The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1885-12-03
Santa Claus.
BY ROSE uARrwlck Thorpe.

crisp evening air, and J. p. Fel
nzld, senior uember OF the firm G
| FerHald d. Co, turned and locke
own into the chiId's animatet
face, uplitted with an anxious in
quiry shining through the large
ark eyes. made larger and seem
ingly darker by want and poverty
Santa Clans-I-ha, ha, that il
joke" said Mr.. Fernald, good na
iurealv, viewing the immense bun
die in his arms, from which protru
ded a dolls foot through an open
ing in the paper thai enveloped it
and whose uneven surface bore 8
wonderful resemblance to Santa
Claus my stcrious package,
well. nay little man, it does
look like ii; but how did you fint
me out?'
"Ob, sir" cried the child, with an
expression of rapt admiration on
his small, pinched face, 81 knew
you in n minnie, cause you look
just like your picture in the toy
shop windows. 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
goin' to give to the rich children
tonight Eve stood on the corner
here ever so long a-waitin' for you
to come along. knew you'd come
down this street sure, cause the
rich children live here"
The child talked rapidly, catch
ing his breath between the senten-
ces, as though frightened at his
beldness in addressing so great a
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 one of his great,
warm ones.
81 wanted to tell you where we
live, sir. guess you don't know,
cause you never find US, an Tom
Toms my big brother; he's most
twelve years old an helps ma los.
He earns 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 children /;
that you'd just as lief they'd starve
on Christmas day as or any other
day; but you must 'cuse Tom, sir.
He works hard an gets tired, an
then he's cross. When l looked at
your picture in the toy-shop win
dows, l said to myself, Bobby
Brown, don't you believe it of San
ia Claus. He does care for all the
children, only he don't know where
to find you, that's ALL Was !
right, sir?'
II think you were, my boy. l
certainly do not know where you
live," said Mr.. Fernald, in an un-
steady voice, for the child's trust
ing faith in Santa Claus, who had
never frightened Christmas for
him, touched the rich mans heart,
as it had not been touched for
many a month.
"I'll tell you where 1 live an how
many there are, an every thing" +"
cried Bobby, breathlessly, ''so't you
can't stake the place. Ny! won't
Nelly be glad't you found US. l
won't tell Tom that l 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 bout Christmas dolly,
an she really thinks you'll bring
her one, an it makes poor ma cry
to have her tell what she'll do with
her dolly. You won't forget the
doll for Nelly, sir2''
"No," said Mr.. Fernald writing
something in a little book. "Step
into the store with me, my boy. 1t
will be more comfortable for you.
l see your clothes are thin"
"Yes, 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
may be, if tbs MT too much, an or
ange, too. You'll remember little
Paul, sir?"
eyes, yes, Eye got him down.
Now who elsep
"There's Tom, sir. Tom is such
good brother an has to be out in
the cold all day. l do wish Tom
could have some warm mittens; an
his shoes are most gone, but l guess
the mittens will do. He'll be aw-
fully glad to get 'em. Is Toms
name DOWN.
"Yes, Toms name is down" Mr..
Fernald looked up, waiting for the
child to continue his requests.
That's all, sir, 'ceptin' ma, an
ma needs most everythin,' but /
guess she needs a shawl most"
"BGt you, my little man, is there
nothing you wish for?"
'.No, sir, l don't need anything
I'll be so glad to see the rest, an
I'll have my secret bout meetin' you
for my Christmas. Oh, it'll be the
iolliest Christmas ever was; an
won't ma wonder, an won't Tom be
s'prised, an won't Nelly dance
about! 1 guess Tom'H change his
mind bout you, pretty quick, sir. ;"
Bobby nodded his head emphat
cally and his eyes twinkled like
stars.
"Now tell me where you live
Bobby" said Mr.. Fernald, with 9
warm glow at his heart.
The child gave the directions very
minutely. Then Mr.. Fernald SEN
him home and l doubt if there wa,
happier child in the land thar
Bobby Brown.
Mr.. Fernald then retraced hi;
steps, visiting clothing establish
ment, shoe store, toy shop, th'
confectioner's, the bakers, the gro
GERS, and at each place, after giVin!
his order, he requested that th'
things be sent, the first thing in tn
morning, TO a certain address am
| laf. - Nrs RrOwn's room with San