Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-12-26
SANTA CLAUS.
A STORY FOR 1HE RICH MEN OF
WICHITA.
How Bobby Brown Searched and
Found Him.
please. sir. be ron santa CLAUSE

Found Him.
a'Please, sir, be you Santa Claus
The small voice rang out, shrill and eager
on the crisp evening ar, and J. p. Fernald'
senior member e the firm Of Fernald X
Co. turned aud looked down into the ehild's
animated face. uplifted with an anxious in
Quiry shining through the large, dark eyes
made larger and seemingly darker, by want
and poverty.
..Sants Claus-I-ha, ha, that s joke
said Mr.. Fernald, cood-naturedly, viewing
the immense bundle in his arms, from which
protruded dolls foot through an opening
in the paper Chat developed it, and whose
uneven surface bore wonderful resemb-
lance to Santa Claus mysterious package.
"Wen. my little mon, it does look like 1t;
but how did YOU find me OUT
aOb, sir" cried the child, with an expires
sion of rapt admiration on bis small pinehed
face. Il knew YOU in a minute, cause you
looks just like your picture in the toy-shop
windows. There's the long. white whlskeTs'
an the white hair. an the fur cap, an the
great overccat, an the bundle Of toys you re
o-goin to give 10 the rich children Tonight
I've stood on the corner here ever 50 long
a-waitin' for yeu to come along. knew
you'd come down this street, sure, cause
the rich children live here"
j The child talked rapidly, catching his
breath between the sentences, as though
frightened at his bolduess in addressing SO
great a persousge a. Santa Claus
HAnd what did YOU wan; TO see me for,
my little man." said NJ. Fernald, taking
both little blue-yeined hands in one Of his
great warm ones.
Il wanted 70 tell YOU whore We live, sir.
1 guess you dou't know, cause You never
find Us. an Tom-Tom's my big brother;
hes most twelve years old, an help ma lots.
He earns much as fifty cents some days, an
ma don't know how she'd ever get long
'tbout Tom. Vel, Tom SAYS that you don
care one bit about the poor little children;
that you'd just as lief they'd s'arve on
Christmas day as on any other day; but you
must 'cuse Tom. sir. lie works hard an
gets tired, ard then he's cross. When
looked at your picture in the toy-shop win
dows. l said to myself: Bobby Brown
don't YOU believe 1t of Santa Claus. Id
does care for all the children, only be don
know where to find you, that's all Was
right, sir.
aIthink you were, my boy. l certainl,
do not know where YOU live said Mr.. Fer
maid. in an unsteady voice, for the child
trusting faith in Santa Claus, who had neve
brirbtencd a Christmas for him, touched To
rich mans heart a. If had not been touche
for many a month.
u tell you where live, an how man
there IS an everything cried Bobo.
breathlessly. $50 I you can't stake the place
NV, won't Nelly be glad you found as.
won't tell Tom that hinted, cause he'd sa
it wasn't perlite Of me to do it. But you se'
sir. couldn't let this Christmas go by 'thol
finding YOU, cause Nelly-Nelly's littl
thing, sir, only five last summer-an' Nell
is talkin' all the time bout a Christmas doll
an, +, makes poor ma cry TO have her te
wbat she'll do with her dolly. You won
forget the doll for Nelly, sir!'
No" said Mr. Fernald, writing somethr
in a little book. step into the store Wi
me. nv boy. 1t will be mtre comiortab
for YOU. ! see your clothes are thin.
Yes sir. they wear out faster than ma c.
mend EN-. Little Paul's only four, sir, a
ruess he'd like some candy best Of an
thing, an maybe, if 'tisn't too much
orange. too. You'll remember little Pa'
SIR" y ~
else?"
"Theres Tom, sir. Tom is such go
brother. an has to be out IN the cold all d'
lido wish Tom could have some warm m
tons. an his shoes are most gone, but gu'
Che nittens will do. He'll be awfully q
% oct EN-. Is Toms name down.
.sYes. Toms name is down Mr. Ferns
looked up. waiting for the child to contin
his requests.
That's all, sir. 'ceptin' ma, an ma nee
most eyerythin, but guess she heed
shawl most
sBut you, my little man, Is there noun
YOU need for?'
oNo. sir. ] don't need anything. I'LL
so glad to see the rest, an III have my
cret bout meetin you for my Chrls'm
Oh i'm be the iolliest Christmas ever "
an WON'T ma wonder, an won't Tom
s,,rised. an won't Nelly dance about
Guess Tom'n change his mind bout y
pretty quick, sir. )"
Bobby nodded his head, emphaticaiiy' .
his ewes twinlled like stars.
aNow tell me where you live hooo
said Mr.. Fernald, with warm glow al
heart.
The child gave the directions very
utelv. Then Mr.. Fernald sent him no
and | doubt if there was a happier child
all the land than Bobby Brown.
Mr.. Fernald then retraced his steps, v
ing a clothing establishment, shoe stor
tov-sbop. the coufectioner's, the bak
the grooer's, and at each place, after CIV
his orders. he requested that the tn
he sent. the first thing in the morning,
certain address, and left at Mrs. Bro'
nom with Santa Clrus' compliments
Bobby tossed restlessiy in his bed
niqbt. How could he sleep with sue
wonderful secret on his mind' at e.
sound he started nervously, and listened
tentively until the sound had ceased
ward morning he fell asleep, and WIS
awakened by Tom lindling fire IN
old stove.
3 HAS he come yeti" cried Bobby spl
II ing out of bed.
aWhos" asked Tom.
But Bobby pretended to be TOO
about his wardrobe to heed Toms ques
He felt chargrined that be had so near.
trayed hif precious secret
Mrs. Brown, with weary sigh' pun
last potato in the oven, and wondered
the dinner, for those hungry little mo