The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-01-01
HE WAS ON THE ALERT,
BUr HE SCARCELY EXPECTED TO
MEET THE VISITOR WHO CALLED.
LITTLE Teddy, waiting for Santa Claus 10
Come Down the Chimney, Had
an Experience.

'T am going to sleep with one eye open
tonight" announced Ted the morning
before Christmas.
The family smiled; they had heard this
before; for the few years that Ted had
lived, and since he was old enough. he
had intended TO stay awake TO see Santa
Claus every Christmas. and then just as
soon as his round head had touched the
pillow off ne went TO dream-land by the
nightly express. only to return long after
Santa Claus had filled the stout little
stockings so fun that they stood out in
the funniest nubs you ever saw, and
looked like a leg badly swollen by rheu-
matism.
Now Ted felt this was not fair. so to-day
he resolved 10 do two things. one Was
TO coax Nora, the cook. for a cup OF coffee
about 6 o'clock, for he had heard mamma
say tina drinking coffee at that hour al
ways kept her awake. And then he made
up his mind to take n nap in the after
noon. Now Ted's wide-aWakc little body
hated sleep I'm the daytime. and rebelled
against It with all its might. But after
lunch he climbed up stairs. pulled the
shades down, laid himself down on his
little brass bed, and counted slowly. "One,
two-one. two" until he really dld fall
asleep.
Ted was n soldiers son. for his father
was a Colonel In the United states Army,
and they lived at an army post, and by
and by there came n swift tramp OF
horses feet below TCd's window. and the
sound of voices awOke him Running TO
the window TO see if Santa Claus had
rome In the daytime, he was delighted to
soc his Uncle Ned. who was q paymaster.
and was travelling with q great money
H. ~ zo1lfarC 4Lafv lfgFiGtn ma {
money. Ted was very fond Of Uncle
Ned, so he ran down stairs to greet him.
Uncle Ned. the box, and the guard Tor
the box were stationed in Tod's house or
barracks. SO. after they had settled down
Ted went out to talk with the guard.
DC you ever go to sleep when you have
that 20 take care Off" said Ned, pointing
10 the box.
mo" answered the guard. grimly.
"Sleep when hat things around amt at
all healthy for me-"
well, the reason I asked was cause
bout midnight you'll hear me round. for
I'm bound TO see Santa Claus tonight.
and / thought I'd tell you, SO you wouldn't
shoot me-"
A right" answered the guard. "Ill
give you a countersign. and then there
won't be any danger of my miXing<you
up with a robber. Say Constitution
and I'll know"
Ted coaxed the coffee from Nora, and
between that and the nap he felt very
wide awake indeed: and after he had been
lying awake In his bed. for about a week
as 1t seemed 10 him. and long. long after
all the household was still. he heard such
@ little wee noise in the dining-room that
he almost doubted he heard it at all.
Now Ted expected Santa Claus TO come
down the chimney. and he had been listen
ing for the thud that must come whom he
landed. but he concluded he would 90
and see what the noise was.
He had 20 go very, very softly by
mammals door. for mamma always slept
with one ear open towards Ted's room,
which opened right out of hers.
Down stairs he went almost breath
lessly. and to the door of the dining-room.
Outside the slightly-raised window his
friend, the guard, was stalking up and
down. muffied in cloaks and furs so COM
pletely that he had failed to catch the
sound that Ted's little ears had caught.
And oh. what was that that crawled so
slowly and silently across the foor
TOWARD the sideboard that held the square
box? Was that Santa Claus with his face
all tied up in a black cloth, and totally
negiectins to so much as glance at Ted's
stocking that hung Just where Ted had
left lit Ted knew better, and turning his
big startled eyes toward the omen cum
board on the side of the fireplace he knew
that II was a robber after the nav
masters box.
Just for ar instant Ted seemed 10 have
lost his voice, for this was such a different
sight from what he had expected u see
but without a moments delay he raised
IN alarm that woke everybody. in the
house: Observation-Disclosures
m~a-Santa Claus-hurry. hurry
Up got the robber and darted through
the back door like a flash. followed by a
shot that shivered all the glass I'm the
window but which did not stop the thief,
who mounted his horse and fled.
Every one gathered around the little
lad sitting on the lower stairsteps in his
night-gown. When he saw his Uncle Ned
ne cried out quickly. anxious for his be-
loved Santa Claus reputation:
please, uncle. don't think II was Santa
Claus, cause the nan was thin and all
black on his face. and Santa Claus
wouldn't do such n thing"
II won't. Edward" said his uncle. who
felt Ted had outgrown his baby name
tonight. And you shall nave a Christ
mas Tomorrow that will make your eyes
shine. for you're a little hero"
But Ted liked best Of all what his papa
said. when he returned. after finding out
that the robber was one of his own SER
wants:
MY Teddy boy is a soldier"
'Weren't you AFRAID, dear?" asked
ANN
Eyes. mamma" aid Ted. 81 was awful
'fraid he'd get the box."-L. l.. Chittenden.
READY WITH MS TR0yERB.
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