Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1892-12-22

his eyebrows, puckered his mouth and
cramping his little fingers around a
stubby lead pencil began to write; and
this is what he wrote.
'DEAR SANITY CLAWS: Plese don't for Get 10
FIJI my stockin. An Id like Sled an par OF
skates An plese Civ MOThEr tho vEry nicEst
thine you got We Live on French street
First ChmBly down 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 furtively over
his shoulder, to make sure his mother
was not loolSing-but no; stitch, stitch,
stitch her needle went through the
heavy coat, and she did not once look
up. So he folded the precious letter in
o painstaking manner, and sealed it in
the envelope addressed:
"MR. SANITY CLAWS"
and stufing 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
Sa tho 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-lilse fieetness 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 half hour or so, and then clerk
began asserting them for the mails.
'Heres a good oner' and he laughed
heartily as he held up the erumpled
envelope.
''Mr Santa Clausl" 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 up the letter: 'Mr
Santa Claus--address not given! Are
you acquainted with the gentleman's
residence?"
Mr.. Morris took the envelope and
laughed also, as he glanced at it, and
was about to throw it down, when a
sudden vision of four little maids, with |
an unquestioning faith in Santa Claus,
rose before him.
perhaps l can find the gentleman" |
he said, with twinkle in his kind blue |
eyes; and putting the envelope into his |
pocket he walked away.
1t was Christmas eve. There had |
been heavy sDowstorn the day be- |
fore, and it had cleared off very cold. |
The people were muffied in furs to |
their eyes--n they had the furs-and |
hurried along over the crisp snow,
which sang sharp little songs under /
their feet The rude wind wrestled /
with them at the street corners, maxi /
ing the gentlemen catch wildly at their /
hats, and futtering ribbons and wells /
in the faces of the ladies.
jack Frost played coarse practical
jokes upon every body and everything /
within his reach 50 -tl=s II Al iiT-T5t +
boys felt obliged to run with the tur- +
keys and turnips, blowing the while /
upon their aching fingers or rubbing /
their smarting ears.
The newsboys, with mufiers and 1
caps pulled closely down, held their
papers under their arms and their
hands in their pockets. and thrashed
one foot against the other, while they
called in cold voices to the passer- by:
Paper. sir, paperl'
The heavens wers studded with
Flesuing stars which blinked merrily
down on the hurrying thrones and
through uncurtained windows were
glirapses Of gay Christmas trees with
happy children dancing around them.
and smiling fathers and mothers look
ing on
Holly wreaths hung in profusion and
fest0ops Of evergreen and mistletoe
adorned the walls; aud over these hap (
py sceues played the aickering light OF
ths yale" logs glow i