The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1885-12-19
Santa Claus.
BY ROSE HARTwICK THORPE.

please, sir, be you Santa Claus?'
The small voice rang out, shrill and
eager, on the crisp evening air, and J.
| P. Fernald, senior member of the firm
of Fernald & Co., turned and looked
down into the child's animated face,
uplifted with an anxious inquiry shining
through the large, dark eyes, made
larger and seemingly brighter by want
and poverty.
Santa Claus-I-ha, ha, that is
JOKE said Mr.. Fernald, good natured
ly, viewing the immense bundle in his
arms, from which protruded a dolls
foot through an opening in the paper
that enveloped 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 me out7'
'Oh, SIR cried the child, with an
expression of rapt admiration on his
small pinched face. Il knew you in
minute, cause you look just like your
picture in the toy shopwindows. There's
the long white whiskers, an the white
hair an the fur cap, an the great over
coat, an the bundle of toys you're a
goin' to give to the rich children to
night. I've stood on the corner here
ever so long, waitin' for you to come
along. l knew you'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 addressing so
great parsonage as Santa Claus.
'And what did you want to see me
for my little man?' said Mr.. Fernald,
taking both little, blue veined hands
in his great warm ones.
Il wanted to tell you were we live,
sir. l 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 as much
as 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 starve
on Christmas Day, as on any other
day; but you must 'cuse Tom, sir. He
works hard, and gets tired and then
he's cross. When looked at your pic
ture in the toy-shop windows, said to
myself: "Bobby Brown, don't you be-
lieve it of Santa Claus. He does care
for all the children, only he don't know
where to find you, that's all. Was I
right, sirp'
4 think you were, my boy. I GER
tainly do not know where you live,'
said Mr.. Fernald, in an unsteady voice,
for the child's trusting faith in Santa
Claus that had never frightened
Christmas for him, touched the rich
mans heart, as it had not been touched
for many month.
'I'll tell you where live, and how
many there is, an everything cried
Bobby, ,breathlessly, 'so't you can't stake
the place. My! won't Nellie be glad you
found us. l won't tell Tom that I
limited, cause he'd say it wasn't perlite
of me to do it. But you see, sir, l just
couldn't let this Christmas go by 'thout
finding you, cause Nelly-Nelly's
little thing, sir, only five last summer
an Nelly is talkin' all the time about a
Christmas dolly, an she really thinks
you'll bring her one, an it makes poor
ma cry to have her tell her what she'll
do with her dolly. You won't forget
the doll for Nelly, sir7'
sNo,' said Mr.. Fernald, writing some
thing in little book. 'Step into the
store with me, my boy. 1t will be more
comfortable for you. I see your clothes
are thin.
Eyes, sir, they wear out faster'n ma
can mend 'em. Little Paul's only four,
sir, an 1 guess he'd like some candy
best of anything, an maybe, if 'tisn't
too much, an orange too. You'll re-
member Paul, sir?'
'Yes, I've got him down. Now who
else?'
There's Tom, sir. Tom is such a
good brother, and has to be out in 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
to continue his requests.
THAT is all ceptin ma, an ma needs
most everythin but l guess she needs a
shawl most
'But you, my little man, is there
nothing you wish for2'
mo, sir, don't need anything. I'll
be so glad to see the rest, an I'll have
my secret about meeting you for my
Christmas. Oh, it will be the jolliest
Christmas ever was, an won't ma won
der, an won't Tom be s'prised, an won't
Nelly dance about l guess Tom'll
change his mind bout you mighty quick,
sir
Bobby nodded his head emphatically,
and his eyes twinkled like stars.
'Now tell me where you live, Bobby,
said Mr. Fernald, with warm glow at
his heart.
The child gave the directions very
minutely. Then Mr.. Fernald sent him
homo and doubt IS thara u,oc a haDDieI