Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1882-12-22
HOW THE STOCKINGS WERE FILLED

HOW THE STOCKINGS WERE FILLED.
Pussy got into the house somehow,
Just as the least little streak of morning
light was beginning to peep through
the window curtains, and stole up
stairs. She jumped upon the bed. and
rubbed her cold nose against Lill' face,
and Weakened her. .,-.,,........ - 49,.
Lii sprang up in her bed, for it came
to her like a flash: ats Christmas
Dayr'' .a'.r'9 r'eT739 Toa .ro Is t.ia.1u.
Bessie, wake up! Merry Christmas!''
she cried. pattering downstairs to the
sittlng-room, after the Christmas stock
ings.
They hadn't doubt of finding them
full. Santa Claus had never forgotten
them yet. 7i9, r. fe,-e.,,e .,,.-s, a ,,.,r,,.
GU can imagine, then, their dismay
when each little girl clasped limp
and empty stocking. with not so much
as sugar-plum to fill out the toe. ss.te
They ran 10 mammals bedroom to
pour out their complaints. t'' =.
= Santa Claus forgot usp' cried Eli,
with starting tears. ~ .a~ III 20
He didn't bring us anything!' said
Bessie. throwing herself across her
mother feet in an agony of grief.
IL think it. 8 too badr' said Lii. -9-s
"He,s real mean I'll never like him
again!' said Bessie. .a-af az sQ.
'Oh, 60 back to bed" said mamma.
you've got up too early. How do you
expect Santa Claus can always get
around before daylight? %! There are
such numbers of little boys and girls,
the wonder is that he gets round at all
He'd never forget you, I'm sure. &c
back, and curl down in bed till lit really
light. Then get up. and dress your
selves nicely before you come down,
and you II see what you'll see.' -
Rather disconsolate the little girls
went back to he'd. So l9 -t .a'O,oa
g You needn't feel so bad Bessie
Bradley. Haven't you found out
more'n a hundred times, that mamma
knows about things better'n we do?''
said Lii. taF-I 81
81 amt feelin' bad any more'n yor
are, and Santa Claus is a comm in
about nine or eight minutes" sale
Bessie. 4yJ erA Utu Ta C
While waiting fortdaylight they talked
of the presents they hoped to have, anC
as soon as the sun peeped above the
eastern horizon they were up, and put
ting on their clothes as quickly as pos
sible, went down stairs, .s-H5y.n 20
There was nobody in the sitting-room
A fire was burning in the CRATE; and the
! stockings hung against the mantel, bu
/ they still looked limp.
They were not near enough to bt
! sure they were empty, when a louC
''Toot! foot! toot M sounded from some.
where. with a jingling of bells and ,
tramping of feet.
Hes coming! o. Lii Bradley, ole
! Santa's a comingr' said Bessie, cling
ing to her sisters skirts. Lii held he
breath and said nothing. ~
! The door flew open, and in bounced
! Santa Claus. sure enough! He wore (
very furry coat and a red cap. high ane
pointed at the top. and bound with fur
I His eyes were hidden behind grea
silver-rimmed spectacles. and his hail
and beard were long and white as snow
! Mamma came out of the bedroom
just then. and Bessie and Lii sided VI
to her, and caught each one of her hands
/ feeling half afraid of the queer, ..jolly
/: old elf" and then stood, silent an(
4 watching.
! The great pack upon Santa's bach
didn't seem to be empty yet, and there
I were packages peeping out of ever
! pocket. out of the breast of his coat, and
even out of his sleeves. He seemed il
tearing hurry. - iRrtiffaa
"Whewl whewi' said he. ~" This i
! the first chance I've had to take breatl
since / started out last night. So. man,
4 youngsters to visit this year! Thought
never should get round. Whew! how
hot it is here. Well, let s seeI''ig hni
! He whirled the pack from his bacl
down on the rug, and began rummag
ing vigorously among the package
within it. .sOnly two stockings to fiji
here, and little ones at that. I've lot
Of presents left over!''@ $500
He drew out a package, held his heal
on one side with a funny little grimac
as he peeped into it, and then thrust j
into Lilp 5 red stocking. e. -.
That's doll, !. known. whispere,
Lii. squeezing her mothers hand. !. !
A similar package went into Bessie
blue one. Then other, smaller pack
ages. till the stockings would hold o,
Iumore.n o.,- 4. 1870 -,-...-,ff@a +,
I .aAil the time he worked he Kept jerk
b ingaou funny little speeches about tn
I children and their wants. as if he knew
all about them. s ..5e.T =. ~ .sr;-o
Lii and Bess were in state of joyfu
| excitement Lii thought there wa
something familiar about the voice, o
the motions or something she couldn'
tell what.
@"I believe I've seen him beforel Els
dreamed did! Else he s some lik
fatherlr she whispered.
Her mother laughed aloud at this