Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1895-12-26

And blowing upon your horn.
You sat on the bed delighted
TO play with each pretty toy.
But who was II filled your stocking
When you were little boy?
--R. X. Munkittrick, Ia Haper'S Young People.
a*#
SANTA CLAUS.
II the boys and girls will take down
their biographies now, l will show
them just where Santa Clause was
born. Was there really any such
person? Why not? Was there really
any such person as George Washing
toni OF course there was, and every
body knows, although some foolish
persons are trying hard to prove that
there never was any cherry tree in his
fathers garden, and that he was only
a dull sort Of boy; il any thing,
inclined to the bad. Just 80 are there
persons who cannot believe things
that are told about Santa Claus, but
I believe them; as l believe that the
good man, who are to bless the world
tomorrow, are to be found among the
good boys who are comfort to their
own homes today.
Yes, 1t was over there in ASIA Minor,
where Paul preached a good deal,
that Santa Claus was born; and it was
not so very long-one or two hundred
years it may be-after Paul died, that
God gave him to Christian home in
which no children had been born
before. It was in the little city of
Panthera, not far from the great
Mediterranean Sea, that the child
hoo Of Santa Claus was passed. A
beautiful childhood, too, it was, in a
home surrounded by all manner Of
pleasant things; for his parents were
wealthy and their household was full
OF Christian kindness. do not know
who first associated Santa Claus with
regions of ice and snow. I take il, it
must hav been in our old homes Of
Germany, that they got his story so
mixed up; for they kept his feast day
there in winter, and used to have
some one to personate the saint in
furry robes. But as a matter of fact,
Santa Claus lived under an almost
Cloudless sky, where winter was
scarcely more than a dream, and
where the gardens are full of the
most delicious fruits and the most
fragrant flowers nearly the whole year.
His father being one of the richest
men Of the city, we may believe that
in his boybood he was surrounded
with everything to make life charm
ing; and yet the enjoyment of it all
never tainted the sweet unselfshness
Of his spirit.
Presently, while he was still lad,
the good God tried the true gold that
was IN him, by deprlving him of a
fathers council and mothers care,
10 one Of those dreadful epidemics
which from time to time swept
through eastern cities. Santa Claus
was left, all alone, little more than a
boy, with thu temptation and the
burden Of great wealth laid upon
him.
We know what many an heir Of
princely riches has done before and
since his day. He had builded prin-
cely houses, and laid out beautiful
gardens, and bought rich equipsges,
and surrounding himself with every
means Of self-Indulgence. But not so
did the Chlldren's friend. There were
poor people in Panthera, who lacked
bread; and to their homes Santa
Claus was a frequent guest. There
we're sick people in the novels, and
frendless people in the prisons; and
when, in the hour of their deepest
dependency, they would look up,
they were very likely to see the fresh
and youthful and hopeful face Of
Santa Claus, who had come to sec
how he might best help them in theil
pam or trouble, ana thus il was that
wiser than the rich young man whom