Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1893-12-21
NJ CLAWS"

The wind that hurried across the
snow-covered prairie had an Icy keen
ness that portended a cold Christmas
on the morrow. 1t crept through the
gaps In the u~nderpinning n up
through the cracks in he sycamore
floor of Widow Shores little implanted
house, causing the inmates to d
closer about the small stove.
Wal" announced little Sam, I'm a.
goin' to hang up my stockin', anyhow"
1T won't do no good" spoke Maggie,
the Oldest of the youthful Shores and
the elder Of little Sam by W years.
you won't git nuthin'. Sandy Claws
has plumb forgot us"
"Mebby he has" quoth Sam; but III
sorto jog his mem'ry."
"No use,'' complained Maggie. He's
plumb forgot us. Hain't he, mawT"
Looks a heap that away" answered
Widow shore.
Her drawing voice had a m%ournful
cadence.
wal, you jest see If l don't make
him think of us!'' Dragged little Sam.
Yes, I'll see," complained Maggie.
Were lucky If we git two bites
apiece for to-morrow's Christmas din
ner."
"You jest wait, that's all" WIS Sans
rejoinder. SANDY Claws will come
round all right"
In spite of his brave words little Sam
was by no means as hopeful as he pre-
tended to be. Maggie's complaint that
Santa Claus had wholly forgotten them
had n depressing effect upon his spirits.
But he proceeded to put into execution
his plan for jogging the memory of
49, ,nayrna CosYaN fAVs fhn canine NhPiSt-
mas tide.
Widow Shore, absorbed by her own
dismal thoughts, paid little heed to his
proceedings. But Maggie, though
piqued at his lack of sympathy with
her gloomy representations, watched
him curiously, and the twins and the
baby speculated upon the personal APP
pearance of Santa Claus, and asked all
manner of questions.
Tor some true little Sam worked
steadily. making with the hot poker a
huge, sign on a small board. Then
when the sign was completed TO Sans
entire satisfaction, a question from
the baby caused an alteration in the
work.
us he Mister Sandy Claws?' wheezed
the baby.
The little fellow, still called 1.-The
baby" although he was nearly four
years old, was the victim of a cold that
made his little voice but a combination
of croak and wheeze.
Maybe II would be more proper to adj
dress Santa Claus as Mister" little
Sam thought. The favor he desired
would be n large one. and, therefore,
called for all the courtesy he could com
mand
A difficulty arose. His s~prawling let
tiers occupied nearly all of h board,
and there was no room to add the title.
Sam quickly dismissed the thought of
putting it on the back of the board. 1t
was not probable that Santa Claus
would think to look at the back of the
sign, and thus the effect Of the title
would be lost.
Finally Sam laboriously whitfield
away the SANDY" with which he had
begun the legend, substituting for it
"Mistur s." written IN n highly eccen-
trio manner with the hot poker.
When finished, the name OF the
Christmas saint was masquerading I'M
der the partial guise of Mister s.
Claws"
While little Sam viewed bis handi-
work with supreme satisfaction. the
baby and The twins were loud in their
admiration. and even critical Maggie
was forced to confess that # Sain.
Nicholas memory was not logged by
that sign ii was ~hopelessly beyond the
reach of all jogging.
Widow Shore remarked TO the effect
that it was not only a scholarly bu an
artistic piece of work.
Bundling himself up as well as posi-
bic with the scanty wraps at hand,
little Sam passed out into the cold.
with tho precious sign under his long
coat-a relic of his dead father.
A few flakes were whirling down
ward, and soon the air was white
with falling snow. The wind increased,
and sent the flakes hurrying past lit
tie Sans face as he trudged bravely
Oh.
The keen wind pierced his worn gar
ments, but his young blood seemed to
defy the chilling blast, and. busy with
his hopeful thoughts, he almost forgot
the cold.
He looked %approvingly at the whiri-
ing o
I'm mighty glad 1t come he NUT
tered. "Was afraid ii wouldn't be deep
| enough for Sandy Claws sleigh. But
it'll be all right now"
You don't reckon he went on, pres
emily addressing an imaginary auditor,
"that the snowU he fallin' SO fast that
he can't see the signy"
mo; he'll see 1t fast enough" he
went on ch serily. His eyes air ust TO
scein' in now storms"