The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-12-19
SANTA CLAUS.
BY Rose HAKrwIcK Thorpe.


Please sir, be you Santa Claus
The small voice rang out, shrill and
eager, on the crisp evening air, and J.
/ p FerDald, senior member of the firm
/ of Fernald & Co. turned and looked
/ down into the child's animated face, up
( lifted with an anxious inquiry shining
through the large, dark eyes, made
larger and seemingly brighter by want
and poverty.
Ssnta Claus-I-ha, ha, that is
joke, said Mr. Fernald, good naturedly
viewing the immense bundle in his arms
from which protruded dolls foot through
an opening in the paper that enveloped
il, and whose uneven surface bore
wonderful resemblance to Santa Claus
mysterious package.
Well, my little man, it does look like
it; bat how did you find me out +"
"Oh, sir cried the child, with an ex-
preston of rapt admiration on his small
pinched face, e knew you in minute,
cause you look just ike your picture in
the toy shop windows There's the long
white whiskers, an the white hair an
the fur cap, an the great oyercoat, an
the bundle Of toys you're goin' to give
TO the rich children tonight I've stood
on the corner here ever 50 long, a waitin'
for you to come along. / knew you'd
come down this street sure, cause the
rich children live here
The child talked rapidly, catching his
breath between the sentences, as though
frightened at his addressing so great a
parsonage as Santa Claus
"And what did you want to see me for,
my little man ?" said Mr.. Fernald. TAX
ing both little blue yeined hands in his
grea warm ones.
I" / wanted to tell you where we live.
sir. / guess you don't know, cause you
don't know, cause you never found us.
an Tom-Tom's my big brother: he's
most twelve years old, an helps ma
lots He earns as much as fifty cents
some days. an ma don't know how she'd
ever get along 'thout Tom. Well.
Tom says that you don't care one bit
about the poor little children: that you'd
Just as lief they'd starve on Christmas
Day as on any other day but you must
iscuse Tom, sir. He works hard, and
gets tired and then he's cross. When
looked at your picture in the toy shop
windows, said to myself: Bobby
Brown, don't you believe it of Santa
Claus. He does care for all the children
only he don't know where to find you,
that's ALI" Was right, sir?"
:" l think you were. my boy. l GER
tainly do not know where you live said
Mr.. Fernald in an unsteady voice. for
the child's trusting faith in Santa Claus
that had never frightened a Christ
mas for him. touched the rich mans
heart, IS il had not been touched for
many month.
"Tll tell you where live, and how
many there is an everything" cried
Bobby breathlessly, 80 you can't stake
the place. My. won't Nellie be glad
you found US. won't tell Tom that l
limited, cause he'd say It wasn't perlite
of me TO do it. Bot you see. sir, l just
couldn't le. this Christmas q by thout
finding you, cause Nellie-Nellie's a lit
tie thing, sir, only Ave last summer-an'
she's taIkin' all the time about Christ
/ mas dolly. an she really thinks you'll
bring her one, an it makes poor ma cry
to hear her tell what she'll do with her
dolly. You won't forget the doll for
/ Nellie, sir r?7
No. said Mr. Fernald, writing some
thing in little book. step into the
store with me, my boy It will be more
comfortable for you. see your clothes
are thin
Yes, sir, they wear out Eastern ma
can mend 'en Little Psul-s only four.
sir an guess he'd ike some candy best
of anything, an maybe, if tisn't too much
an orange, too. You'll remember Paul,
sir7H
Yes, I've got him down. Vow who
else7"
ssThere's Tom, sir Tom is such good
brother, and has to be ont in the cold all
day. | do wish Tom could have some
warm mittens; and his shoes are most
gone; but guess the mittens will do.
He'll be awfully glad to get EN- Is
Toms name down."
1Yes, Toms name IS down" Mr.. Fer
maid looked up, waiting for the child to
continue his requests.
That's all. ceptin' ma, an ma needs
everythin', but guess she needs 2 shawl
most"
aBut you, my little man, is there moth
ing you wish for
No, sir; don't need anything. III
be so glad TO see the rest, an III have
NV secret about meeting you fer my
Christmas. On, ii1l be the very iolliest
Christmas ever was, an won't ma won
der, an won't Tom be s'prised, an won't
Nellie dance about | guess Tom'll
change his mind bout you, mighty quick
sir
Bobby nodded bis head emphatically,
and his eyes twinkled like stars
Wow tell me where you live, Bobby
said Mr.. Fernald, with warm glow at
his heart