Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-12-22

InA\\NN er; he wrinkled
his eyebroys. puckered his mouth and
cramping his little fingers around
stubby lead pencil began to write; and
this is what he, wrote:
'DEAR SANITY CLAWS: Plese don't for Get TO
Fill my stockin. An Id like A Sled an par OF
SKATES An plese Civ MOThEr the VERY nicEst
thine you got. We Live on French street,
First ChimBly DOWN Flights
''ARTHUR HILL"
He stretched out his little numb fin
gers with sigh of relief; for printing
was hard work for Arihur's chubby
fist Then he glanced furtivcly over
SShis shoulder, 20 make sure his mother
was not loolling-but no; stitch, stitch,
stitch her needle went through the
heavy coat, and she did not once look
up-O SO he folded the precious letter in
p painstal<ing manner, and sealed it in
the envelope addressed:
MR. SANITY CLAWS"
and stufhng it 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
the landing just outside, and he
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 that the gentle re-
minder might not reach Santa Claus in
time, gave the deer-lil1e fleetness 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 fear
of being detected, he ran out of the Of
fee, and, with his hands in his pockets,
scampered home.
Arthur's letter lay among the others
for q half hour or so, and then clerk
began asserting them for the mails.
Here's good one!' and he laughed
heartily as he held up the crumpled
envelope.
''Mr. Santa CLAUSE and he laughed
again, in company with two or three
clerks who had gathered around him.
Just then the door opened and the
postmaster caoe in.
The clerk held up the letter: ''Mr.
Santa Claus--addresS not given! Are
you acquainted with the gentleman's
residence"
CMr. Morris took the envelope and
laughed. also, as he glanced at it, and
was about to throw it down, when q
sudden vision of four little maids, with
an unquestionipg faith in Santa Claus,
rose before him.
Perhaps l can find the gentleman
he said, with twinkle in his kind blue
eyesD and putting the envelope into his
pocket he walked away.
1t was Christmas. eve. There had
been a heavy snowstorm the day be-
fore, and it had cleared off very cold
The people were muffied in furs tt
-.
hurried along over the crisp snow
which sang sharp little songs under
their feet The rude wind wrestlee
with them at the street corners, max
ing the gentlemen catch wildly at theil
hats, and f1uttering ribbons and veil.
in the faces of the ladies.
Jack Frost played coarse practica
jokes upon everybody and everything
within his reach, so that the marlxe
10ys felt obliged to run with the tur
keys and turnips, blowing the Will,
upon their aching fingers or rubin!
their smarting ears
The newsboys, with muffiers an,
caps pulled closely down. held thei
papers under their arms and thei
hands in their pockets, and thrashe
one foot against the other, while the.
called in cold voices to the passer-by
Paper, sir. paperw
The heavens were studded wit
cleaning stars which blinted merrill
down on the hurrying throng; an
through uncurtained windows wer
glirnpses of gay Christmas trees wit
happy children dancing around them
and smiling fathers and mothers lool
ing on
Holly wreaths hung in profusion an
feSto0pS of evergreen and miStletO
adorned the walls; and over these haI
py scenes played the Pickering light c
the "ynla' logs glow.