Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-01-01
BY WAY OF THE REGISTER.

Hillscombe Parlor.
What is Christmas without Santa
Claus? 1t looked very much as if Jack
and Ellie Hillscombe were soon to find
out what such a Christmas would be;
for 1t was already Christmas Eve, and
the house where the two children lived
was filled with the usual good cheer,
and all the hustle of preparing for the
great event.
Papa Hillscombe sat in the big arm
chair putting on his slippers, and do
ing his best to imagine himself before
the great log-fire he had known so we'll
as a boy; for there were no CRATES in
the Hillscombe house. Jack and Effie
lived in a city where, at. the time of
my story, very few families had open
fire-places in their houses; and little
Effie had asked her papa, as she kissed
him goodnight: "Why, papa, how is
Santa Claus goin' to Diet in when there
is no FIREPLACE" This question really
puzzled Papa Hillscombe, but he told
the children that Santa Claus would
find his way in, and that it would be
all right IN the morning..
But after the children had gone to
bed a queer look came over their papa's
good-natured face, and it was plainly
to be seen that he was thinking Of little
Effie's question.
1t happened, too, that the children
were not satisfied with the answer he
had given them; and while papa was
locking up the house for the night, and
attending to the furnace, they were
still exchanging opinions on this
weighty subject from their little cots.
Suddenly Jack sat bolt upright. He
had an idea! And in another moment
he had toppled out of bed and made his
way on tip-toe to Efie's cot.
A whispered consultation followed,
and in a few minutes later both little
cots were deserted, and two tiny white
figures were creeping noiselessly down
the staircase.
All the doors were locked and all the
windows closed, and papa was just
shutting the iron door Of the great fur
mace in the cellar, when he was startled
by voices which seemed to come from
the furnace itself. For a moment he
amused himself with the fancy that
Santa Claus was really making his way
in by the furnace; then he thought he
might have left a door unlocked.
The thoughts of Santa Claus or other
less welcome visitors were, however.
soon forgotten when he heard the sound
of children's voices, and found that it
was Jack and Effie who were talking.
Papa opened the furnace door again
and listened.
They were evidently talking near
the register, for what they said was
plainly heard through the f%urnace-pipe
by Papa Hillscombe. Jack was saw
ing:
10 Ellie! how IAN Santa Claus ever
bwingg my big sled through the wegis-
ter??"
..Or my dolls house?" said Efie.
There was u pause, then Jack ex-
claimed, triumphantly: II know! let's
take the top off"
But" said Efie, 'we're not bid
enough"
ooh! you're only a dirl; I can do it,"
Then followed quite a struggle be-
tween Jack and the ''wcgister," but it
was only after the "dirl" had come to
his aid that Jack was able to lift the
iron plate; and then papa heard her
say, in a solemn tone: lido you fink,
Jack, he could Diet q dolls house
through dat?"
ooh, Santa Claus can do anythingw
was Jacks comforting reply.
The two little people were on their
knees, peering intently down the dark
opening. when suddenly they were
startled by a voice, which seemed to
come up through the hole in the floor.
The voice said:
''It's time little children were in bed!
Santa Claus can't bring his presents
till everybody is fast asleep!"
The children could not tell the voice,
as It calAe up through the pipe, and
with a cry of He's cummings! Santa
Claus is tumming!" two little figures
IN white scampered upstairs and back
t. their cots.
Jne next morning Gas bright a Christ
mas Day as rel dawned) found two
little figures. not in white this time.
standing over a pile Of pretty presents
hQAnaH nm n,.o,,nI <l,o ,,