River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-12-24


had great fur-lined wrapper. Bot
carried pointed caps on their heads
from under which their little eye
twinkled brightly. Around them OF
the ground lay heaps and heaps o
things-clothes. books, sugar lums
rocking-horses dolls, drums, whistles
great piles of coal, fat turkeys, smok
ing-hot pies with savory erusts-eyer.
kind of thing that you can think OF
All these they were packing away a
hard as they could into great bags
and as soon as one was filled, two o
three thousand fays would seize an,
drag it off to a place behind the bushes
| from which came now and then tn,
tinkling Of bells, aDC sound as of ami
mails stamping the ground Ellie
looked very hard, and thought sh'
could make out in the dim light a pai
OF horns above the bushes. but she wa
not sure.
But neither the fays nor the torches
nor even the mysterious sounds at
/ tracted her as did the face of the beau
tiful old man in the midst. 1t was SC
\ sweet and kind that it seemed imposSi
bic to keep away from him. Almost
/ before she knew it she had made a few
timid steps forward, and was standing
/ in the middle of the hollow. The flaws
espied her first With csies anC
/ shrieks of laughter Ike tipsy bells. they
/ clustered about and drew her gently
/ along and she was close to the larger
group. A myriad tiny voices began
explaining, but the grand old man held
out his hand, and with q look com.
manded silence.
Il know all, dear little one," he
said; Il heard thy steps in the wood
path, and sent the elves but now t.
break thy fall. Thou knowest me not
but know thee. Thou art one of my
children. Dost thou not guess my
name? am Father Christmas.
'Ohi yes, dear Father Christmas.
know thee well" cried Ellie in rapture
and she kissed the hand so aged, yet
so unwrinkled.
Father Christmas smiled. vel
pleased.
And these are my sons he went on.
This is Kris Kringle Thou hast heard
of himP He takes my gifts to all the
little beloved ones of German-land and
to the Hollanders. Once, long time
since, he used to carry toys across the
sea to the children in Manhattan, but
it was far to 90. aud now my son Santa
Clans takes that business off his hands.
They are good boys. both of them, but
they are young-quite young"
"Are they much younger than your
asked Ellie. Are you very old, dear
Father Christmas?'
ts(NAiuor on tyuo fbOus0y,J - r.nn1ioJ
Father Christmas with genial laugh.
But | feel young as ever. Hast thou
not something in thy pack for this dear
child, Kris Krinsle?'
Yes, indeed y cried the old ''boy'
at his side. '.See, little one-thiS-a
this-and this, and he held up doll,
a book of beautiful pictures, and fat
goose with its legs tied ready for the
spit. And these stockings are for thy
grandmother, he w"nt on, as he hud-
died them into his bay; ''but neither
she nor you must have them before the
time comes. shall leave them on my
way back from town. Many, many,
people are waiting for me there.
And for me- said Santa Claus,
They are getting ready even now in
/ England. The stockings are hung up,
and the children have begged to go
early to bed that they may wake the
sooner. The ringers are collecting in
the church-towers and blowing upon
their fingers that they may be warm
/ to make the bells peal merrily. And
the little American boys and girls are
waiting. Soon they too will be tucked
up | must be off.
/ And have you done your work, my
f''~vs?' asked Father Christmas.
..nTe have painted all the windows
in the ", ~rld with pictures, answered
.oma land they are all about Christ
mas. crosses md evergreen boughs
and snires SO delneate and beautiful.
Now if people only N@ere NOT st9pid.
They will wake up to-mo. TO" auu see
them. and never guess what ~ ihe"h. |;
There is a THROUGH on your little f'ane'
nodding to Ellie.
"And have neen round and tucked
the children up all over the world,
said another. And kissed the babies
so that they shall sleep like dormice
while their mammas trim the nursery.
Not one isawake in all the cradles, eX-
cept one little deformed boy who can
not sleep. and for him | won such a
pretty picture that he is laughing in
stead of crying"
"And /. > said another, "have been
to visit the crocuses, who are asleep III
the cold ground. They reused a little
and smiled when | told them what the
season was; and promised it they would
be patient and slumber yet a while long
err, that would return and awaken then
in the spring.
"And |, cried an elf, who seemed tC
I brim over with frolic and mischief as Z
/ fiower-cup with dew, Il have beer
tickling the noses and pulling the wigs
| of the rich men who sent no turkeys t(
| the poor. What, gnats so late in the
season.! cried one, and gave his ear
great slap, while another SAID, 'Phew
/ it is indeed singing cold!' "Ho! crieC
( the elf, ..stinging coldi
I And L, said fifth, ''have beer
distributing the dreams. To the sad
sweet ones; to the sick, peaceful ones
I bright and frolicsome ones to all thu
children. And to good boys and girl
| have the dream of Christmas.
And have visited all the poor,
whispered another, land trimmed thel
/ dull fires and put sugar in their cnps
and above their doors a leaf of tn
plant called Hope. Have | done well
o my Father?''
"All have done well, said Fathe
Christmas. And now the clocl
strikes ten. We must be upon on
Journey Harness the reindeer, m,
elves. and make all ready; but first thi
dear child must be safely set upon he
homeward way"
The fays hustled about her brightly
Fifty-four of them brought each
raisin from the scattered parcel. other
hunted for the basket. while a fatigu
party of eight carefully rolled the BIZ
red apple into it. Myriads more pur
sued and found the umbrella, whic
had stuck fast in a furZe-bush. Fathe
Christmas gave his blessing; and aide
and helped, she knew not how, by
million tinv fingers, she found herseI
again on the top of the bank whence
sac had fallen, her basket on her arr
and the big umbrella in herhand.
The wind had died. away. and tn
moon shone clear. Lightly she trippe
down the path and ratified at the late
of the cottage. Poor Dame Ursula ha
passed a wretehed evening listening
the rain. fearing all sorts of evils fo
Ellie, and weeping over the helpless
ness which kept her from going TO he
aid. She had just fallen into trouble
sleep when in danced Ellie, with cheek
. like rosas and ewes bright with happ