Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1882-12-28


was next her,
where be you 'uns agoin'?"
"We're going to Fort Botkin, and we want
to be there tomorrow for Christmas eve.
There'll be lots of fun hanging up our stock
ings. Do you ever do it?"
Il amt got none to hang; amt had none
for most two month. Dad says he's too poor
for to git 'em."
Here Susie observed that Franks sister,
Flo, was hugging large wax doll, and she
gazed at it with such evident admiration
that Flo, who was generous-hearted child,
passed it to her hands.
After duly inspecting its features, feeling
its hair, and turning it upside down to see
its underclothing, Susie suddenly broke
out
where did yer git it,"
Santa Claus brought her to me two Christ
masses ago." replied Flo, adding, with touch
Of pride, "but have a much more beauti-
fuller dolly at home. Let me see your dolly,
now"
II amt got none," replied Susie, dolefully
mamma made me rag baby onct, but it's
went long ago, and doesn't know no Mr..
Claus bout here" Then, refectively, my
kitty had claws, but dad shooted her cause
he think she eat too much"
"Well, I never |" struck in Frank, anxious
to show off his knowledge. Don't know
Sanity! He's little old fellow, so jolly and
fat, and he drives round the country, on
Christmas eve, in a sleigh drawn by eight
reindeers, and brings toys to all the fellows
that he knows; and his name is Santa Claus.
But prhaps your father is not acquainted
with him?"
II spose he amt" sighed Susie; "least-
ways, Mr.. Claus amt never been bout here
as knows on. Onct, when there were snow
onto the ground, mamma Civ me two warm
mits, and thing to 60 round my neck but
she telled me as Mr.. Kris. Kringle brings
'em, and he's never been round since I
guess he only know'd mamma, and amt
never saw dad"
Just then Mr.. Scott opened the door, and
told his wife that the tent was up; so she
went out to superintendent the removal of
her things.
Frank, who had been looking down the
valley, through the little window, seemed
struck with bright idea, for his
whole face was beaming with suppressed fun
as he turned to Susie, crying
Il never saw such jolly place to live in !"
What fer ?" questioned Susie quickly, for
she had never found anything particularly
Jolly about it.
why, you know, Santa Claus sometimes
lips over when he comes to a roughish place,
md then he spills his toys, and often loses
em, if it's dark night Anyhow, that's
what Johnny Losers father tells him when
ne don't get much at Christmas Now, don't
you see? that big tree, down there by the
rocky point, is just the sort of place where
he might come to grief"
"But it's ofer'n the road" suggested Susie,
"Oh, that don't matter" Frank went on,
sfter a moments thought. "You know Sanity
ravels cross-lots by the shortest way, and he
an ride through the air, SO shouldn't won
ler bit if he sometimes passes here Iknow
le's going to Fort Botkin tomorrow night,
md, sure as he does, he'll have spill at that
ock. Now, if was you, I'd run down there
N Christmas Day, and perhaps you might
ind doll, or something you girls like,
aught in the branches"
"But can't rum" Susie said, doggedly. II
mint git down there with stick to help me,
hough Pm most afeared, cause has weak
pells at times, and keels over, and I lays
here till dad picks me up. But, if you thinks
here's any show for me to find doll, I'll
ry it."
II don't know there is much chance" said
rank, who was little fearful that his
cheme might get him into trouble, if any
hing happened to Susie, "but you can ask
Flo. had been listening to this converse
on with great interest, as she was not quite
Ire whether her brother was telling yarns
not and she was on the point of trying to
issuade Susie from undertaking any such a
lid goose chase, when her mother entered
ne room. .
Mrs. Scott took Susie's arm, and drew her +,
yer to her chair; then, opening book she ,
lid in her hand, she was about to show the i.
lored pictures in it to her, when the child,
ith eagerly inquiring face, asked her = +
"Do Mr.. Claus ever drop things outer'n his t
ID on the roads? Bout such place as /
is, l means?n she added, in doubtful s
ne. 8H 9as lie
Now Mrs Scott and her husband had been +
noocting scheme for collecting a few
liable gifts together, and sending them to i
is poor little waif on Christmas Day, so, h
willing to disappoint any hopes Susie v
ight have felt, or to destroy her faith in o
nta Claus, the child's ideal of good will to Il
en- she unhesitatingly answered. M e.
"Oh, yes my dearw dsiH .i4d S
"And does you guess he'll come this way
morrow night?n persisted Susie, whose t.