Birmingham state herald., 1895-12-22
SOLID SILVER TOYS What the AStor Baby Will Play
 With. G0RGE0USCHRISTM MAS PARTY The Tree Will Be Illuminated With Electric Lights, and All Hiss Millionaire Baby
 Friends Will Be Invited.

Santa Claus and Christmas like the 1 blue sky and the sunshine, belong equal | ly to the million-dollar baby and the | poorest little tenement house waif. To rich and poor Christmas tells the same wonderful story of the little babe born one starry winters night in the manager at Bethlehem. For each and all the angels sang the glad first Christmas carol of Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men"
 And the wise men who came from the east and brought gifts of gold and precious stones taught the first grand lessen of Christmas giving to every single one of us.
 But there is no gainsaying but old San ta Claus comes with an unequal sleigh load to the palace of the rich and the hovel of the poor, and, in very truth, to all of the intermediate dwellings. For there are many little folks whom my heart gives a great big ache for, who won't find single thing in their stock ings Christmas morning.. even if they are lucky enough to have a stocking to hang up, and fireplace at which to hang it.
 And there are other little boys who are going to have entirely too much for their good But my story is about one little boy and the wonderful Christmas old Santa Claus has laid by for him. It Is every bit true, but I am sure that you will feel when you have read it that the old-time fairy stories are no longer grand enough and there should be a brand new lot written to fit the modern inventions and discoveries.
 This little boys name is William Vim cent Astor, and he is the only child of one of the richest men in the world One reason for the unusual celebration this year is due to the fact that the little chap has just passed four years, and this is the first of his four Christmases that he could really and truly appreciate blessed old Sainto Santa Claus and his wonderful gifts.
 When William opens his big brown eyes Christmas morning he will see first of all one of his little white lambs wool stockings hanging by the side of the open fire in the beautifully appointed nursery The stocking will be even fatter than 7ghen filled by the baby's plump little leg. The filling will be old-fashioned, just the same good things that you and I and all the rest of good little girls and boys have found since Christmas came to make this old world a better place In which to live.
 In the toe of this particular stocking there will be an orange golden yellow. a big round rosy apple will come next and then nuts and candies of every sort and kind. The toys will not be in evidence until after the Christmas breakfast, then this little William will be permitted a peep into a fairyland as beautiful and wonderful as Aladdin's lamp could bring forth in the dear old days of gen and magcians and elves.
 The father of the little lad, John Jacob Astor, is an electrician way past the amateur stage, and he has spent many busy days in his work-room devising the wonders which are to astonish his little son and all the little guests who have been lucky enough to be bidden to the Astor Christmas tree.
 The grand saloon in which the tall hol-