Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-12-19
4 Bogus Santa Claus.

Ou Inc 6N 6uluS DeIOI0 CuII6tudS, Ill
the year of grace 1894, Mr.. Rufus Bell
created a mild sensation at his home
by arriving with parcel OF huge di-
mansions. He made sure that none OF
the children we're about the house be-
tore he entered and, when he haa
crossed the threshold he Immediately
concealed the mysterious bundle in
closet and locked the door upon it.
Mrs. Bell at once demanded an ex-
PLANTATION, and her niece, Miss Rose
Mayne, seconded the demand strongly;
thereup0n Mr.. Bell struck the attitude
popular with candidates when they say
My fellow countrymen," and said:
Ladies, l am but human, singular
as the statement may seem; but [ am
nevertheless a being of ideas and re-
sources"
eve are always acquiring informa-
tion," interrupted Mrs. Bell
Rose" continued Mr.. Bell, serenely,
turning to the younger lady, "as a
schOoI-teacher you must have studied
juvenile human nature, and you must
have been shocked by the fact that
children cease to believe in the good
old stories of Santa Claus and his rein
deer almost as soon as they are able
to walk; in fact I have heard you COM
ment upon this sad truth What is
Christmas to a child, if the child
doesn't believe in Santa Claus? Where
are all the romance and poetry of the
occasion? My own children are skep-
teal when l tell them the charming
legend of Kris Kringle; l have under
taken to convince them that there is a
Santa Claus; [ have decided to let them
see Santa Claus in person"
This announcement naturally pleased
the ladies; and their excitement was
quite intense when Mr.. Bell produced
a bundle from the closet and opened
it, producing a lot of ancient furs and
a bearskin hat that had probably been
used by a drum major of the town
band; to please the ladies he donned
his costume at once, and they voted
him perfect Santa Claus, as he GER
tainly was.
/ Now he said, when he had re-
sumed his ordinary raiment, 81 don't
think it quite fair to reserve this en-
tertalnment for our own children ex-
clUsively, SO [ have invited a few good
little boys and girls of the neighbor-
hood; and Mr.. and Mrs Brewster will
be here, and young Mr.. Moon: [ have
let them into the secret You will tell
the children to hang their hosiery in
the north room, and inform them that
you have reason to believe that they
may see Santa Claus if they sit up and
keep perfectly still; at the proper time
I'll ascend the roof and slide down the
chimney; it is just large enough for
the purpose. And [ guess that's all"
/ During the balance of the evening.
until nine o'clock, there was a great
deal of active preparation in progress
in the Bell mansion; the north room
was tldled, and semi-circle of chairs
placed for the expected guests, who be
gan to arrive at the stipulated time.
Mr.. Bell was in a fine frenzy of ex-
element; he declared to his wife, in a
whisper, that he felt like a boy again
and she replied that she was ten years
younger than she was before he un-
folded his delicious scheme. By half
past nine all the guests, large and
small, were in their places; Mr.. Moon,
a young man who had been studying
law for ten years, and who hoped soon
to be admitted to the bar, sat next to
Miss Rose, upon whose hand he had
serious designs and his efforts to ap-
pear at ease were amusing and in
structlVe; Mr.. Brewster, who was small
and timid looking, nestled beside his
wife, who was massive and had a bass
voice; silence brooded over the throng
until Mr.. Bell, who was given to
speeches, went into another attitude
and said:
"Children, I have heard that you
don't believe there is a Santa Claus?
You have formed the unworthy idea
that your parents and friends fill your
stockings on Christmas eve, and that
good old fur-clothed Santa is a myth.
Now, [ have a letter from Santa
Great excitement among the chill
dren)
And he says that he will arrive
here at ten o'clock, coming down the
chimney which you see before you. l
must leave you for awhile, as [ must
keep watch outside; but you must all
be quiet and keep your seats, or Santa
Claus may become angry, and refuse
to enter
Ten O'Clock was announced by the
tall clock in the adjoining room, and
the mellow chimes of that ancient
timepiece had scarcely died away be-
fore the children heard other sounds.
Up overhead there was violent
scratching and tearing, as though a
poorly shod reindeer was trying to
climb the roof, and they distinctly
heard the silvery tinkling of bells,
and some of them believed that they
could make out the grinding of the
sleigh runners on the shingles. 1t was
a moment of awful excitement; John
ME Bell, who had never quailed in
dangers stormy hour, did not try to
conceal the cold perspiration that
stood on his forehead; Amelia Grimm,
whose courage was generally unswerv-
ing and uncompromising tried to stife
a shrek, and only half succeeded.
| After the roof had been successfully
assembled, they heard a great noise by
the chimney, as though Santa had just
alighted, and then they heard him de-
SpeDd the iDfarior of tho cbir7n ny-. low