The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1883-12-20


snow to cool it down, as he said, to a
"plisant summer hate" while he hurried
away to old Crabbe's in order not to be too
late with his repOrt-and, for the time
being forgot little Katy and her childish
fancy.
Then Katy's mother came down stairs
and went out also-by the back door, be-
cause she was afraid of the front steps
and Katy was left alone in the house. For
more than an hour she sat by the window,
watching for Santa Claus to come. At last,
she saw figure in shaggy coat and big
hat, all covered with snowfakes. That
must be he! she thought, as she clasped
her hands. He came nearer; he stopped
on the other side of the street; he looked
at No. l42: he began to crosS-yes, 1t
was Santa Claus Katy flew through the
hall, opened the front door, and-tO be con-
timed IN our merit!
III.
Leaving our heroine in this exciting
position, let US now see what was happen
ing to the lady. We must do this, you
know, in obedience to the rules of art; but
l hate it as much as you do, and l promise
to be quick about it. The lady had deter
mined to spend very little money for
Katy. She would buy a Christmas card,
at least. But she saw in the shops so
many other things that she would have
been so glad to give to her child as to make
it hard for her to be resigned. And the
agents talk kept running in her head. 81
only took the letter to his door," she muir
INJURED. 81 ought to have spoken with him,
face to face. A letter he might refuse to
read; but he could not help seeing and
hearing me. Yes! I ,CiU-for katy'S sake ~
And suddenly she left the shop and hur-
ried, as though afraid she might change her
mind, to old Crabbe'S house. He was not
L.. L. Sha 4 1rNtf
know when he would be at home; and was
about to shut the door, when the lady, with
a strange impulse, said: II will so in and
wait for him-I am his daughter;" and in
a moment she had passed into the we'll
known house, SO that the housekeeper
could do nothing but say: "Well, she
never!" and go back to the kitchen. And
at the very moment when Crabbe'S front
door opened to let his daughter in, the
front door of No. AZ opened, and
Now we have got to it, at last. Aren't
you glad? Katy was glad, and as for old
Crabbe-he didn't know he felt. To be
shot out of a snOw-storm in that way: to
think you are going to tumble down and
break your nose, and then 10 find yourself
in a warm hall and pretty little girl dust
ing the snow from you with = broom, ard
talking as fast she can, is enough to turn
anybOdy'S head.
II knew you'd come" cried Katy, dane
ing round him. mamma has gone out and
Pm keeping house, and we needn't tell her
till the whole thing is arranged! What a
lot of snow YOU have got on your knees ~
And down she went on her knees to brush
it off.
Old Crabbe looked down in bewilderment
on the bright, curly head. His ideas had
nearly all forSaken him; but one remained,
and that one he spoke out. Bad hole in
the steps," he said. Il must have it
mendedw
Katy jumped up when she heard that.
CRYING: 80, you dear old Santa Claus
How could you find that ont so soon:
WHY, that's one OF the very things | was
going to ask youv And she climbed right
up on a chair that stood in the hall, and
threw her arms around old Crabbe'S neck
and gave him kiss, so quick that he din't
know what was going to happen until it
had happened and couldn't be prevented
Then she took off his hat, and even began
as if she would help him take off his over
coat. But he resisted that, and she said
so, | forgot. OF course you always wear
that. You couldn't be taking it off and
putting it on again so many times. 1t
would wear all out. That's what wears
out clothes more than anything else. You
get your arm in the lining, and rip it goes
I know, But you must come into the
parlor, for I've got lots and lots to say
only I'll say it very fast"
Indeed she kept her word, for, leading
old Crabbe (who went as if he were in a
dream and never spoke a word) into the
parlor, she seated him in the armchair that
used to be her fathers, and then, plump
there she was on his knee and those gray
ewes Just looking through him. And how
she talked! Probably old Crabbe couldn't
have stopped her if he had tried-but
he did not try. He sat and looked
into those eyes as if they were
water and he was thirsty. Once she paused
to take breath, and, before she began again,
asked him: "Am l too heavy:" Sill he
did not speak, but slowly worked his arm
around her and shook his head. 81 thought
not" she said, with a smile of superior
knowledge: nobody ever said was too
heavy" And on she went with her story.
80 you see," said she at last, "you have
got TO help good deal this time. Mamma
has not got any money to spare; but rve
got ten cents that she don't know anything
about. The agent gave them to me one
day. We must get something pretty for
him. You like him, you know. You said
he was broth of a boyn
"Oh, did 2" muttered old Crabbe; but
with those eyes upon him he could not
deny it.
snow, I'll tell you my plan," said the
child. "You will take me along with you
when you go shopping this afternoon. You
have such lots of things to get and you car
get bargains, / know" Mamma says that
people who buy a great deal can do much
better. That's one thing that makes oul
things so dear, because we buy so little
at time. So you can help me to spend
my ten cents, and you can show me how tc
make real merry Christmas for mamma
Now Santa Claus, dOi" she added, as she
saw the old man just about TO speak, with
look in his face like no; 'pd just do any
thing for You. You haven't got another
little girl in the world that would be more
grateful than l would be"
"Would you"-said old Crabbe, slowly
"do you think you would-bs willing to
give me another kiss-even if I was moi
Santa Claus"
''I'n give you hundred, and begin right
away" said Kate, eagerly; "but if you
wasn't Santa Claus, of course not. i
wouldn't be proper, unless you were my
grandfather or something. But you ar,
Santa Claus, you know; so what's the USE
of talking like that"
eyes," said old Crabbe, boldly, "undel
the circumstances, / am Santa Claus
| though wish was you. grandfather"
swell, 1 don't" said little Katy. "I'vt
got grandfather somewhere, and he's ID
use at all. Mamma only cries when tall
about him and says Hush, my dear;' and
I'll tell you what / think: think that he i:
deaf and dumb and blind, and that he ha:
lost his mind, too, and that they have put
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