The Sunday morning news., 1891-12-20
Soon after jos went, Kitty heard knock

ioO)l dlGcF JU6 WellO hltoy uGdTu u kHOck,
"Whos there?" she called.
The visitor, no other than Mr.. Simon
Claus, replied; "a friend. Do Joe and
Kitty Worrell live here?"
"Yes, but the key is in Mrs. Mullins
room at the end of the hall Pm locked
in"
When Mr.. Claus had let himself in she
looked up at him without fear the excite
ment of a guest making her cheeks flush.
so you're keeping house alone today"
he said.
"Yes. / do every day, most, and they
lock me in because can't get up and walk.
They're afraid somebody might come in
that shouldn't"
"Why can't you walk?" he asked
swell, you see, my back aches all the
time and my feet don't 90 right. Once l
fell. and most ever since have had lame
back. But Joe knows some one that can
curs me-"
"Ah, yes; came especially to see Joe.
Where is he?"
"Out selling papers. He'll come by and
by. He's awful good to me and Mary.
Mary's my big sister. She's out to work
Joe's going to save all the money he can to
get that doctor. And guess I'll tell you
a SCCfCU, Sut W0HU Oii. JUG NIOlC w
Claus and asked him to bring me some
thing for Christmas. That isn't any harm,
is it? Don't you believe he's glad to hear
of little girls that want presentss"
'Yes; l know he is," replied Kitty's
guest, greatly touched.
When Mary Worrell returned the stran-
ger told her quietly what his errand was,
received the needed direction and departed,
;,,to .t,, 81
that Margaret had sent She could not
wait until Christmas to begin playing
Santa Claus.
The benign face of middle aged man
was bending over child who lay pros
trate In sumptuous room. She was look
Ing up at him as he touched her body gent
ly, world of faith in her great brown
eyes. 1t was little wonder his mild yet
strong countenance inspired her conf
dence. The face was all she saw, but
her watchful parents had begun to hope
that here was helper indeed, for they
noted the scientific way in which the firm
hands did their work and the keen ques-
tions which showed his complete knowl-
edge OF the disease to be treated. And yet,
when Mr. Claus found him, the man had
said: 81 am not physician, but only
physicians aid. help pthose whose bodies
ere helpless merely by giving them out
ward support"
The egroup in that lovely room formed
picture, and the growing hope in the par
ents' faces became JOY as they heard him
say presently, Il believe she can be cured;
but it will take long time, and will
only act in connection with your regular
physician"
The child's look was triumphant.
Didn't tell you SO, mamma? And he
must cure Kitty too."
Then she told the gentleman of Kitty,
and how the poor child's illness had been
the means of their hearing about him, and
he agreed to go at once to Gunnison alley
to examine Kitty, as Mr.. Claus requested
him to do
st is Christmas eve,' cried Margaret.
"Tell her you came from Santa Claus, for
you really do, you know, because l am
playing Santa Claus this year. Butt
her voice grew very tender-'it isn't truly
Santa Claus at all; it's the Christ-child,
he puts it into our hearts, you see, and /
want you to tell Kitty about him, will
you? Because | can't go. don't think
she's SO well acquainted with him as she
is with Santa Claus. They have the Christ
child in Germany on Christmas, and l like
it better than Santa Claus"
Well, "Dr. Good,' as Margaret chose to
call him, though he wasn't doctor and
his name was plain Mr.. Goodsell, went to
8 Gunnison alley aud made favorable re-
port of Kitty's case also. And so touched
was he by Margaret's request that he did
not forget to tell his new patient about her
and the story of the Christ-child.
After he had gone another knock sur
prised the Worrells This time colored
man came with Mr.. Santa Claus compli-
ments, and he wasn't feelin able to get
round to Gunnison alley, but would they
accept these, with his best wishes and his
particular love to Miss Kitty!"
sThcse" proved to be more things than
can be described. Edibles, of course,
some wonderful toys for Kitty, soft
afghan and down pillows for her bed and
another purse, not ut all like that the
strange gentleman had given her, but
quite rs well filled.
The spirit of Christmas was lowering in
the air that night, for in the midst of joy
Gus gift making in richer homes the ring
ing Of Christmas bells in towers and
steeples and the reinembrances for child
hood throughout the world, some good
angel found time to bring a dream to
weary, happy Kitty. She saw-not Santa
Claus-bnta . beautiful child who held out