Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1888-12-20

Mrs. Sanity Claus? 1 never exactly
heard of sich, but 1 hear say there's {
!, woman at the bottom of eyerythin'; SO
1 guess there's nice, jolly old lady
Sanity Claus" replied Bob, asSuringly, as
he noted Johnnie's anxious little face.
"Where does Sanity Claws liver" was
Johnnie's next query.
"Oh, in swell house and Bob, coolly
drawing upon his Imagination, added,
mo end of tip-top furniture, all gold,
and heaps of pictures and blazing fires. -
"Ohp uttered Johnnie, with wistful
sigh, land it 'ud be nice there, wouldn't
it," Then nesting close to his compan-
ion, he added: "But it's nice here, too,
in this warm straw, an like being with
you, Bob, 1 does"
A burst of joyous bells floated toward
them on the crisp morning air. A mel
ody of welcome to Gods house of pray
er.
johnnie" called out Bob, "how'd
you like to go to church,"
whats there?" questioned the little
fellow.
''Oh, they ses prayers, an plays the
origin, an sings, an folks as want to
take snooze."
'Is it warm?" anxiously asked john
ME, cuddling into the straw.
Warm? You bet! An sofys as soft
as-aS mud"
"Pn gol" cried Johnnie crawling out
of his nest.
Such aquaint little figure as he looked
all muifled up in an old shawl, the ends
trailing on the ground as he marched
happily off, his hand in Bobb's. Shortly
after these two children stood watching
the handsomely dressed throng as it en-
tered fashionable place of worship, till
Bob, with ''Now, Johnnie, look alive, or
the copll nail u.s." pushed the child before
him into the crowd, and, sure enough,
an alert policeman, spying Bob, made
grab for him, which Bob deftly eluded,
but meanwhile Johnnie was carried on
toward the baiZe door amid a whirl of
| silks and satins.
/ The little fellow was a trif1e aWed at
the church's solemn grandeur; but as Bob
never failed to turn up all right, John
ME made for an empty pew and curled
himself up on a hassock to await his
friends coming. Presently the organ
pealed forth, and Johnnie'S eyes grew
round with astonishment as the voices
of the unseen choir mingled with its
wondrous tones. But soon the little
head dropped, and lulled by the sweet
strains and the unusual warmth and
comfort, the child slept. Nor needed he
the advent of plump, rosy-cheeked Ia
dy, whose white hair cOntrasted SO pref
tily with her still young face, and whose
companion-a stout, jolly, fOrid-faced
gentleman-possessed a bushy head of
hair and beard of silvery whiteness. A
faint exclamation escaped the lady;
then, turning to the gentleman, she
whispered:
Look! The poor little lamb"
"Shall speak to the usher" question
ed he.
One swift glance at the pale, little
face and the lady shook her head, an
swering:
'.No, no. Let him be, the dear"
Many times dur ng the service the Ia
dy's dark eyes strayed to the little Sleep
er, and once when the child stirred un-
easily her daintily-gloved hand softly
stroked his pretty curls.
A swish-a rustle-the congregation |
was dismissed. The lady of the rosy
cheeks and white hair drew her sealskin |
about her, but her gaze rested linger-
ly upon the sleeping child.
"Well, dame?" and a merry twinkle |
glistened in the speakers eyes as he
added: "Looks as if he might relish
turkey bone, don't he?"
"Bless his little heart, yes-and, oh, |
don't you think we might"
And so, what was Bob's astonishment |
for he had fingered round, amusing |
himself as best he could, to see gentle
man come forth from the church, fol- |
lowed by footman bearing the sleep
ing Johnnie, carefully rolled up in
handsome carriage rug. Drawn up to
the curb was a stylish turnout, into |
which the lady and gentleman stepped,
the footman placing Johnnie on the seat
beside him, as the lackey swung himself
on to the box, away started the carriage
down the street. Bob yelling out:
Jimmy crackyl if l don't believe
Johnnie's struck iler'
Darling after the carriage, he clung
on behind, taking good care, however,
to keep out of sight of the driver and
fOOtman.
Soon they drew up before handsome
house, whose wide porch wore an air of
CHEEKY welcome. Bob, wiggling him
self down from his perch as the door
closed upon Johnnie and his newly
found friend, ejaculatec, somewhat rue
fully:
Here's gol wonder what'n turn
up next? Anyhow, hope it'ul be some
thing soft fur the little 'un. Ee amt
calculated to rough it, like me-"
A moment later ''the little 'un" was
gazing wonderingly at his luxurious sur
his little hands softly patting
the old gold brOcade of the lounge on
which he lay. 1t was every bit true, he
gold furniture and pic
lures and big fires-and "Oh?" he ex-
claimed, as the rosy-cheeked lady came
smiling toward him, saying:
'sWell, my little man, are we ready for
turkey and pudding?"
"Yes, please, ma'am, Mrs. Sanity
Claws" answered Johnnie, eyeing the
lady curiously, as he added, sagely:
"Bob said there was a woman in every
thin, and he guessed there'd be Mrs.
Sanity Claws"
The lady laughed merrily as chuckle
issued from the region of an easy chair
and a voice remarked:
"One for you, dame"
"Who's Bob, dear?" questioned the
lady.
"Why, he's Bob. He takes care of
me. You're Mr.. Sanity Claws, amt yOu?"
continued Johnny, gazing knowingly at
the stout gentleman.
"Hey? Why? What makes you think 1
so?"
cause and slipping
down from the sofa, the child exclaim-
ed, eagerly: ''Oh, Mr.. Sanity Claws,
please won't you bring Bob and me I
% hoe rnNfh