The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1883-01-18
SANTA CLAUS DID NOT FORGET.


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 Liz face,l
and wakened her.. s 5kBsf
Lii sprang up in, her bed, for it came
to her like a flash: ats Christmas
Dayr'
bessie, wake up! Merry Christmas!''
she cried, pattering downstairs to the
sitting7room, after the Christmas stock
ings
they hadn't .doub6 of finding them
full Santa Claus had never forgotten
them yet.
You can imagine, then, their dismav
when each little girl ,clasped, a limp
and empty stocking. with not so much
as sugar-plum to ill out the toe. iod I
They ran, to mammals bedroom to
pour out their COMPLAINTS.
''Santa Claus forgot us'' cried Lii,
with starting tears.
HE didn't bring us anythingm said
Bessie throwing herself across her
mother feet in an agony of grief.
81 think 1t too badii1 said Lii
''He's real mean. I'll never like him
again. said Bessie.
81 ''Oh, go back to bed" said mamma.
you've got up toe. early. How do you
expect Santa Claus can always get
around before daylight? There are
suck numbers of little boys and girls,
the wonderis that he gets round at ali.
He'd never forget you, Ina sure Go
back, and curl down in bed till it really
light. Then get up and dress your
selves nicely before you come down,
and you'll see what YOU II see.''
Rather disconsolate the little girls
went back to, bed.
"'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?l'
said Lii.
~ amt feelin' bad any more'n you
are, and Santa Claus is a comm in
about nine or eight minutes, said
Bessie. ora f5g $3.50 d ea +
While waiting for daylight they talked
Of the presents they hoped to have, and
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.
There was nobody in the sitting-ro 1na
A fire was burning in the crate, and The
stockings hung against the mantel, but
they still looked limp.
They were not near enough to be
sure they were empty, when a loud
"1oot htooth tool - sounded from some
where. with a jingling OF bells and q
tramping of feet.
He's comingl o. ILL Bradley, Ole
Santa's comingn said Bessie, cling.
ing to her sisters skirts. Lii held hel
breath and said nothing.
The door flew open, and in bounced
Santa Claus, sure enough! He wore {
very furry coat and q red cap. high anC
pointed at the top, and bound with fur.
dis eyes were hidden behind grea'
silver-rimmed Spectacles. and his hail
and beard were long and white as snow
Mamma came out of the bed-roo n
just then, and Bessie aud Lii sided lir
to her, and caught eachone Of her han ls
feeling half afraid of the queer, ..iolly
Old elf" and then stood, silent and
watching. H
The great pack upon Santa's back
dldn t seem to be empty yet, and there
were packages peeping out of every
pocket. out OF the breast of his coat, and
even out of his sleeves. He seemed in
a tearing hurry.
''Whew! whewri said he. This il
the first chance I've had to take breath
since | started out last night. So MANY
youngsters TO visit this year, | thought
never should get round. Whew! how
hot it is here. Well, let's see!
lie whirled the pack from his back
down on the rug, and began rummag-
ing. vigorously among the packages
within it. ''Only two stockings to ill
here, and little ones at that. I've lots
of presents left over
he drew out package, held his head
on one side with funny little grimace
as he peeped into it, and then thrust it
into Lilr red stocking.
That doll, | known whispered
Lii squeezing her mothers hand.
A similar package went into Bessie :
blue one Then other, smaller pack
ages. till the stockings would hold no
more. N
All the time he worked he kept Jerk
ing out funny little speeches about the
children and their wants, as if he knew
all about them.
ILL and Bess were in state of joyful
excitement. I'LL thought there was
something familiar about the voice or
the motions or something; she eouldn'
tell what.
- believe i've seen him before! Else
dreamed did! Else he's some like
tatner!" she whispered.
Her mother laughed aloud at this Il