Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-12
Abner withers' Christmaa.

From Puck.
On the oath day OF December. as Abner
| Withers. the senior partner in the firm of
Withers Co., picked up the mail that always
awaited his arrival at the Office, an unstamped
letter on the top Of the pile at once caught his
eye.
1t had been marked. Returned to writer for
prepayment Of postage, above the address,
and the firms business card in the upper left
hand corner OF the envelope showed where the
post Office people had obtained the information
that enabled them to return the letter.
The boy has evidently been careless"
| thought Mr.. Withers. He has dropped that
| letter in the box without stamping it. I've no
doubt it's an important ono, too-what's this!'
Mr.. Withers had taken the letter in his hand,
and the break In his meditations had been
caused by the address it bore, which was SIM
| ply Santa claus. esq.
Huh! some tomfoolery of the Office boys,
l suppose" he continued. HE is always vast
ing my time. Let's see."
The letter read thus
Dear Santa: We are Afraid you have forgotten
were we Live. You didcnt bring me or berthe
Amy thing Last cristraas Like you use to. we
don't want You to forget us this time Pleas
bring me pare of Skates and big drum and
A Salty and BERTHE wants choo-choo car that
will go wen you wind it up, And you might
bring him some pitcher books too, and A Set Of
bilding blocks. don't forget US dear Santa claus.
Your friend,
Sammy Withers.
As Abner read the letter he grew thoughtful
The hard lines of his face relaxed. When he
reached the signature a moisture had gathered
in his eyes
Poor Sammy and BERTHE" he murmured;
my own motherless little oaesi Bless their
hearts. L have neglected them shamefully.
10 think they had to appeal TO Santa Claus for
Christmas presents when their own father is 80
able and willing TO get them! Indeed, they
hat fhnxy Gcafa s,h<
choo cars and all
As soon as the business of the morning was
disposed of Mr.. Withers went to the toy stores,
and carefully filed the commissions which had
been entrusted to Santa Claus by Sammy, and
the work gave him greater pleasure than he
had known in long time.
He ordered the things to be delivered that
night at g.
Mr. Withers was unusually accessible to his
boys that night. He told them stories and he
romped with them until Sammy cried plee-
fully:
why. papa, this is just like the good old
times we used to have"
But Abner could not help smiling to himself
at the uneasiness the children evidently felt.
Once BERTHE even went SO far as to ask Sammy
in loud whisper if he supposed Santa had
their letter yet, and the father had to turn his
back TO hide laugh as Sammy pinched the
little fellow and whispered energetically:
Hush up, quick! Next thing papa'u hear
But the children were sent to bed promptly
at $3.50 and the packages arrived soon after.
Abner received them himself and then noise
lessly entered the boys bed room and disposed
about the chamber the articles he had pur-
chased
When Mr.. Withers wen. to bed he said to
himself:
Il do hope IN wake in time to hear them get
their presents"
But there was no danger of his not hearing
them, for their cries of delight at daybreak
would have awakened Rip Van Wrinkle himself
He tiptoed TO the door, however, and peeped
through the key hole. Sammy was mounted on
his bicycle and leaned against the wall for sup
port while he tried to put on his skates.
Amt they just boss?" the boy exclaimed.
"Oh-h-h. amt dey dust boss?' squealed
BERTHE, watching his choo-choo cars careering
over the floor Then his great blue eyes filed
with satisfaction as he murmured:
santa 1iaus mus "a dot our letter, bruver
Don't 90 spose he did?'
You bet he did, And over Sammv's face
spread look of tender retrospect-a look as
we see on the chubby faces of Raphaers cher
ubs-as he added: You bet he got it put il
In one of his own enyelops a-purpose"