Middletown transcript., 1884-12-19
Sic went. 1b,it little Nina sat think

lug. 0n0 tIlOuBIG OI Ddiita OiduO-
ipt NiehqARB 1hea gOQa Gbs
ifgiead of all COED ehildren-he whit
would come down the chimney, or il
at the window, with any gift be pleased
Surely if he was so good to her mOthe
when she was a little girl, he wOal
remember her. now that she WAS sick
But how was lie to know He,ceuld
if he pleased, give her mother plenty q
money. Oftfat she felt certain. But
how was one to find him 20 ~
s.s !" Mother,n she, said, I" where does
Santa Claus live ?'' ~. 80 - ~ -
The poor mother was fast growing
delirious. aa. r5sa.e slfsi.st
'7's' What did you ask ~ she said,
dreamily.a g Where does he liyelg 4 Q,
/. do not know. y n - III ~
But he could do anything, give me
anything he chose PSI asked Nina.
I " Yes,'' said the feverish woman,
- yes, yes-teiI him to bring me Ice
nice, cold. giittering ice4to cool my
head-ice. ice.''
sob, 1 viii get you some ice,
mother, ~ said Nina. twill 60 tothe
EgF0cer's and get some. - 5ay -
She tooka bowl from the closet and
q penny from the old purse, and ran
out Of the room, softly shutting the
door behind her. yaaH
There was grocery in the lower
part Of the house, and she went into it
and up to the counter. A rosy7faced
Dutch boy gave her the ice, and he
looked so good-natured that she asked
him u question. 81 ..Is .-s5
"Do you know where Santa Claus
lives ?'' she said. -. i7ti-,I.s M , ,,., .,.ii
The boy scratched his head.
Yaw-he lif in Germany" he said.
Mina's heart leaped high.
Biddy-little Biddy Flynn r. she
called to, child passing the door,
twill you take this bowl Of ice up to
my mother, and give her some, and
stay sby her dntil IAceme back :
III only be gone a few minutes"
Good-natured little Biddy took the
bowl and ran up stairs, while Nina
ran down towards the streets that she
knew led TO the river, as fast as berfeet
could carry her. aShe had two centsrin
her pocket and thought that would pay
her fare. :. 81 rH an
A sailor was standing near a fruit
stand. Nina looked up into his round
brown face With confidence. s.
Mr.. Sailor, - she said, g win you
ten me which of those ships go to
Germany P''-s ~ ast,-t
s.Why that one yonder, my little
lass, ",s;lid the, ssilor, pointing toEOne
over which the German flag ioated.
3 But It Afitt AAffiit tll.iisslla4tt lie meant tie ferry
boat that ran to Weehawken.'
] g 'Thankyoa. "sEe said and hurried
OF Of. g = a bell was ringing as she ran past
the ferry house, and after paying her
two cents to the ferry-master, she was,
s1op aboard the boat which started the
next moment. 80 :. : s'
ut did not take long cross the river,
and Nina went ashore and looked
about. A Aigreat, jOlly-loOKing man sat
smoking his. pipe at the door Of a shoe
makers shop. Is
Nina went up to him and said softly:
"Please, sir. will you tell me where
Mr.. Santa Claus lives P''
& Mrgsanta Clans 2a,said the man in
broken Ehgifsif: = Ven / donot know
does he keep a shop or work at
,tradBrS You tellm yot heis den maybe
I,remember frtm. ss,.l....a s st aa5
"Dofi't You know?A 1 thought every
one knew Mr., Santa Claus" said Nina.
III lhma8 8 toys tot little dhil-
dren."
$50 = said the .Gerpan.u so.
Vas, 1 know Go up dis street and
along to the next corner, den you See a
little gate. Behind dat you find de
man. dat makes toys for de children y
Nina said that she was much obliged.
She felt that people were amiabIe in
Germany, and her, hopes rose high.
She followed the old Germans direc-
.tions and soon came to high fence.
There Vas a gate in it. She lifted the
latch and opened it, and before her was
a low, brown house. Softly she crept
up to the window. Yes, yes, she had
found Santa Claus at last. There, be-
fore the fi1e, sat a 1ittle, fat, old man.
wthsglitelaiE ahd rosy cheeks, hard
at work W4tIi a turning lathe. An Old
woman, as rosyas he was. was glning
pieces of wood together with brush
toy chairs, tables, bedsteads,s wagons,
lhiik-maids, jOilhea dolls; and alta ,,ta-
bic sat four.iittle girls painting away
at tile finished toys with the Brightest
colors, Obi this was delightful, and
Santa CLAUS and his wife looked SO
kind l--g7- p7E .-a H.a4 -t3.I
Nina knocked on the door. Some
one cried I" Herein, = and she entered,
She stood at the threshold and dror-
ped the little .c0nrtsey her mother had
taught her, and said:
.s{Rleass sAlFy SSh ChAg IRkAt to
speak tO'yOq qRaEtisulaElg. It is about
Christmas. 4rIxEa&H azgaan I
So p cried the old geDtleman-zapd
otKuly he was a German-risinga ~ But
what did y0I cali me; little one P''
":Mrs Santa ICiaas, y said Nina.
'sI'ye been looking for you air day, and
poor mother is 50 sick, That is Why /
wanted to see you.-.. You used to come
in at, the Wiha0w on sChristmas Eve
when she, lived ID, Germany, ana you
always put something in her shoe,
apd,now she eannet earn money Be-
cause she is SO sick, | want yoittO