Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-11-29
Christmas Story by a Wichita Coy

SANTA CLAUS HEADQUARTERS.
The hands of the clock roll round to Il
and grope their way in the dark, and all is
still except the wind, which bowls around
the mansion of Santa Claus.
A traveller going by might see through a
large old fashioned window large room,
with a large fireplace on one sid, and the
other packed with toys. etc.
Everything inside had hurry-skurry
look about IT.
At one end sat gray whiskered old man
smoking his pipe and vigorously pounding
away at little wagon. This was Santa
Claus. Now and then he would raise his
head and give orders to the elves.
inches in height, and were dressed in blue
suits which were skin-tight. Their caps
were also blue, and they had very brown
compilations. They are called Brownies
Some of these were looking at compare
tive big books, while others were sitting
around the fireplace engsgedin conversation
the rest were filling large sleigh with
books and toys, dolls, etc. Presently in
came little dame, who, on perceiving that
it was past twelve, lifted up her hands az in
horror and exclaimed, "Why, Santa, how
late it is, you ought TO be off" and then she
was doing something else. When the voice
of Madame Santa Claus reached Santa he
was humming some old tune. Looking up
a. the elves he shouted work" not inter-
rupting the tune he was humming.
The sound Of his voice sent all the idle
elves to work, and one or two who were little
prone TO do so received sound cudgeling at
the hands Of Madame Santa Claus.
They only laughed at her, however, and
set TO work with double energy.
Soon the sleigh was loaded, and Santa
Claus Dame down from his perch with a
light step and called in deep. heavy voice.
Fly, boys" Open flew side door and in
rushed four pretty deer. He hitched them
10 the sleigh, opened the door
of the mansion, go: into his
seat, after covering up the brownies,
who had on the bottom, cracked his whip
aud away they went, through the air and
falling snow; faster and faster they went-
Presently they passed over a large city.
and a Browny who had come up beside
Santa Claus remarked:
O, Santa, look at thst large city. l am
sure there are nice stores there. Why no;
stop and make this your headquarters. ?
No, nv dear, said Santa; there are in
in that city, (for they had passed III some
very large stores, but | am going TO the
finest, the largest and the most hone.: Of all
stores.
PRAY, where is that asked the elf.
Ii Is in Wichita, and the store is "Hyde's
Book Store" There's my Headquarters;
though | have lived a thousand years and
may live thousand more, l have never
seen, nor Will ever see IS fine store as
"Hyde's"
Hello here We are now. be said, IS be /
drew up the deer upon large brick 4
building. lie tied them to chimney, l
then he loaded himself down ~iih /
toys and down he went into the 4
chimney; each elf did the sane and the..las:
III bad the last book
Inside vas 8 scene o: confgsion- Some
we're re-srrsnging books, some putting toys
ose,her, and one little fellow started the
music box, which was instantly forbidden
Is it nigh; swake The slumb@-ing police
nan on :he corner.
They worked on fo- = long while IN this
zig store, packed full Of books, perfume
.asss. musical irs.runenis, dolls and TOYS;
tbs. vas ever made 20 oos;e1:
mortal rasn. When ihey were through
,aa:a Claus gathered the elves together and
old them -hA, string Of people ~olli
one in ard see the fruits q ;hese aigh.s'
.bor. sad thea they let-
And sure enough. the neIt morning the
tore was crowded. b; fsS Of the people
Ia; cane thought who Vas tie ors ,hs:
sd brought sd srrAnsed those goods.
AID every nigh; between no~ AID Christ
las Santa Claus aid his eve. boii forth il
be store a: nigh. >nd The crowd -olIs IL
! the daytime.
50 cone and iioin tie orosd AID 80 AID see
,e largest, The aaes. Q. 81 s.ocss, Eyass
'ook Store, No =, Xsis street 4