The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1893-12-30
mr. CLAWS

~ LA SA~S
snowcovered prairie had an icy keen
ness that portended a cold Christmas
on the morrow. It crept through the
gaps in the underpinhing and up
through the cracks In the sycamore
floor Of Widow Shores little implanted
house, causing the inmates to huddle
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: TIC, youthful Shores and
the elder. Of little .Sam. by two years.
has plumb forgot u.s." -
"Mebby he has," quoth Sam; but I'll
sorto jog his mem'ry:""
mo USE" complained Maggie. He's
plumb forgot us. Hain't he, nav"
Looks a heap that away" answered
Widow Shore. .,..
Her drawing voice had a mournful
cadence.
"Wal, you Jest see If I 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" was 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 a depressing effect upon his spirits.
But he proceeded to put into execution
his plan for jogging the memory Of
the patron saint for the coming Christ
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 ap-
pearance of Santa Claus, and asked all
manner Of questions.
Tor some time little Sam worked
steadily, making with the hot poker a
huge sign on a small board. Then
when the sign vas completed to Sans
entire satisfaction, q question from
the baby caused an alteration In the
work.
lis he Mister Sandy Claws?" wheezed
the baby.
The little fellow, still called "the
baby" although he was nearly four
years old, was the victim Of q cold that
made his little voice but a combination
of croak and wheeze.
Maybe it would be more proper to ad-
dress Santa Claus as Mister" little
Sam thought. The favor he desired
would be a large one, and, therefore,
called for all the courtesy he could COM
mand.
A difficulty arose. His sprawling let
ters occupied nearly all of the 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 N a highly eccen-
trio manner with the hot poker.
When finished, the name Of the
Christmas saint was masquerading IL
der the partial guise Of Mister s.
Claws"
While little Sam viewed bis handi-
work with supreme aatisfation. the
baby and the twins were loud in their
admiration, and even critical Maggie
was forced to confess that # Saint
Nicholas memory vas not jagged by
that sign 1t was hopelessly beyond the
reach Of all jogging.
Widow Shore remarked to he effect
that it was not only u scholarly but an
artistic piece Of work.
Bundling himself up as well as posi-
BILE with the scanty wraps at hand,
little Sam passed out into the cold,
with the precious sign under his long
coat-a relic Of his dead father.
A few fakes were .whirling down
ward, and soon the air was white
with falling snow. The wind increased,
and sent the fakes hurrying past lit.
tie Sans face as he trudged bravely
n.
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 %approvingiy at the whirl
ing snow.
I'm mighty glad it come" he NUT
tered. WAS afraid it wouldn't be deer
enough for Sandy Claws sleigh. Blu
It'll be all right now"
You don't reckon" he went on, pres
emily addressing an imaginary auditor
that the snowu be fallin' SO fast tina
he can't see the sign?"
"No; he'll see It fast enough" b.
went on chasrily. "His eyes air ust t
seein' in. snow storms" ~
At the lone jack-oak tree, where thu
little-worn track that led to Widow
Shores cabin left the section roads
Sam paused. From a pocket of tn.
long coat he produced an old hammer
and a spike nail.
It was cold work falling the sign t
the tree. His blue hands, bcnumbei
by the Icy wind, found difficulty II
holding board and 'lail, and accuratel.
delivering the hammer-blows at tn.
same time.
The occupant Of a bob-sled that
pair OF viry, .'line-back" mules wa
hurry1ng along the road from the direc
ton OF the settlement, wondered q
the presence Of the little figure at tn
fa1k.0ak.