The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1880-12-23

She felt that people were amiable in Ger
many, and her hopesrose high. She fol-
| lowed her old Germans direction and
soon came to high fence. There was a
4 gate in it. She lifted the latch and
opened it, and before her was a low,
brown house. Softly she crept up to the
window. Yes, yes, she had found Santa
Claus at last. There, before the fire, sat
a 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
a brush-toy chairs, tables, bedsteads,
wagons, milk-maids, jointed dolls; and
away at the finished toys with the bright
est colors. Obi this was delightful, and
Santa Claus and his wife looked so kindI
Nina knocked on 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, I want to
speak to you particularly. 1t is about
Christmas"
"Sol' cried the old gentieman-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
In Germany, and you always put some
thing In her shoe, and now she cannot
earn money because she Is sick 1 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-ohl
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. ooh, how
like she is to our little Nina, do you not
see?"
"Do you speak German, child?" said
the old man.
Yes" said Nina, sit is my mothers
language. Yes, L speak it very well.
g And what is your name?" asked the
old gentleman.
''Mina Hoffman, Mr.. Santa Claus, if
you please" replied Nina.
The old woman caught her. husbands
arm.
'Be quiet, be quiet" whispered the
"And how did you think of coming
here, my little mniden?"
Because you were so good" said
Nina. To-day mother cried Sand told
me how pleasant it used to be In Ger
many; and oh, Mr.. Santa Claus, you
must know where her father and mother
are. She said she ran away from them;
and I know she thought it was very
naughty - only what could she do II
they wouldn't let father come IMP"
"Hans, Hans, 1t il our daughterl"
cried the old woman What was the
name of your mothers father?''
:" It was Ansen, VS.. Santa Claus,
said Nina.
The old lady began to cry. She
caught the child in her arms and kissed
her fondly.
''Oh, good Mrs. Santa Claus you will
won't you?" pleaded Nina.
But now the old couple took her by
the hands and led her away 10 an inner |
room, where the old lady rumaged in the |
drawer of a little bureau and brought |
out an old-fashioned daguerreotype.
See, child, she said. Don't this
look like any one you know?"
cit looks like mother" cried Nina,
only-only not so old"
''It is enough, +" said the old gentleman.
"Child, God has sent you I am not
Santa Claus. 1 am only an old toy-maker,
working here in WeehaWken-ina strange
country to which 1 came from nay father
land. But my dear, am your grand
father, and this is your grandmother.
We came to America to look for our
daughter when we heard she was a
widow, but we could not find her Now
we are going to go and take care of her.
We will go with you. And again I say,
God sent you"
So in a few moments Nina and her
were on their way across
he ferry.
It was late in the afternoon when they
climbed the stairs of the tenement house.
Then the old people waited outside in
he entry, and Nina went into the poor,
room and found little
Biddy Flynn still waiting patiently
''What happened ye, MinaY she
asked. 'HThe mother has been fretting
Tor you"
'Ohl my childl I am nearly frightened
10 deathI" sobbed the poor woman.
''Motherr' cried Nina. ''Oh, motheri
went to Germany to find Santa Claus
for we never needed him so much. But
it was not Germany, and L did not find
him; but-oh, mother-I found grand
father and grandmother"
''Motherl FatherP' cried the poor
and the next instant they rushed
Ia and had her in their arms.
So Nina had a merry Christmas after
all; and you may be sure that her mother
got well, and that Santa Claus did not
forget her.