Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-12-18

CT. NC
his eyebrows. puckered his mouth and
cramping his little fingers around a
stubby lead pencil began to write; and
this is what he wrote:
'DxAs SANITY CLAWS: Plese don't for Get 70
Pm my stockin- An Id ike A Sled an a par OF
skates. An piese Civ AOThEr the vEry nicEst
Zinc you goT We Live on French street.
Frat CnimBly downs Flights
ARTHUR HILL"
He stretched out his little numb fin
gers. with sigh of relief; for printing
was hard work for Arthur's chubby
fist. Then he glanced furnvcly over
his shoulder, 20 make sure his mother
WAS not looking-but no; stitch, stitch,
stitch her needle went through the
heavy coat. and she did rot once look
up. So he folded the precious letter in
painstaking manner. and sealed it in
the envelope addressed:
Mr. SANITY CLAWS"
and stufiing il into his little pocket
regardless of opposition on the part Of
letter or pocket-went softly out of the
room; but his quiet movements ended
tore down the stairs and through the
streets to the post Office.
Perhaps the thought that there were
but two days before Christmas. and the
consequent fear tina. the gentle re-
minder might not reach Santa Claus in
time. gave the deer-like aeetness to his
sturdy little feet
There was no one in the office, so he
walked boldly up and dropped the let
ter through the slot. and watched it
sliding down the inclined plane into
the receiving box. Then, with a fear
of being detected. he ran out of the Of
Gee. and. with his hands in his pockets.
scampercd home.
Arthur's letter lay among the others
for half hour or so. and then a clerk
began asserting them for the mails
Here's good oner' and he laughed
heartily as he held up the crumpled
envelope.
Mr.. Santa Claus" and he laughed
again. in company with two or three
clerks who had gathered around him.
Just then the door opened and the
postmaster came in.
The clerk held mp the letter: ''Mr.
Santa Clsus-address not given Are
you acquainted with the gentleman's
residence?"
Mr.. Morris took the envelope and
laughed. also. as he glanced at il, and
was about 70 throw il down. when a
sudden vision Of four little maids. with
an urquestioniog faith in santa Claus,
rose before him.
Perhaps can End the gentleman
he said. with a twinkle in his kin, blue
eyes. and putting the envelope into his
pocket he walked awav.
II WAS Christmas eve There had
been a heavy snowstorrn the dav be-
fore. and it had cleared Oft very ro,d
The people were mufs'ed in furs IN
their eyes-if they mad the furs-and
hurried along over the crisp snow.
which sang sharp little songs under
their feet The rude wind wre<tfed
with them st the street corners. max
Ing the gentlemen catch wildly at their
hats. and anftering ribbons and wells
In the faces Of the ladies'
Jack Frost played coarse practical
jokes upcn every body and everything
within hts reach. so that the market
boys felt obliged 20 run with the tslr-
KEYS and turnips, blowing the while
upon their aching fingers or rubbing
their srnarting ears.
The newsboys with muf'ers aud
ears pulled closely down. held their
papers under their arms and their
hands in their pockets, and thrsshed
one foot against the other. while they
called IN cold voices 20 the passsr-eys
"PsPer. sir. paper
The heavens were studded with