What did you askl' she said dreamily.
"Where he lives, Oh do not know"
But he could do anything, give anything
he chose9" asked Nina.
yes" sand the feverish woman" yes
tell him to give me ice-nice, cold glitter
ing ice-to cool my head-ice, ice.'
.'Oh will get you some ice, mother"
sand Nina. 81 will go to the grocer's and
get some"
She took bowl from the closet and a
penny from the purse and ran out of the
room, shutting the door softly behind her.
There was a grocery in the lower part of
the building and she went into it and up to
the counter 4 rosy faced Dutch boy gave
her the ice, and he looked so good natured
that she asked him question.
"Doyou know where Santa Claus lives"
she said.
The boy scratched his head.
"Yes-he Ibis in Germany" he said.
Mina's heart leaped high,
"Biddy-httle Biddy Flynn" she called
to child passing the door, will you take
this bowl of ice up to my mother, and give
her some, and stay by her until | come
back. III only be gone few moments"
Good .natured little Biddy took the bowl
and ran up stairs, and Nina ran down the
street that she knew led to the river, as fast
as her feet could carry her. She had two
cents in her pocket, and thought that would
pay her fare.
A sailor was standing near fruit stand
Nina looked up into his round, brown face
with confidence.
"Mr. SAILOR" she said, will you tell me
which of those ships 60 to Germany"
"Why, that one yonder, my little lass"
pointing to one over which the German
flag foated But Nina thought he ment
the little ferry-boat that ran to Weehawken.
Thank YOU" she said, and flew away. A
bell was ringing, she hurried past the ferry
house dropping her two cents into the hand
of the ferry-master, and the boat was off
the next moment.
II did not take long to cross the river,
and Nina went on shore and looked about.
A great, good-natured looking man sat
smoking lis pipe at the door of shoe
makers shop.
Nina went up TO him and said softly;
"Please, sir, will you tell me where Mr..
Santa Claus livesp
"Mr. Santa CLAUSE said the man, in
broken English. Veil, do not know
does he keep show or work at a trader
You tell me vot he is, den maybe remem-
Der him.
Don't you know Mr., Santa Claus" said
Nina. "He--hc makes toys for little child
rem
$50" said the German $50. Yes, l
know. Go up dis street and along to the
next corner, den you see lectle gate Behind
dat you find de man dot makes toys for de
children.,'
Nina said that she was much obliged.
She felt that people were amiablc in Ger
many, and her hopes rose high. She fol
lowed the old Germans direction and soon
came to high fence. There was gate in
it. She lifted the latch and opened it, and
before her was low, brown house Softly
she crept up to the window. Yes, yes, she
had found Santa Claus at last. There, be.
form 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 glueing pieces OF wood
together with a brush-toy chairs, tables,
bedsteads, wagons, milkmaids, Joint dolls
and at a table sat four little girls painting
away at the finished toys with the brightest
colors. Oh. this was delightful and Santa
Claus and his wife looked 50 kind!
Nina knocked on the door. Some ono
cried, "Herein," and she entered.
She stood at the Threshold and dropped
the little courtesy her mother had taught
her, and said:
"Please, Mr. Santa Claus, | want &c