The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1888-12-20
ELSIE'S SANTA CLAUS.
His Recommend in Applying for
Honest Work.


shelf and then placed t.gether some
of the trinkets he found there.
II know YOU cried out mellow
childish voice from the corner of the
room.
The masked men was SO startled
that he almost dropped his lantern
but with the quick instinct of a
Criminal he grasped and cooked his
revolver turned the lantern toward
the sound.
It's bright circle of light shone on
the wall like the illumination of a
magic lantern, and in the center of
it was prettier picture than over a
magic lantern exhibited. It was a
little child of six or seven years sit
ting up in her cot. Her eyes were
dazzIed with the light of the lantern
but they sparkled with merriment
Her long curls fell over her should
ers on the white embroidered little
night dress.
The burglars revolver dropped to
his side.
"You know me, he said.
eyes. You're Santa Calus. I
tried to keep wake last time, but
couldn't l think I was asleep this
time when you came, but | walked up
just in time, didn't II"
The burglar didn't seem to know
what to say.
odd you just come down the
chimney? Won't yon turn arou.d
so that | can see you? 1t hurts my
eyes. never saw light like that
didn't know you needed a light.
DID you always have oEe?'
generally. Hadn't you bet
ter 90 to sleep again.
ooh, no, | want to see what you
brought. Did you know | was bad
the other dpy? I've been awful
good eAer sinceand mamma said she
thought perhaps if l kept right on
being good all the time that perhaps
you would forget by that time. Did
you 70. get?"
81 forgot all about it. Where is
your mamma and papa?"
ooh. didn't you know they were at
Mrs Hammon's? Yes. It's a
Christmas Eve party. They were
going to take me, but they thought
| would fall asleep Mamma says |
get cross when | wake up"
"You don't seem very cross now"
ooh, not when I'm right awake,
but just when I'm not quite awake. -
Did they leave you here all alone?'
ooh, no, Katy was to wait up with
me, but l guess she's down in tn
kitchen. She'll be disappointed when
she knows you were here. Katy's
going to hang up her stockings, too
Are you going to put anything in
them"
Il don't think she deserves any
thing when she left you alone"
ooh, | think you might put some
thing in or she'll be Disappointed, and
when you could put in potato for
leaving me alone. Wrap it up in
lots of pieces of paper SO she'll have
to wind and wind and wind before
she comes to it. Won't you turn the
light round SO that | can see your"
81 don't think you would care to
see me, but I'll turn away the light so
it won't hurt your eyes. There
now"
"Oh, l can see you little, You
havn't long white beard. What
is that over your face? You're not a
bit like Santa Claus-you brighten
me-"
"You mustn't be frightened, my
little pet Nobody would hurt you.
I'll take that off"
ooh, does it come off? What is it
for? Oh, | know-it is SO the SCOT
in the chimney won't hurt your
eyes"
That's it. l had a sweet little
girl like you once-a long time ago.
Perhaps if she-well, hadn't you bet
ter go to sleep now?'
81 didn't know Santa had a little
girl of his own. Is that why you
bring things to little girls?"
eyes, that's the reason. Now you
must lie down again and try to go to
sieep-that's a good little girl.
must 60 up the chimney again
"But | want to see what you
brought me- How can I go to sleep
if.I don't? Can't you let me have it
now? I'll want to go to the stock
ing, and when you take away the
light it will be dark and I'll be afraid
to go, and then I'll want to, and be-
tween the 'fraid and want-to I'll
cry"
"You mustn't cry and you mustn t
be afraid Here is your present. .
The burglar threw open his revol-
yer and the cartridges fell out in his
hand. Then he snapped it shut
again and showed its cleaning bar
rel in the light.
ooh, isn't it pretty What is it
for?"
Your papa will tell you. You