The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-02-21


during the month of March, as do other
letters until get through with theirs have
great many all ready now and hope next
week to begin with all under 10 years.
AUNT SUSIE.
Correspondence.
"Abe," Lloyd ?. o. La.-Withn the last week
have read your proposition and at the eleventh
hour send in my ''pistle." l do not for instant
suppose that will stand anything of chance i'll
the contest but nevertheless am very DESTROYS of
telling you of an incident OF the most Pleasing
nature that occurred during Christmas. am far
too old to believe in Santa Claus now, but the time
FUSED to was'' (as Bill Arp would put it whenI
had implicit faith in that venerable old myth
wrote my letters expressing my manifold wants, di
reeted it to Niagara Falls, gave 1t to papa to mall
and on Christmas morning generally pulled forth
from my stockings everything had asked for. OF
course being such q simple little thing Il wonder If
am any better now-I doubt iD | firmly believed
my letter had reached its intended destination.
Where the idea first originated with us, that Santa
Clause resided at Niagara Falls, cannot say, but
for many years it has been handed down-like our
old clothes-from one to the other. The last re-
cipients of this invaluable tradition are my little
brother Howard and my little sister Doflie. Accord
ing TO CUSTOM they wrote their Santa Claus letters
two weeks before Christmas; and my sister, in
split of mischief, directed envelope to MI Santa
Claus Niagara Falls, New York, with note en-
let her hear from them, as she wished to know how
far it would go. 1t had escaped our minds entirely
until the day after Christmas, when there came
from the postoice package addressed to the chill
dren from George Barker, Niagara Falls. OF course
we thought ii q hoax but what was our astonish-
ment when the box was opened, to find therein
ring, doll and book for Dollie her requests, and
paper cutter and pen-holder for Howard, who had
asked for q shotgun and halter for his pony, Pat.
Such screams of delight from old and young never
heard before; then there were all manner of con-
lectures as to who George Barker The next
days mail brought letter to both Children Doli1s
letter saying: Santa Claus had looked over his
register found that she had been agood little girl Il
have my doubts about that and had granted all
| her Wishes" Howards that "santa Claus did not
approve of little boys having shotguns and that oil
the halters had been engaged early in November by
| Governor Get-there Oglesby, of Illinois.s They
were signed George Barker Especial Northern Agent
for Santa Claus. Well, would you believe it, all
were still increduous and attributed it to a friend
of the children into whose hands their letters had
fallen, and when they wrote their thanks sent
them to this friend, who of course knew nothing
about them, so forwarded them to George Barker.
In due time came an answer from Mr.. Barker say
ing he had been given the letter by the postmaster
at the Falls had constituted himself special
northern agent for Santa Claus, forwarded the
articles and had the letter printed and asking for
photographs of these cherubs. Now Amt Susie,
what do you think of this for Christmas episode,
and the best of it is that it is all the truth think
the most appropriate way of closing would be to
| wish THE CONSTITUTION and Aunt Susie long and
prosperous life, and to give las have repeatedly
| three cheers for George Barker Special Northern
| Agent for Santa Claus. Age 10.
| Lille Carter Florence Gal have always liked
| batteau rides but the one took last summer on
the Chattahoochee river during the freshet far sur
| passes any can remember. ny uncle, brother and
myself go down little slope to where the batteau is;
and after getting in and taking seats, rather
| tremendously, we prepare for pleasant ride and
| push off from shore. Rounding a sharp curve
vision of grandeur and beauty is before u.s. through
| break in the magnolia trees, with the long gray
| moss sweeping the water, we see the river flowing
maestically by, and the settling sun throws Grim
son light on the already dark red water. Down the
guley where the water forty feet deep, over the
| tops of trees we go. The scTaping Of the limbs on
the bottom of our batteau keeps us afraid of getting
| caught on some hidden snag We push aside the
| tangled muscadine vines, and with stroke Of the
oars we reach the river; feeling OF awe and fear
passes US; catch our breath and draw closer
to each other for the batteau begins to dip and toss
as We strike the current large piles Of drift wood
sail past; but we safely and look for the Ala
| bama bank, but see only treetops and broad ex-
panse Of water. The place we are riding over now,
was only the morning before, n luxurient cornfeld
where an old gray haired negro knelt, praying God
TO stay the rising water and spare his crop 1t was
| late when we returned; the moon was rising, and
with thousands of stars reflected in the water be-
meath us as our batteau CRATES on Georgia soil; we
step out, having had delightful ride, and feeling
thankful for our high banks that protects US from
| the devastating water.
Mamie Bickers, Greensboro Christmas has
| come and gone, and would like to tell you and the
| cousins about the entertainments we had. There
were three Sunday schools and one sunbeam enter
| tainment during the week. The first, Christmas
| tree at the Presbyterian church Monday night
| where all tho little folks, as well some Of the
| larger that attended that Sunday school, were
made happy by suitable presents, sweet songs etc.
Second, fish pond at the town hall for the Metho-
dist school, where all its members drew beautiful
| presents, which were as acceptable 70 them a
| minnow from a tiny brook to school boy. Third,
| sumbeams Wednesday night at the Baptist church,
consisting Of songs, Rotations jug breaking, etc,
| from which we received twenty-five dollars, which
we have told you before goes for the mission cn1o;
! each 4unbearn earning its money l would say
more about it, but fear the waste basket. Fourth,
| Christmas ladder at the Episcopal chur3h which
was beautifully lighted and contained presents for
the entire school. Thus we spent happy Christ
mas Age Ii.
| Viola Iindholm, Lexington, Miss: Aunt Susie,
| are you not proud TO have 30 many nephews and
nieces loving you? am 50 sorry your pet dog died,
| it recalls an incident which happened about eight
years ago. / lost my only pet--a white rabbit.
| Although it has been so long since 1t happened,
everything comes 10 me as If It ossirred yesterday
| ! remember well the solemn funeral procession.
My nurse was the minister, and We sang the hymns
| out Of first reader. had been ~ school all day.
| and when came home and found my pet lying out
! in its shrOud, with yiolets and roscbuds stTewn
about, 1t seemed as II my heart would break. TWAS
| the first sorrow had ever experienced, but not the
last. have lost two dear sisters since then, but
| have a sweet baby brother; he Is tic sunshine Of
the household; his tongue never seems 10 be tired;
and he is perfect chatterbox. Mabel Ezzelle your
| letter was very amusing come again. Edith Simp-
son. your letter interesting; hope you Will write
/ again. A bank has been charted ana VIII begin
hn