Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1884-12-26

of Fernald a. o., turnf
down into the child's az
lifted with an anxious EE'I
through the large, dark :"
and seemingly darker, 5NG
erty.
"Santa Claus--I-ha, ha, 10
joke" said Mr.. Fernald, good-L, nd
viewing the immense bundle in
from which protruded a dol. 4
through an opening in the paper
developed it, and whose uneven su,
bore wonderful resemblance to Sas'
Claus mysterious package. j
"Well, my little man, it does look
like it; but how did you find me out ?"
ooh, sir" cried the child. with an
expression of rapt admiration on his
small pinched face, IL knew you in a
minute, cause you look just like your
picture in the toy-shop windows. There
the long white whiskers, an the white
hair, an tho fur cap, an the great over
coat, an the bundle of toys you're agoin'
to give to the rich children tonight.
Pvo stood on the corner here ever so
long, a-wai.in' for you TO come along.
| knew you'd come down this street
sure, cause the rich children live here. y
Tho child talked rapidly, catching his
breath between the sentences, as though
frightened at his boldness in addressing
so great parsonage as Santa Claus
"And what did you want to see INT
for, my little man?' said Mr.. Fernald
taking both little blue vcined hands in
ono of his great, warm ones
II wanted to tell you where we live
sir. | guess you don't know, 'caus,
you never find us, an Tom-Tom's ny
big brother; he's most twelve year,
old, an helps ma lots He earns mucl
as fifty cents some days, an ma don
know how she'd ever get along thou
Tom. Well, Tom says that you don
care one bit about the poor little chill
dren that you'd just as lief they'd starv'
on Christmas Day, as on any other day
but you must 'cuse Tom, sir. He work.
hard an gets tired, an then he's cross
When looked at your picture in the
toy.shop windows, | said to myself
"Bobby Brown, don't you believe it o
Santa Claus. He does care for all tn,
children, only he don't know whero t.
find you, that's all. Was | right, sir ?
II think you were, my boy Ger
tainly do not know where you live" sale
Mr.. Fcrnald, in an unsteady voice, TO
the childs trusting faith in Santa Claus
who had never Frightened Christina
for him, touched the rich mans heart
as it had not been touched for many
month.
"Tll tell you where | live. an ho'
many there is, an everything" erie
Bobby, breathlessly, "so't you can
stake the place. Ny! won't Nellie b
glad't you found US. | won't tell Ton
that | limited, cause ho'd say il WASH
perlitc Of me to do it. But you see, sill
| Just couldn't let this Christmas 90 b
'thout finding you, cause Nclly-Nelly'
a little thing, sir. only five last summer
an Nelly is talkin' all the time bout
Christmas dolly, an she really think
you'll bring her one, an il makes poo
ma cry to have her tell her what she
do with her dolly. You won't forge
the doll for Nelly, sir p
"No," said Mr.. Eernald, writing some
thing in little book "Step into tn
store with me, my boy. II will be NOR
comfortable for you. sec your clothc
are thin"
ayes, sir, they wear out Eastern m
can mend 'em. Little Pauls only fou
sir, an ] guess he'd like candy best (
anything, an maybe, if 'tisn't TOO mucl
. an orange, too. You'll remember littl
! Paul, sirf"
Eyes, I've got him down. Now WI
else p