The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1886-12-23
A Talk With Santa Claus.

One Christmas eve Joel Baker was
in a most unhappy mood. He was
lonesome and miserable; the chimes
making merry Christmas music out
side disturbed rather than soothed
him; the jingle OF the sleigh-bells fret
ted him, and the shrill whistling of
the wind around the corners of the
house and up and down the chimney
seemed to crate harshly on his ears.
"Humph, "said Joel, YEARLY, "Christ-
mas is nothin' to me; there was a
time when it meant great deal, But
that was long ago-fifty years is
long stretch to look back over. There
| is nothin' IN Christmas, now, nothin'
for me at least; it IS so long since San
ia Claus remembered me that ven
ture to say he has forgotten that
there ever was such person as Joel
Baker in all the world. It used to be
different; Santa Claus used to think
great deal OF me when was a boy.
Ali Christmas nowadays amt what
it was in the good old time-no, not
what it used to be-"
As Joel was absorbed in his distress
ing thoughts he became aware very
suddenly that somebody was entering
or trying to enter the room. First
came draft OF cold air, then scra-
ping, grating sound, then a strange
shutting, and then-yes, then, all at
once, Joel saw a pair of fat legs and q
still fatter body dangle down the
chimney, followed presently by a long,
white beard, above which appeared q
Jolly red nose and two bright twink
| ling eyes, while over the head and
forehead was drawn fur cap, white
with snowfakes.
"Ha, ha," chuckled the fat, jolly
stranger, emerging from the chimney
and standing well to one side of the
hearthstone; ha, ha, they don't have
the big, wide chimneys they used to
build, but they can't keep Santa Claus
out-no, they can't keep Santa Claus
out! Ha, ha, ha. Though the Chin
ney were no bigger than gas pipe
Santa Claus would slide down it!"
It didn't require second glance to
assure Joel that the newcomer was
indeed Santa Claus. Joel knew the
good old saint-oh, yes-and he had
seen him once before, and although
that was when Joel was little boy,
he had never forgotten how Santa
Claus looked.
Nor had Santa Claus forgotten Joel,
although Joel thought he had; for now
Santa Claus looked kindly at Joel
and smiled and said. "Merry Christ.
mas to you, JOEL"
"Thank you, old Santa Claus" re-
piled Joel; "but ! don't believe it's
goin' to be very merry Christmas.
It's been so long since I've had q mer-
ry Christmas that4 don't believe I'd
know how to act ifY had one"
Lets see," said Santa Claus; ''it
must be going on fifty years since
saw you last-yes, you were 8 years
old the last time ! slipped down the
chimney of the old homestead and
filled your stocking. Do you remem-
Der it?"
Il remember it we'll" answered Joel;
n had made up my mind to lie awake
and see Santa Claus; I'd heard tell OF
you, but I'd never seen you, and
brother Otis and concluded we'd lie
awake and watch tor you to come"
Santa Claus shook his head re-
proachfully.
"That was very wrong" said he,
"for I'm so scarey that if I'd known
you boys were awake Id never have
come down the chimney at all, and
then you'd have had no presents"
"But Otis couldn't keep awake" ex.
planned Joel. 1--WE talked about every.
thin we could think of, till father call
ed out to US that if we didn't stor
talking he'd have to send one of us
up into the attic to sleep with the hired
man. So in less than five minutes
Otis was sound asleep and no pinch
ing could wake him up. But / was
bound to see Santa Claus and don't
believe anything would've put me te
sleep. heard the big clock in the sit
ting. room strike IL, and l had begun
wonderln' if you never were going tc
come, when all of sudden Iheard the
tinkie of the bells around your rein
deers' necks, Then l heard the rein
deers prancin' on the roof and thu
sound OF your sleigh-runnsTs c4ttln
through the crust and silppan 0vel
the shingles. l was kind O. scared and
covered my head up with the sheet
and quilts-onIy left a little hole sc
could peek out and see what wa.
coin on. AS soon as / saw you I got
over bein' scarsd-for you were jolly
and smilin' like, and yop chuckled a.
you went around to each st0ckln
and filed it up"
Eyes, ! can remember the night,
said Santa Claus; II brought you
sled, didn't II"
eyes, and you brought Otis one
too," replied Joel; mime was red ane
had Yankee Doodle painted IN blacl
letters on the side; Otis was black
and had Snow Queen in gilt letters. =
NJ remember those sleds distinctly,
said Santa Claus, ''for made then
especially for yon boys"
"You set the sieds Hp against tn
WALL" continued Joel, land then yo'
filed the stockin's."
sThere were six of 'em, e. recci
iect," said Santa Claus.
let me see," said Joel. 'Ther
was mine, and Otis, and Elvira's ant
Than kful's, and Susan Prickett's-Su
san was our help, you know. No
there were only five, and, as remem
Der, they were the biggest we couls
beg or borler Of Aunt porcas, VIII
weighed nigh onto 200 pounds. Oti
and I didn't like Susan Prickett, ant
we were hopin' you'd put . cold Pc
cato in her stockinp."
but Susan Was . good girl" ~