Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-12-19
SANTA CLAUS.


please, sir, be Won Santa Claus?'
The small voice rang out shril and eager
on the crisp evening air and J. T. Fernald,
senior member Of the firm Of Feruald. a Co..
turned and looked down into the child's AMI
mated face. uplifted with an anxious inquiry
sh ming through the large. dark eyes made
larger AMI seemingly darker, by want and pow
erty
Santa Clo-s-I-ha, Ia, that Is q joke"
said Mr. Fernald, pood-naiuredly, viewing the
immense bundle In his arms, from which pro-
trudod a dolls foot through an opening In the
paper that envaloped 1t, and whose uneven
surface bore wonderful resemblance TO Santa
Clau. mysterious package
"Weu my little man, It does look like it
but how did YOU tind me outY'
"Oh. sir cried the child, with an expression
OF rapt admiration on his small pinched face
Il knew you m d minute cause you look Just
like your picture IN the toy-shop Window
There's the long, white whiskers. an the white
hair, an tn fur cap, an the great overcoat,
an tn bundle Of toys you're a-gou' to give TO
the rich children tonight We stood on the
corner her ever 50 long, a-waitIn for You TO
come along. ] knew You'd come down thu
street sure. cause the rich children live here
The child talked rapidly, catching his breath
between the sentences, a. though frightened
az ms boldness IN addressing so great person.
sge a. santa CiauH
VI y
little man said MI Fernald, taking both lit
lie blue-veIned hands IN one OF he great
warm ones
y wanted % tell you where we live. sir.
guess You don't know, cause You never md
u, an Tum-Toms Inv big brother: he's most
twelve years old, an helps ma lots He earns
much Hs nifty cents SONS dave an ma don't
know how she'd ever get along thOui Tom
Well, Tom savs that YOU don't care one bit
about the poor little children; that you'd just
as lief they'd s,arve on Christmas Day, a. on
any other day but YOU must 'cuse Tom. sir
He works hari an gets tired, an then he's
cross. When looked at your picture IN the
toy-shop windows / sad 10 myref Bobby
Brown, don YOU believe 10 Of Santa Clau.. He
does care Tor al the children. only he don :
know where o. hnd you that's al Was I
right, slrI'
- think You were, my boy. ! certainly do
not know where you live, "a d Mr.. Fernald IN
an unsteady voice, for the child trusting faith
IN santa Claus. who had never frightened s
Christmas for him. touched the nch mans
heart. As It had not been touched Tor many a
month
''Tl tell Won where ! live an how many
there l., an everything. cried Bobby breath
lessiy, ''so't you cant stake the place. Nv
won Nellie be- Clad't YOU found Tia / won't
tell Tom that / limited, cause he d say It WASH {
perite Of me 10 do 1t. But YOU see. sir / lust
couldn't let this Christmas 20 by 'thOut finding
u
only five last summer-an' Nelly Is tallan all
the time bout a Christmas dolly an she really
thinks you'l bring her one, an II makes poor
ma crv 20 have her tell her what she'll do with
her dolly. You won't forget the doll for Nelly,
sirY
.'No said Nj. FernAld, writing something
IN little book. Step into the store with
me. my boy. II will be more comfortable for
You. / see yJur clothes are thin"
''Yes sir, they wear out Eastern ma can
mend en-. Little Pauls only four. sir. an !
guess ne d like some candy best OF anything.
an maybe, II 'tisn't ton much al orange too.
You'll remember little Paul, sir2"
Yes, Iyeigot HIM down. Now who else ??
There's Tom, FlT. Tom is such good
brother. an has 20 be out IL the cold all day.
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
en-. Is Toms name down"
Yes, Toms name Is down Mr.. Fernald
looked up waiting for the child 70 continue
his requests,
That's all, sir. ceptin' ma, an ma needs
most everythin', but guess she needs a shawl
/ most"
"But you my little man, is there nothing
/ you wish for2'
mo, sir, don't need anything IN be &C
! glad TO zee the rest, an III have NY secret
about meeun' you for my Christmas Oh. II
will be the jollest Christmas ever was; an
J
I an won't Nelly dance about / guess Toni
change his mind bout You, pretty quick, sir
Bob nodded his head emphaucally. and ms
ewes twinkled like stars.
Now tell me where Won live, Bobby" sAiC
Mr.. FernAld, with a warm glow at his heart
The child gave the directions very infinitely
| Then Mr.. Fernald sent him home, and doub
if there was a happier child IN all the land thar
Bobby Brown,
Mr.. FernAld then retraced his steps, visiting
a clothing establishment, shoe store to-
shop. the confectionery, the bakers, the gro
GERS, and at each place, after giving his order
he requested that the things be sent the mrs
thing III the morning, to certain address, AM
left at Mrs Browns room with Santa Claus
compliments.
Bobby tossed restlessly IN bed that night
How could he sleep with such wunderfu
secret on his mind At every sound h
started neryuusly. and listened attentvely IN
til the sound had ceased. Toward morning h
fell Esleep and was only awakened by Tor
kindlIng a fire IN the old stove
Has he come yet" cried Bobby, springin
out of bed.
"WhoY" asked Tom
But Bobby pretended 10 be too busy aboJ