The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1882-12-15
''oome one VINO knows the deacon

well, remarked Charlie Rowell, glanc-
ing over his shoulder. His devotion
to the weed is touching to behold"
81 should like Whit at that pipe
after it is filed" said Harry Hobbs,
precocious youth of fourteen, ''but as
haven't been favorite with the deacon
since tied tin pan to the tail of the
old gray mare, don't suppose it is any
use to ask him for the loan of it."
Mrs. Mary Loyett!" Santa Claus
called ont.
The name came distinctly to her ears
where she sat in n back pew, and her
face flushed almost painfully. Who had
remembered herp In all these years of
struggle with poverty, and worthless
drunken husband, she had never had
present that she could remember.
'Go, Mrs. Lovett," whispered SYM
pathizing neighbor in the pew behind
her, rs she besitated and fdgeted diff
IDENTIFY. "There, he's calling you
again"
She walked up the aisle slowly, feeling
a painful sense of contrast between her
, poor, shabby garments and those of the
| comfortably dressed matrons around
/ her.
Santa Clans eyed her moment as she
stood before him. "Go back and bring
all the children" he commanded.
Half dazed, she obeyed him, and
headed the procession back again up
the aise-Tommy, Jamie, Nellie, and
the rest, little Peter, named after her
brother, bringing up the rear. They
came with wide open eyes and half
sbamed faces. The observed of all OBJ
servers was new role for them to play
in.
There was lively interest, q stretch
ing of necks, and half of the crowd rose
in their seats as SantaClaus took dark,
heavy shawl that had been hidden away
in the recesses of the boughs, and shak-
ing out its folds, threw it over Mrs. Low
ett's shoulders. Then taking down a
rich scarlet and white cloud, which had
made fine contrast to the dark, green
branches, he flung it half playfully over
her head. Before she had ceased won
dering if the bright churclR, the beauti-
full tree and Santa Claus were not all n
part of happy dream, he slipped n
Russia leather portemonnae into her
hand which contained a crispten dollar
note.
Then this most curious Santa Claus
began pelting the row of little Lovetts
with all sorts of presents; bright, warm
socks and stockings, mittens and caps.
The little girls held out their hands ca
gerly for the great wax dolls in blue
and pink silk, white lace and spangles,
and Rugged the often longed-for treas
ures close to their hearts. The boys
had as much rs they could do to catch
the tops and balls and marbles that he
rained upon them, and Tommy fairly
forgot himself aud clapped his hands
in an ecstacy of delight, when Santa
drew little painted sled from behind
the tree and placed it before them.
They hardly knew what to do with all
their things; and when Mrs. Lovett col
lected her scattered seiises and led the
way back to their seat, the little girls,
radiant over their dolls, Tommy drag
ging his sled, looking 80 wondrousiy
happy, tears glistcned in more than one
pair of merry laughing eyes, it was all
in such contrast TO their hard, bare
lives.
".Jamie Adamsm was next called.
Whoever Santa CLAUS might be, he
was evidently bent on looking out for
the less favored ones first.
Amid burst of applause, for his pa
;ience and sweetness had won all hearts
in Weston. Jamie went up on his crutch-
es. And he was heaped with presents.
A warm crimson comforter, n fur cap,
books and papers and last but not least,
u great handsome easy chair which
would fold up was displayed by Santa
Claus before his eyes. Jamic's face was
almost TRANSPORTED rs he went back to
his seat beside his mother, one end of
the long comforter dangling after him
along the carpeted aisle.
And so it went on. Name after name
was called and the tree was getting dis
mantled pretty fast. The more prosper
Gus ones had fewer presents but nearly
every one was remembered.
''Miss Della Stone"
Della sat with Mrs. Woodward and
Josie. Her heart fluttered little Gas
she arose and made her way to the tree.
some work-boX inlaid with ivory, NUT
tering something about former days
that she did not catch distinctly.
''Oh let me see! Oh, isn't it lovely!'
were Jose's EXPLANATIONS, as Della came
back to her seat. ''What lovely gold
thimble, and bodkin and needle-case,
and its all lined with rose-colored satin.
"Who do you think Santa Claus is, Del
lap
81 cannot guess" Della said, her pref
ty face all aglow.
'.Miss Josie Woodward" sounded
out through the happy tumult.
"Oh, he's calling me. Pm all in a
flutter," Josie said, las she edged her way
out past her mother.
She extended her hands to receive a
heavy volume bound in rich icrimson
morocco and gold, which she had been
cycling longingly all the evening, as its
gilt edges shone out from the dark
branches.
''Its some one who knows ana fond
of reading. anyway" she said, ~ she
hurried back to her place beside Della.