Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-12-18
sANrA's REPLY.
A LITTLE GIRL "sANTA CLAUS"

| The Days Christmas Tree. and Who
Planned and Made 1t.
At the very tip-top of very long hill
stands big white house; and at the
| foot of the hill stands little house
| which the winds and rain and sun have
painted black.
Mrs. Deane, who lives in the big white
| house, has one little girl, and Mrs. Day,
| who lives in the little black house. has
three.
Every Monday morning the three lit
tie Days tug a big basket up the long
hill to the white house, after the weekly
wash and every Thursday afternoon
they tug it up again, filled with clothes
as sweet and clean as sweet and clean
can be. For Nora and Mamie and Bess
have no papa, and their mamma has to
work early and late to earn clothes for
their growing bodies, and bread enough
to fill their hungry little mouths. Some
times there ism t enough.
Now have come to the story.
It was the week before Christmas,
and little May Deane, in the pretty sit
ting-room of the house on the hill, was
chatting to her mamma and Dicky, the
canary, about Santa Claus, and what
she was sure he would bring her, when
there came knock at the door.
1t was Thursday afternoon. and Nora
and Mamie and Bess had brought home.
the clothes
Mrs Deane asked them in to wait for
the basket; and when they were in
Dicky sang for them, and May kept up
her chatter, tipping her head sideways.
and looking like canary herself, with
yellow curls and bright eyes.
What do you suppose Santa Claus,
win bring you?' asked she.
The little Days stared very hard at,
each other and at May. Nora answered;
she is the oldest:
ave don't know who he is.
It was Mays turn to stare. In all
her life she had never before found any
body who didn't know Santa Claus.
Then who gives you things Christ
mas?' asked she.
1--WE don't have any, answered
Nora, "'thout's sometimes we get our
winter shoes them
@'Why, don't you hang up your stock
ings?'
NO said Nora.
Nor have any Christmas tree everP'"
May asked.
NO said Nora again; and then
Mrs. Dean came back with the basket,
and the three little Days made three
little courtesies and went away.
May stood at the window and watched
them go down the snowy road. Her
face was very sober.
Mamma" she asked, "why don't
Santa Claus ever go to their house?'
perhaps the chimney's too small for.
him." answered mamma, with a smile.
1T isn't a chimney at all; it's, a.
stove-pipe," said May. .sMay be it is
too small
She looked out of the window for 3
long time, without speaking. At last
she said:
..Don't you s'pose he'd 60 there this
year if wrote him letter and asked
him to?"
Perhaps mamma answered, s4if he
had gifts enough in his pack.
IF he hadn't, mamma, he needn't
come here.
Mamma smiled. Then think he
might she said. But the stove-pipe
how could he manage thata''
May thought moment Then she
clapped her hands and whirled about
like live top, spinning right up to her
mother side at last.
20, mamma, mammal she cried,
..let me be their Santa Claus and make
'em tree, like the one Aunt Bella
made for me last year; and I looked in
the parlor and caught her tying on the
oranges! o, mamma, can't I, pIeasep-
with strings of popcorn and candy horns
and apples? And then won't Care If
Santa Claus, the really truly Santa Claus.
mamma, doesn't come here Cant L
pleasepa
And mamma kissed her little daugA-
ter's lips. Il think YOU cam said she.
s.You may ask papa about it. $
Il Just the same's know he'll say
can't cried May. And so he did,
pinching her round cheeks red, and
teasing her a good deal about get
ting sooty going down Mrs. Days stove
pipe.
What fun it was! May went about
the house with dancing eyes. You see
she had q secret, and I'd like to know
If there ever lived q little girl who
didn't enjoy secretsuch q beautiful
secret, tool II was Just the best sport
to peep into parcels which papa brought
home from che village. Then there
was the corn to pop ana string. and the
apples 30 get ready; and of course this
vrf,Rk world take q cvrnat rna1 If trina N