Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1894-01-11
Written for The .imericdn::
santa Claus Story.

am Santa Claus, Probably very few
of the children whom / visit once every
year have seen me, as l make my visits
mostly after the little ones have said their
evening prayer and been snugly tucked
away in nice warm beds. But they all
know who am and that am supposed to
be their best friend
1t sometimes happens that call at the
different houses before Christmas time,
that ma, lind out who of all the little
ones are the best hammered and most
obe dent, but at such times | never wear
my fur coat and peaked cap. so of course
no one would ever suspect me of being
Santa Claus.
Well, one pleasant night early In Novem-
Der, started out to make calls. and after
had visited several places along the way,
| came II large country house which
entered and sat quietly down by the fre-
side, There were two ladies in the room
and small hoy was dragging a toy engine
and train of cars about the hoor keeping
step to the merry tune of a music box
which he had wound up and placed upon a
chair. He was tine-looking little fellow
with locks of gold, and the sweetest,
merriest brown eyes have ever seen.
learned that one of the ladies' was the
district school teacher, the other, the mis-
tre>s of the house
What do you suppose Santa Claus will
bring me. Aunt Dclle:7 the boy said as he
walked up to the easy chair in which the
elder lady was seated, aud rested his gold
en- head against her shoulder.
Ion, l don't know, darling; what do
yen wish him to bring YOU
well, | should like some picture books,
snd some colored crayons, like Cousin
Aices, that she carries to school, aud
jack-ina-box, and just a little candy DO
you suppose he will bring me all of them"
and the brown eyes looked wistfully up at
the lady, who was regarding him with
kindly smile of amusement
Have you been a good boy, Hall!e?"
she asked, because Santa doesn't bring
much to naughty boys"
II has been dood most of the time and
mean to be dood all the time now" he
said and he drew a long sigh and looked
questioningly at his aunt.
Yes, darling, you are good most Of the
time, but when you are naughty you wor-
ry me very much"
II won't be naughty any more; luz
YOU, and the chubby arms were cis>p ped
around the lady- neck, a. she drew him
more closely To her side aud kissed him
tenderiy.
Dear boy Aunty knows that he tries
to be good Yes, | think Santa will bring
| you something and now it is time to have
| on the nightie and 90 to bed"
Theh crept softly out Of the house to
! pay a visit to others, and although saw
many children who were pretty and pleas
ing in their manners, none were brighter
| or more wiusome than the little lad with
the sweet brown eyes. resolved that he
should have all the things which he men
toned, and perhaps other nice things.
Well, when Christmas eve came start
ed out IN good seas1n with my reindeer
team loaded with such piles of pretty
| things as We're never seen In any other
place, verify believe. | had travelled a
long distance and disposed of nearly half
| of my load when | came to the same house
where found the brown-eyed boy.
"Now," thought Il viii leave budget
here that will make the little fellow laush
and dance tor very joy"
| Sol quickly descended the large old-fash-
| Toned chimney aud soon found myself in
what seemed to be dining room. looked
| all around the open fire and the mantel-
| piece, but no little stocking could be seen
| anywhere. There was but one person in
| the room, and she looked very sad Per
| haps she was dreaming OF other and lisp
| pier days. As my presence seemed I'M
noticed, peeped into the bedroom ad-
| joining, but the boy was not there Next
went into the kitchen. There was a little
| rocking chair standing 10 one corner. and
| hanging on the wall near the table was a
paper napkin with lis queer. gay -colored,
| japanese pictures, and tin horse lay near
| by on the window seat. Well, hunted the
house through bat the boy was not to be
| found; 50 | sorrowfu!ly gathered up my
toys aud hurried of.
| kept on visiting house after house,
until clme TO a town of considerable
size, where there We're mills aud shoe
factories, and, judging by the numer Gus
signs of doctors aud attorneys it must be
| qnite business place. | did know the
name of the town. Let NE see-Ens-
| ElswOrse: No,-Ah! / have it; Els
worth, that is it, pretty place, too.
had to fly around lively now, for there
were great many little folks here and
did not wish to slight any of them. had
nearly completed my rounds, when came
to white house on Third street. | tum-
bled down the chimney in a hurry, for
was getting tired and cold and felt quite
cross.
Somehow, in my haste, l made a mis-
| take. and got into one of the chambers,
and (would you plieve it?) there was my
little brown-eyed laddie, nestled down in
warm blankets, fast asleep
You may be sure he got generous lot
of toys and good things. | also left some
pretty things for small girl in the same
house.
But what puzzles me is. how the little
fellow came to be there. and why he left
the lady alone in the country house. But
| am glad to know he is all right, and
Santa Claus must not be too luquisitive.
If any of the children who read this
story should take the trouble to hunt him
up, they will fad him ready for play and
as merry as the enthusiastically Drake
No news is bad news-to editors.