Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1893-02-18

dozen rich tints
OF shade. His eyes were sapphire blue
and hisskin exquisitely fair. Yet there
was nothing delicate about his looks,
he was simply a radiant, healthy, hap
py Saxon boy.
The other little boy, who leaned
against his chair, was pale and dark
with a curly, wavy little wig OF black
hair and sparkling black eyes. He
was as handsome a little fellow as the
first boy, but he had no beautiful
clothes to set of his beauty. No. poor
little Byron's toes were out OF his
shoes and his clothes were patched and
faded.
Hello, Santa Claus" called thelit-
tie boy on the chair.
''Hello!" called Santa Claus.
Now BERTHE had often telephoned
Santa Claus before, hut never had
Santa Claus said anything back. 1t
almost knocked the little boy off the
chair with delight
Santa Claus" he cried very fast,
for fear Santa Claus might go away
before he had finished, twill you please
give me big paint box, Christmas,
cause my paint box, Officer, our dog,
swallowed some OF the paints and tile
rest OF the box got LOST didn't lose
it, it lost ITSELF"
"Of course" said Santa Claus.
yes, sir. And please won't you
bring Byron a sled and some candy
and a red wagon like my best one, and
drum2 He's been a very good boy.
He hunged up his stocking last Christ
mas, but he didn't get nothing but a
tin trumpet and some candy and a
apple"
Whats Byron's name?" said San
Ia Claus.
"His name is Byron Mcintosh Cam
eron," the eager little voice answered,
land he lives over on the alley on Van
Buren, street where the red street cars
are. And say, Santa Claus, guess if
you amt got enough for both OF US,
you can give Byron his Things and not
give me my paint box, cause maybe /
can tease my mamma to-"
Mamma, who sat in the otherroom-
exchanged smiles with auntie who was
visiting her that afternoon.
who are your" said Santa Claus.
why, don't you know me?" said
the little boy. I'm BERTHE Hardin
and my papa is Mr.. Egbert Hardin
and"
'Tknow him" said Santa Claus.
He is nice fellow. So are you"
Sometimes Pm bad, !" put in BERTHE,
out OF his sturdy little conscience.
Say, Santa Claus, you won't forget.
Course Id like the paint box, if you've
got enough presents to go round. You
know you needn't give our baby any.
He can't talk at all and he don't know
about you, either, and he threw his
rattle into the fire; so guess he'd
throw his Christmas presents away,
too. That's all. Good bye"
Santa Claus hung up the telephone
tube and began to walk up and down
tine floor, his brows knitted and his
hands in his pockets like man per-
pieEed.
The floor was marble, because he
was in q hotel Office, and his footsteps
made a ringing sound. He was not
an old man, neither would anyone
have suspected that he was Santa |
Claus; in fact, ne looked a good deal
like little Byron Cameron.
Presently a man passing said, eco |
ing to night, Mr.. Cameron"
There was slight pause before San
tn Cause answered "No | shall stay
over Christmas"
"Not much like Australian Christ |
mas weather, take it," said the man,
and laughed at Santa Claus SILVER.
Santa Claus himself smiled n queer
smile after the man Gle has decided
for me, he was thinking "Why not
stay? 1t must be Ned. And lie has
named his boy after me! He can't
ieel very bitter to have done thatl"
He gave harsh sigh. Years ago the
brothers had quarreled-it is no mat
ter why now-and so bitterly that the
younger went away and never more
had any dealings with his brother for
ten years.
They were alone in the world, these
two brothers, therefore the more
shame that they should quarrel. New
SO angry was Santa Claus
that even in far away Australia,
he had drifted, he could not
forgive his brother. It WAS business
that had brought him to this Western
city. He never guessed that it was
here his brother lived; he did not even