Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-12-25

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Pussy eos into the house somehow, jos,
- the least little streak IT morning light
vas beginning 70 peep through the win.
dow curtains, and stole up stairs. Sh&
jumped upon the bed and rubbed hsl
cold nose against Lill's face and vaksn
Cd her.
Lill spraoR up in bed. for it came e
her like dash: ats Christmas dsyv'
Beasie. wake up! Merry Christmas-
she cried. and in half q minute four lit
tie bare fest we're pattsrinQ down Stair
to the sitting room after the Christmas
stockings.
They hadn't doubt Of finding them
full. Santa Claus had never forRotteu
than yet.
You can imagine, then, their dismay
when each little girl clasped limp and
empty stocking, With not 80 much as q
sugar plum to fill out the toe.
They ran to mama's bedroom to pour
eut their complaints.
Santa Claus forgot usr' cried Lii
with starting tears.
He didn't bring Us anything said
Bessie. throwing herself across her me-
Tiers feet in an agony of grief.
Il think it's too bad" said Lii.
Hes real mean; Ill never like him
again." said Bessie.
.Oh. go back to bed" said mama.
You've got up too early. How do YOU
expect Santa Claus can always get round
before daylight? There are such num-
bers of little boys and girls, the wonder
- that he gets round at all. He'd ney 81
forget You, I'm sure. Go back and curl
down In bed till its really light. Then
get up and dress yourselves nicely. be-
fore you come down, aad you'll see what
you'll SEE"
Rather discOnsolate, the little girls
went back TO bed.
You needn't feel 50 bad, Bessie Brad
ley" said Lii. Haven't you found
out mOre'n hundred times that mama
knows all about such things better'n We
do!"
amt feeling bad, any more'n you
are; and Santa Claus is comm in about
nine or eight minutes" said Bessie.
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 room.
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
the stockings were empty, when a loud
"TOOt! tOOt! tOot!' sounded from some
where with . jingling OF bells and a
trampinR of feet.
Hes coming! Oh, Lill Bradley, old
Santa's c0ming" said Bessie, clinging
to her sisters skirts. Lii held her breath
and said nothing.
The door flew open, and in bounced
Santa Claus, sure enough! He wore a
very furry coat and a red cap, high and
pointed at the top, and bound with fur.
His eyes we're hidden behind a pair of
great silver fimmed spectacles, and his
hair and beard were long and white al
snow.
Mama came cut of the bedroom Just
then, and Bessie and Lii sidled up to
her, and each caught one of her hands,
feeling half afraid of the queer "jolly
old elf" and then stood still, silent and
Watching.
The great pack upon Santa Claus's
back didn't seem empty yet, and there
were packages peepinR out Of each pook-
ct, out of the breast of his coat, and
even out of his sleeves. He seemed in q
tearing hurry.
"Whew! whewr' he gasped. "This
il the first chance / have had to take
breath since l started out last night.
So many youngsters to visit this year!
Thought never should be able to get
round. Whew! how hot it is here! Well,
let's &c.,"
He whirled the pack from his back
down on the rug, and began rummaQin2
vigorously among ths packages within
it. "Ouly two stockings to ill here, and
little ones at that. I've lots Of presents
left 0ver.'
He drew out a package, held his head
On ono side with funny little grimace
ss be peeped into il, and then thrust il
into Lill's red stocking.
"Thats q doll, l know" said Lii,
squeezing her mothers hand.
A similar package went into Bessie's
blue stocking. Then other and smaller
packages, till the stockings would hold
no more.
All the time he worked he kept jerking
utfunuy lit le speeches about the child
rem and their wants, as il he knew all
about them.
Lill and Bess were in state Of joyful
excitement. Lii thought there was
something familiar about the voice, or
the motions, or something, che couldn't
tell what.
~ believe I've seen him before, else /
dreamei I did, else he's soma like IA
ther," she whispered.
Her mother laughed aloud at this. II
made old Santa Claus look up from his
work, and he seemed to espy the little
Qroup in the corner for the first tiue.
Bless my starsp' he circulated, be-
ginning to gather up hastily from the
rug the parcels that had fallen ont Of
his pack pack. 49,. 49,, ,..:., Eli,
mustn't see me about this business"
He threw his pack over his back, and
then, putting his hands deep into his
side pockets. drew them out full, and
with shower of sugar-plums he pelted
the little girls az he hurried out OF the
room.
Just AZ he was going out he threw a
big package at their mother, saying, az
he did so:
"That's for the old lady there. Came
UBotty Uc6I IOIkotSitik uots
Lii knew tho voice in which this was
said, and cried out:
sits father! it's fatherv'
They then spranR after him and led
him back into the room In laughing
triumph.
They took of the pointed Ga T. and the
blue spectacles. They brushed the flour
from his eyebrows and rubbed the red
from his cheeks. They robbed him OF
the pillow that made him look &C
" chubby and plump" and the gray
hsir and beard which made him lool
50 venerable.
And, when they came to examine ths
contents OF their stockings, they wert
moro than ever delighted TO have foi Z
Santa Claus their own dear father.
RoNASruC TEXAN.
Washington Post.
An interesting romance 10 which his
untimely death forms q tragic conclus
ion was connected with Robert G. Fry
Who vas shot and killed at Honao City
l~A~l. H. n0v& ~ Hhs