The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1886-12-23
~ know-1 see it ALL" murmured

Santa Claus, very softly.
ooh, that was long ago." sighed
Joel; $50 very long ago! And I've
had no Chris mas since-only once,
when our little one-Marthy's an
mine-you remember him, Santa
CLAUSE"
EYES," said Santa Claus, "a tod
ding little boy with blue eyes"
"Iaike his MOTHER" interrupted Joel;
IAN he was like to her, too-so gentle
an lovin', only we called him Joel,
for that was my fathers name, and it
kind O. run in the family. He want
more'n 3 years old when you came
with your Chris mas presents for him,
Santa Claus, We had told him about
you, and he used to go to the chimney
every night and make little prayer
about what he wanted you to bring
him. And you brought en- too-a
stick horse, an a picture book, an,
some blocks, an a drum-they'r on
the shelf in the closet there, and his
little Chris mas stockin' with 'em-I've
saved 'em all, an I've taken 'em
down an held 'em in my hands, oh. so
many times!'
"But when came again, said Santa
Claus
"His little bed was empty, an was
alone. 1t killed his Aother-Marthy
was SO tender-hearted; she kind O.
dropped an pined after that. So now
they've been asleep side by side in the
buryin' ground these thirty years.
CHATS why Pm so sad like when
ever Christina comes, said Joel, after
a pause. "The thinkin' of long ago
makes me bitter almost. It's so diff
terent now from what it used to be-"
mo, Joel, oh, no." said Santa Claus.
"'Tis the same world, and human.
nature is the same and always will
be. But Christmas is for the little
folks, and you, who are old and griz-
zled now, must know it and love it
only through the gladness it brings
the little ones"
"True," groaned Joel; "but how
may / know and feel this gladness
when have no little stocking hang
ing in my chimney corner-no child to
please me with his prattle? See, / am
alone"
go, you're not alone, JOEL" said
Santa Claus. "There are children in
this great city who would love and
bless you for your goodness if you but
touch their hearts. Make them hap
py, Joel; send by me this night some
gift to the little boy in the old house
yonder-he is poor and sick; q simple
toy will fill his Christmas with glad
ness"
ellis little sister, too, take her
some present." said Joel; "make them
happy me, Santa Claus-you are
right-hake them happy for me-"
How sweetly Joel slept! When he
awoke the sunlight streamed in
through the window and seemed to
bid him a merry Christmas. How
contented and happy Joel felt! 1t
must have been the talk with Santa
Claus that did it all; he had never
known SWEEPER sense of peace. A
little girl came out OF the house over
the way. She had new doll in her
arms, and she sang merry little
song and she laughed with Joy as
she skipped along the street. Ay,
and at the window sat the little sick
boy, and the toy Santa Claus left him
seemed to have brought him strength
and health, for his eyes sparkled and
his cheeks glowed, and it was plain to
see that his heart was full of happi.
ness.
And, oh! how the chimes did ring
out, and how joyfully they sang their
Christmas carol that morning! They
sang of Bethlehem and the manager and
the Babe, they sang of love and CHAR
ity, till all the Christmas air seemed
full of voices:
| Carol of the Christmas morn
Carol OF the Christ child born
Carol to the list ming sky
| Till it echoes back again
| 'Glory be to God on high,
Peace on earth, good will tow I'd men"
So all this music-the carol of the
chimes, the sound of children's voices,
the smile of the poor little boy over
the way-all this sweet music crept
into Joel's heart that Christmas morn
ing; yes, and with these sweet, holy
influences came others so subtle and
divine that in the silent communion
with them Joels heart cried out amen
and amen to the glory of the Christ
mas time.-Eugene Field.