The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1885-12-26
o THE REGISTER.
How Santa Claus Found His Way into the
Hiilscombe Parlor.

AloW Santh Sldus FouHu Ills way INTO the
HiIlscombe Parlor.
What is Christmas without Santa
Claus? 1t looked very much as ifJack
and Effie Hillscombe were soon to find
out what such a Christmas would be;
for it was already Christmas Eve, and
the house where the two children lived
was filled with the usual good cheer,
and all the hustle of preparing for the
great event.
Papa Hillscombe sat in the big arm
chair putting on his slippers, and do
ing his best to imagine himself before
the great log-tire he had known so well
as a boy; for there were no CRATES in
the Hillscombe house. Jack and Ellie
lived in a city where, at the time of
my story, very few families had open
fire-places in their houses; and little
Effie had asked her papa, as she kissed
him goodnight: "Why, papa, how is
Santa Claus goin' to Diet in when there
is no tire-plaee?" This question really
puzzled Papa Hillscombe, but he told
the children that Santa Claus would
find his way in, and that it would be
all right in the morning.
But after the children had gone to
bed a queer look came over their papa's
good-natured face, and it was plainly
to be seen that he was thinking of little
EAie's question.
1t happened, too, that the children
were not satisfied with the answer he
had given them; and while papa was
locking up the house for the night, and
attending to the furnace, they were
still exchanging opinions on this
weighty subject from their little cots.
Suddenly Jack sat bolt upright. He
had an idea! And in another moment
he had toppled out Of bed and made his
way on tip-toe to Efie's cot.
A whispered consultation followed,
and in a few minutes later both little
cots were deserted, and two tiny white
figures were creeping noiselessly down
the staircase.
All the doors were locked and all the
windows closed, and papa was Just
shutting the iron door of the great fur
in the cellar, when he was startled
by voices which seemed to come from
the furnace itself. For a moment he
amused himself with the fancy that
Santa Claus was really making his way
N by the furnace; then he thought he
night have left a door unlocked.
The thoughts of Santa Claus or other
ess welcome visitors were, however,
Don forgotten when he heard the sound
# children's voices, and found that it
Jack and Efie who were talking.
Papa opened the furnace door again
nd listened. |,
They were evidently talking near
he register, for what they said was
lainly heard through the furnace-pipe ;
y Papa Hillscombe. Jack was say.
,g: :
20 Ellie! how can Santa Claus ever .
wing my big sled through the wegis-
,r?"
'Or my dolls housep" said Ellie.
There was a pause, then Jack ex-
aimed, triumphantly: II know! let's +
Ike the top Off" \
but said Efie, '.we're not bid q
Tough" O
"Oh! you're only a dirl; lean do IT," a
Then followed quite a struggle be. u
veen Jack and the ''wegister," but it n
as only after the "dirl' had come to Il
is aid that Jack was able to lift the v
plate; and then papa heard her b
y, in a solemn tone; do you fink. G
ack, he could Diet o dolls house Il
dat?"
Oh Santa Claus can do anything"
as Jacks comforting reply.
The two little people were on their II
,ees, peering intently down the dark
'ening, when suddenly they were
artled by a voice, which seemed to
up through the hole in the floor.
nc voice said: h
Its time little children were in bed! c
.nta Claus cant bring his presents
] everybody is fast asleep!"
The children could not tell the voice, :,
It came up through the pipe. and i,
tn A cry Of He's tumming! Santa =
aus Is tummingl'' two little figures o