The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1884-12-26
SANTA CLAUS.
BY ROSE HARTwIoK THORPE.

BOWER

ACuoo, ouJ 10 YOU pdlIb
The small voice rang out shrill and eager
on the crisp evening air, and j. p. Fernald
senior member of the firm of Fernald & Co.,
turned and looked down into the childs ami
mated face uplfted with an anxious inquiry
shining through the large, dark eyes, made
larger and seemingly darker, by want and pov-
erty.
''Santa Claus-I-ha, ha, that is a Joke"
said Mr.. Fernald, good-naturedly, viewing the
| immense bundle in his arms, from which pro-
truded dolls foot through an opening in the
paper that enveloped it, and whose uneven
surface bore wonderful resemblance to Santa
Claus mysterious package.
"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,
81 knew you i'll minute, cause you look Just
like your picture In the toy-shop windows
There's the long, white whiskers an the white
hair, an the fur cap, an the great overcoat,
an the bundle of toys you're a-goin' to give to
the rich children tonight. I've stood on the
corner here ever so long, a-waitin for you to
come along. l knew you'd come down this
street sure, cause the rich children live here"
The child talked rapidly, catching his breath
between the sentences, as though frightened
at his boldness in addressing 30 great person.
age as Santa Claus.
"And what did you want to see me for, nv
little man ?" said Mr.. Fernald, taking both lit
tie blue-veined hands in one of his great,
warm ones.
81 wanted to tell you where we live sir. I
guess you don't know, cause you never find
us, an Tom-Tom's my big brother; he's most
twelve years old, an helps ma lots. He earns
much as fifty cents some days, an ma don't
know how she'd ever get along thout Tom.
Well, Tom says that you dent care one bit
about the poor little children; that you'd just
az lief they'd starve on Christmas Day, as on
any other day; but you must 'cuse Tom, SIR
He works 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 OF. Santa Claus. He
does care for all the children, only he don't
know where to find you, that's all. Was 1
right sir?"
81 think you were, my boy. certainly do
not know where you live, =" SAID Mr.. Fernald, in
an unsteady voice, for the childs trusting faith
in Santa Claus, who had never frightened
Christmas for him. touched the rich mans
heart, as it had not been touched for many
month.
''Tll tell you where I live, an how many
there is an everything" cried Bobby, breath
lessly, "so't you can't stake the place. MY
won't Nellie be glad't you found us. won't
tell Tom that limited, cause he d say it wasn't
perlite of me to do it, But you see, sir, just
couldn't let this Christmas go by 'thout finding
you, cause Nelly-Nelly's a little thing, sir,
only five last summer-an Nelly is talkin' all
the time bout Christmas dolly, an she really
thinks you'll bring her one, an it makes poor
ma cry to have her tell her what she'll do with
her dolly You won't forget the doll for Nelly,
sir ?''
mo-" said Mr.. Fernald, writing something
i'll little book, Step into the store with
me, my boy twill be more comfortable for
you. see your clothes are thin
eyes, sir, they wear out Eastern ma can
mend em. Little Pauls only four, sir, an
guess he'd like some candy best of anything,
an maybe, if 'tisn't too much an orange, too.
You'll remember little Paul, sir2"
yes, Pveigot him down. Now who else ?"
"Theres Tom, sir Tom is such good
brother, an has to be out in the cold all day I
do wish Tom could have some warm mittens;
an his shoes are most gone, but guess the
mittens will do. He'll be awfully glad to get
'em. Is Toms name down."
eyes, Toms name is down." Mr.. Fernald
looked up, waiting for the child to continue
his requests
'That's all, sir, 'ceptin' ma, an ma needs
most everythin', but guess she needs shawl
most"
you wish forp"
mo- sir, don't need anything. Til be 80
glad to see the rest, an III have my secret
about meetin' you for my Christmas. Oh. it
will be the jolliest Christmas ever was; an
won't ma wonder, an won't Tom be s'prised,
al Mou Neuy udnCo dDOubl L guess lOiu Ii
change his mind bout you, pretty quick, SIR"
Bob nodded his head emphatlcaly. and his
eyes twinkled like stars.
"Now tell me where you live, Bobby" said
Mr.. Fernald, with warm glow at his heart.
The child gave the directions very infinitely.
Then Mr.. Fernald sent him home, and doubt
if there was happier chlld in all the land than
Bobby Brown,
| Mr.. Fernald then retraced his steps, visiting
clothing establishment, shoe store, toy
| shop, the confectioner's, the bakers, the gro
GERS, and at each place, after giving his order,
| he requested that the things be sent, the first
thing in the morning to certain address, and
| left at Mrs. Browns room with Santa Claus
compliments.
Bobby tossed restlessly in bed that night.
How could he sleep with such q wonderful
secret on his mind? At every sound he
started nervously, and listened attentively un-
til the sound had ceased. Toward morning he
| fell asleep and was only awakened by Tom
kindling fire in the old stove.
"Has he come yet" cried Bobby, springing
out of bed.
| "Who?'" asked Tom.
But Bobby pretended to be too busy about