The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1889-12-20

Though" she fastened to add, ''that was
before | ever knew you"
"Jist what We moight nave ixpicted
from a ~naygur," responded Bridget, at
lacking the turkey. claw, missus, what's
this?" bringing out a crumpled bit of pa
per.
"Lst me see it, " said Mrs. Adams. As
she read a smile crept over her face.
"Some little girl is looking ~anxiously for
Santa Claus" she said to herself as she
went back to the s~itting-room.
"Read that, my dear, - she said. placing
Miles letter, now very much soiled and
worn, in his hand.
Mr.. Adams did so, and smiled, though
the suspicion of a tear twinkled in his eye;
for Mr.. Adams was once a poor boy, and
forgotten by Santa Claus often, in those
days. swell, well" he said, ''poor child.
I'm Santa Claus, ] guess. She shall have
the doll; yes, and the dishes, too. I'm 60
ing into town this very afternoon, and I'll
get them"
Il don't believe you had any idea Of 60
ing until the note came, +" laughed his wife.
But if you must 90, why, perhaps I'd bet
ter go, too"
And SO they both went to Boston on the
half-past one o'clock train. and trotted
about the streets that cold day, as interest
ed as possible in dolls and dishes.
Christmas eve passed away up on the
Vermont farm without any special excite
ment. Mile insisted that Santa Claus
would bring her a doll, at least. "For I've
prayed for it every night for two weeks, y
she said "And beside, I wrote to him."
But Mrs. Davis only shook her head and
told the child to remember that Santa
Claus had SO many requests to fill out that
he was very likely to forget just what it
was she wanted. For she had only a few
yards of bright colored delaine to put in
Miles stocking. The turkeys hadn't
brought a very good price and the Davises
were obliged to make presents that were
useful-when they made any.
Eight O'Clock came, and Miles bed
time. She hung up her stocking with great
faith that Santa Claus would fill it, and
hurried off to bed. But she was too much
excited to sleep. Visions of dolls and sets
of dishes danced before her eyes until her
head was all in a whirl. It seemed as II
she could not wait till morning.
In the next room sat her father and her
p,o+I,or ST -;eL - -n;l NJ D,-,~ sGs.x
we could have got a doll for Mile, even If
it had been only a little one. She'll be so
disappointed
Cant help it" was the reply. 'She'll
have to learn to do without things like the
rest Of US. The earlier in life we poor folks
learn that. the BETTER
"Hark," said Mrs. Davis, rising. "Some-
body knocked She went to the door and
opened it.
Package for your girl. Paid" was the
laconic salutation Of the stage-driver as be
set the box down on the steps and hurried
off.
Mrs. Davis took it up and hurried into
the light. 1t was a good-sized box direct
ed in a plain hand to Miss Mile Davis,
Blanktown, Vermont
"Let's leave it till morning, and let
the child open it herself. said Mr.. Davis.
It'll seem ever so much better TO her.
And so they did. And when Mile came
out in her bare feet to examine her stock
ing, the next morning, the stocking hung
very limp indeed, but there was such a
nice-looking box on the ioor under it,
And the very first thing to be lone in
the Davis household, was TO open that box.
And such shouts and 'soh my's.s ana long
breaths as might be heard there for half an
hour afterwards.
For the Adanses had hunted about I'M
til they had found the handsomest doll IN
all Boston, aud the very cutest set of dish
es. And they were all in the Davis kitch-
en- that very minute.
81 knew they'd come said Mile, half
an hour after, as she Rugged her doll re-
CARELESS of its elegant attire, s'tor ! wrote
him a bootiful letter. And then / prayed
for him afterwards"
At the bottom of the box was a s1ort
note to Miss Millie, giving Santa Ciaus's
Boston address. SO Mile sat down that
very day, and wrote to him again. Aud
this was what she wrote the second time:
"Dear Mr.. Claus.-You were perfectly
splendid. If you had been a little girl
yourself, you cooldent a known what kim
of a doll l wanted. so well as you did. And
the disheslI can't thank you enuff for them.
Only if you will come ard see us sometimes
we will kill the old rooster for you (at
least, I guess mamma will, | haven't asked
her yet, but | know she will, land eat of
my dishes. With ever so many kisses.
Mile Davis.
"P. S. Was it because | prayed Every
night that God dident let yon forget?"
And somehow. that letter reached Mr..
Adams's hands.
And all the past year if Mile Davis
hears any unbelieving boy or girl, hint that
there is no such person as Santa Clans,
she stops them with an unanswerable ar
gument-
Just look amy dollr'-R0rtland Tran
scriDy.