Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1886-01-02
HOW BILLY CAUGHT SANTA
CLAUS.
BY CECILIA X. GIBSON.


Not on the subject of religion-that
would have been a terrible thing in
deed-but upon the subject of Santa
Claus, Now it happened in this
way:
Billy had friend two years older
than himself-Tommy Toodles, who
lived next door and was prodigy of
knowledge-which means that he
knew very great deal for small
boy, and was in consequence much
looked up to by his playmate, who
considered Tommy's word as law,
and not on any account to be ques-
toned when once he had decided a
thing for or against. Billy mad come
home from school one day, about two
weeks before Christmas, brimful of
'stnffing Tommy had filled him with
on the way home. This he proceed
ed in turn to unburden himself of, as
soon as an opportunity presented it.
self, by sharing it with his younger
brother and sister, Johnny and Mel
ly, aged respectively and 5.
"Say, Johnny, Iain't goingto hang
up my stockings this year, l guess"
he suddenly announced, in a tone
which he intended to be manly, but
which really sounded somewhat fore
ed and dubious.
"Why, Billy" asked the children,
in concert, opening their eyes wide
in wondering establishment.
"Oh, because that sort of thing will
do very well for young children" he
explained, patroniZingly.
"And what are you, l should like
to know" asked Johnny, bridling al
the insinuation.
"Oh, WE'LL" said Billy, coloring
slightly at this unexpected home
thrust, "that's all right, Johnny; but
then it's silly-and besides, there
amt really any Santa Claus, yot
know"
"Why, Billy Davis, amt yor
ashamed of yourselfw exclaimed
Johnny while Nelly's blue eyes fill
ed with tears, as she asked in low
pathetic voice, "Is he dead, Billy?
"Dead !" laughed her brother. "H'
amt dead, because he never lived
There amt 20 Santa Claus. Tommy
Toodies says so. It's our fathers and
mothers that fill our stockings"
In spite of Billy's bad grammel
this startling announcement made it
self felt by both the children.
"Tommy Toodles is bad boy, ant
tells lies !" said Nelly Indignantly
while Johnny more logically quer
ried: eff it's our fathers and moth
ers, where do they get all the mic
things p
"Buy Them" said Billy decisively
"Buy them? Much they blu.
them," cried Johnny. Papa ant
mamma haven't money enough t
buy all the Christmas presents for al
the children in the world, l guess
Have they Nelly?"
"Course they haven't" assente
that little lady, whose faith in tn
good Saint was as incorruptible q
her faith in papa and mamma them
selves, "besides if Billy doesn't sto
talking that way Santa Claus won
give him one single thing, will h
Johnny?"
"Who cares ?" cried Billy, defiant
ly.
80 Billy, how can you talk so
Perhaps Santa Claus is watching i
the chimney now, and will hea
everything you say"
"Let him watch !" cried Billy III
civilly. Then as though possesse
by the spirit of mischief, he crosse
the room and shouted up the chin
ney: "Santa Claus, you're an oil
rascal, that's what you are. Tomm
Toodles says So"
Nelly could bear no more. TIL
last was the browning insult to hi
dear old friend. Running into I'll
kitchen, she called to mamma, WI
was busy making fritters for suppe
30, mamma, mamma, do make Ri
ly stop such awful wicked talk. Il
says there isn't any Santa Claus, an
that you and papa fill our stockings
"Where is Billy?" asked mamm
But the culprit was no where to |
found; he had slipped out of the frol
door, over to Tommy's house, the
to remain until the storm he had raj
ed had blown over.
AT supper time he returned al
took his customary place at the tabl
Il r. 4 L. L N L