The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1884-12-26
SAN IA CLAUS.
By ROSE HARrwIck THORPE.

please, sir, be you Santa Claus?'
/ The small voice rang out, shrill and
eager. on the crisp evening air, aud ].
P. Fernald, senior member of the firm
Of Fernald & Co., turned and looked
down into the child's animated face, up.
lifted with an anxious inquiry shining
through the large dark eyes, made
larger and seemingly darker by want
and poverty.
"Santa Claus? 1-lla. ha; that is a
Joke" said Mr.. Fernald. good-na-
turedly, viewing the immense bundle in
his arms, from which protruded dolls
foot through an opening in the paper
that cnvelopcd 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 Inc out 2"
"Oh, sir" cried the child, with an
expression Of rapt admiration in his
small, pinched face, Il knew you in a
minute, cause you look Just like your
picture in the toy-shop windows.
There's the long, white whiskers, an
the white har, an the fur cap, an
tie great overcoat, an the bundle OF
toys you're a-go;n' to give to the rich
children to night. I've stood on the
corner here ever SO long, a-waitin' for
You to come along. Iknewyou'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 holiness in
addressing SO great q parsonage as
Santa Claus.
"And what did you want to sec me
for, my little man." said Mr.. Ternald,
taking both little blue-veined hands in
one Of his great warm ones.
Il 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
us fifty cents some days, an ma don't
know how she'd ever get along 'thout
Tom. Well; Tom says that you don't
care one bit about the poor little chill
dren; that you'd just as lief they'd
starvc on Christmas Day, as on any
other day; but you must 'cuse Tom,
sir. He works hard an gets tired, an
thei he's cross. When looked at
your picture in the toy-shop windows,
I 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 right, sir?"
Il think you were, my boy. I cer-
tainly do not know where you live, "
said Mr.. Fernald, in an unsteady voice,
for the child's trusting faith in Santa
Claus, who had never frightened a
Christmas for him, touched the rich
mans heart, as it had not been touched
for many month.
"Tll tell you where live an how
many there is an everything" cried
Bobby, breathlessly, $50 t you can't
stake the place. My! won't Nellie be
glad t you found us. I won't tell Tom
tllAt limited, cause he'd say it wasn't
perlitc OF me to do it. But you see, SIR,
1 Just couldn't let this Christmas 60 by
: 'thout finding you, cause Nelly-Nelly's
q little thing, sir, only five last summer
an Nelly is talkin' ali the time bout
q Christmas dolly. an she really thinks
You'll bring her one, an it makes poor
ma cry to have her tell what she'll dc
with her dolly. You won't forget the
doll Tor ely, sir?"
NO" said Mr.. Fernald. writing
something i'll Attic hook. "Stepi int,
the store with me, my boy. 1t will be