Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1894-12-22

asleep ut oil. He looked al you liz
tie while and then ut me, and I
dreamed I shut my eyes real quick, to
make believe was asleep. lie leaned
away over you and kissed me just as
easy rs could be, and whispered God
bless you, DEAR and then when !
opened my eyes again he was gone.
Wasn't II q funny dreamS"
The mother smiled at the queer re-
cital, little dreaming that what Mid.
get believed to DO vision Of the night
had been reality.
ar he was really here, darling" she
said, "he was no doubt hunting you,
and may have left you something:
Jump up and look at your stockings"
The little one needed no second bid
ding. She was on the cold floor In 4
moment, and through The gray light
OF the early dawn the mother watched
her.
20, mamma! Mamma"
A smile of pleasure came over tho
mothers face at the cry of delight.
Every pang 1t had cost her to give up
tho ring she SO priced was softened by
the happiness which chung to her dar-
ling's tones.
70, mammal"
"weli, what did you get, baby'"
IA watch, a real gold watch, little
teenie watch, and it's running"
"a what, Midget? Why. child, 10
your brain turned? Santa Claus never
brings gold watches to poor children"
"Oh. he did, mamma, he did, he did.
and there's something In your stock
ings, too"
"In my stockings? Why, my darling,
are You crazy?'
mo, mamma, it's real watch, and
II is ticking. dust look"
She ran to the bed with the treasure
In her hand. The mother took the
tiny time-pieco, and her eyes opened
wide with wonder when she found that
Midgct's words were true.
"llere are your stockings, mamma.
and they arc SO heavy can hardly
carry them. l just believe / did see
Santa Claus, and wasn't dreaming at
all"
Tho mother reached for the stock
ings. and when she felt the weight
and il flashed across her mind that
they were frcighted with money, she
held her breath In establishment. She
poured the treasure out on the bed.
Gold, silver and grcenbacks, wealth
she had never dreamed she would pos.
sess. and In the shining heap lay her
wedding-ring, with note attached.
Opening the paper, she -ead:
MADAM. When you Think sandy
Claws forgits peepcl that's in trouble,
You ar off yure base, fur lie nose his
biz, and so dus Big John, even II he
doant want you to no He done This,
and rite 1t an Slip 1t in unbenone to
Him. for he Herd you and yure babby
talk an node your trubble, an the boys
node Thare biz, too. Big John Is the
oanly sandy Claws In this Here camp.
vures, The proprietor"
Scarcely knowing whether she was
waking or dreaming, the woman has.
t;ly arose and dressed herself, and
taking the little girl by the hand went
to the hotel Office. The moment they
entered Midget cried out:
"0h, mamma, there's the Santa Claus
I saw In my dream. That large gentle
man with the whiskcrs. Wasn't II
you, sir?'
The big fellow attempted to run
into the street, but the landlord
caught him and pulled him back. lie
blushcd like schoolgirl us he faced
the wondering woman, and blurted
out:
"Ma'am, don't mention II, II you
please. Me an the boys found out you
was in trouble, an we just got together
an pulled you out as Christians had
ought to do"
ats jest like this, ma am" the land.
lord said. John, var, is hig, BASH
full Teller when thar's n woman in
sight. an he made us all swar We
wouldn't never let you know whar' the
lift came from. It's all right, ma'am,
and you kin pack up an 80 to yer
friends Jest rs soon rs You want to, an
in n year you'll forgit you ever had n
bit o trouble in yer life. We're all
only too happy to make you n merry
Christmas, ma'nm, and we all hope
you may have many more of EN-"
20, sir. how can ever thank you
for this" she said, addressing John.
II was indeed in great trouble,
and"
But he had escaped from the door
and ran blushing down the street.
Later in the day he met Mrs. Maynard
and conquered his modesty enough to
hold quite q long conversation with
her. 1t was observed, too, that he as.
sisted her on the stage when she sm!l-
ingly babe adieu to the camp, and waved
his hat enthusiastically us the drivers
whip cracked and the vehicle bowled
away.
A few mon his later ut their old home
in the east, Midget said to little
playfcllow:
"I'm going to have new papa pref
ty soon"
"Who?" her companion asked.
big John Santa Claus. don't
know his other name yet"
GAIT JACK CRAWFORD.
TOMS Wow of 1t
Now, what do you guess' But you could NOT