Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1883-12-23
SLY SANTA CLAUS.
A Veil of Mystery Surrounding
Every Household.
Bile Bard Chambers Quarantine Rigidly
From Cellar 10 Attic-"Where
is That Key"
Day after Observation-Disclosures.

Day after OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Already there are mysterious goings
on in every nook and corner of the
house, and the very air Is full of con-
spiracy.
Mods and winks and hints on all sides,
and whispered conversations in odd
hooks.
The father, when he returns home in
the evening and attempts to get into his
room, finds the door locked.
When he fumbles az the knob he
hears a succession o. screams within,
a scurrying to and fro, and after short
parley he is admitted by his daughter
and wife, who are looking very guilty
and endeavoring to conceal something
rolled up in an apron to be struggled up
stairs.
One Of his old slippers has unaccoun.
tsbly disappeared, and some incoherent
explanation is given of its absence, at
tended by considerable giggling and
blushing.
1t has been carried off as q pattern.
IN fact rigid quarantine is main
tanned over certain rooms, and Blue
Reari's chamber was not more jealous
y guarded than is the place where the
-tcreG cOnclave meets daily and devises
all 81 rts of queer things as Christmas
gifts.
Bureau drawers are now taboo2d to
the children, who are gravely Informed
that some terrible monster will spring
out on them if they venture to open
those drawers.
Then the mother suddenly misses one
of her dresses, and her daughter con-
fusedly explains that it must have been
mislaiG.
She has taken it as pattern for
new dress with which she proposes to
astonish poor mamma.
Indeed in all those conspiracies and
cOnclaves there is disposition on the
part of the conepiratOrS to fool each
other.
1t is most amusing to watch the eff
forts of the little ones 10 penetrate the
veil of mystery that hangs over each
household at this time.
Tommy announces to his wonder.
stricken sisters that he has just inter
TtfKES fR .S6.n-e;SSSgfylDs Wh@ MHSad'a
Ialgc wax doll for that address.
Birdic's eyes sparkle Is she tells about
q conversation, fragments of which she
Overl card, between papa aud mamma.
The cunning little eavesdropper re-
collects that the cabaistic words
watch" "boX of Tools" pair OF
skates" were used.
No police mystery was ever lnVeatl-
gated with such zeal ~ that of Il large
box which has just been sent up to
mammals room.
Emily is sure that it is just the size to
hold a fur-lined circular, while Josie is
equally confident that it contains the
yerv dress she has been longing for.
Woe to the young man who ls en-
Jagged and whose bank account Is not
over great. .
There are, alas! so many tempting
things i'm the shop windows which MS
| .jrl has seen, and he is MORALLY afraid
Of Set,irg the wrong article.
Santa Claus becomes nightmare TO
6im.
He sees in fancy the look of disap-
pointment in his girls face when she
receives the present on which he has
-pert his last dollar, and, turning up
rer pretty nose in disdain, exclsims:
"Pshaw! ] didn't want that. The
-tupid fellow. thought he was going
| 10 eve me something else"
4 remarkable feature about a house,
hold now is the unaccountable disap-
| pearance of keys. -,
The question, "Where is that ey"
is constantly repeated.
Also, il you chance to touch anything
over which shawl or cloak is care
lessly thrown, you are met by the sharp
| repr0of, "Now, amt you mean"
| Closets, drawers, trunks and boxes
are kept rigidly sealed from profane
| ewes, and handkerchief are hastily
| thrown over work baskets when one
| enters room.
At is no longer free-tO-all house.
Santa Claus, like Joey b agstock, Is
the genius of slyneSs, and i'll his name
all sorts of deceptions are psrdonable.
| But paterramiIias will be glad when
the reign of the little old man with the
huge beard and ruddy face, reindeer
and pedler's pack, is over.
II plavs sal havoc with ones pocket
| book.
Resides. "Where is that kcy?"
Household quarantine is being rig'dly
| enforced.