Omaha daily bee., 1895-12-22
SANTA CLAUS CONVERTED.
A Blue SILK Stocking and It's Con-
tents.
BY HERBERT ID. WARD.
Copyright, 1895. by Herbert u. Ward)

CCnpyright, 1898, by Herbert -. Naru)
l.
Daisy could not sleep. This does not mean
that she did not sleep. She had not been
known to miss a good nights rest for 1t
must have been for six or seven years, and
she was now going on" her 9th year.
Daisy Parker was the only girl in q family
of two parents and five children. She was
betwixt and between, looking up to her two
elder brothers with awe, and looking down
upon the 1.-TWO children" (she called them)
with motherly condescension. And the family
hung up their stockings by the great library
fireplace Christmas eve. Strangely enough,
neither MIR. Parker nor the children were ever
satisfied to hang up their own stockings, ana
they always borrowed one apiece from mother.
Daisy's was a tremendous long blue SILK
stocking, with yellow clocks on it, and she
hung it nearest to the smoldering embers
by the chimney, because she wanted santa
Claus to fill hers first. The two big boys
played foot ball and knew how to skate, and
they said that there wasn't no Santa Claus
and that there never was any But Daisy
and the children knew too much to subscribe
to any such bad grammar as that.
Where were "Prancer and Vixen" and
the reindeer sleigh? And San'a Claus with
his red cheeks and white fur overcoat, sur.
mounted by a pack of toys? So Day insisted
that the library fire should be allowed to
burn low in order that Santa Claus might
not get singed coming down the chimney.
The big boys laughed at their only sister,
but Mrs. Parker said that the little lady
should have her own way and that the boys
should be careful about SCATTERING beautiful
holiday illusions.
Mr.. Parker did not spend Christmas eve
with his family this year. He was superin-
tendent of a great city trolley system, and
there was a strike among the conductors and
motormen. He had discharged some EN-
ploye for incompetency; 1000 men struck In
sympathy with the workman. and insisted
that he should be restored to his position.
Serious trouble resulted. There was an UNI
precedented holiday blockade of traffic, and
there was a great deal of suffering among
employees, whose whole means Of living had
been cut off some weeks ago by order OF
their executive committee. Mr.. Parker was
uneasy and so was his wife, for threats had
been made against his life. but children were
too young to appreciate the difficulty OF the
situation.
1t was after Day awoke that she could not
go to sleep again. She had dreamed of Santa
Claus, and OF her big blue stocking filled
with everything her heart desired. And as
her eyes were staring wide into the dark
of the night. the happy visions OF her dreams
would not allow themselves to be dispelled.
Even to people much elder than she dreams
can be very real. You can almost touch
them.
Just then the cathedral clock down stairs
doomed 2. Then 1t occurred to Daisy that
Santa Claus always came by midnight. and
that he had been gone a long while.
IF / can only go down now without walk
ing them, I'll beat them ALL" thought Day.
Last year the boys had gotten ahead of
her in the annual morning rush for the
stockings. She had never yet won that
Christmas race. Now was hsr opportunity.
In their little cribs the children were sleep
ing near her in the same room. The big
boys were in the next room beyond, while
on the other side was their mothers room.
Day stepped out Of bed like a little mouse,
hardly daring to breathe. She had to go
through one OF the two rooms to get to the
hall. She chose the boys room. III they
had been awake they would have been fright
ened out of their wits to see a white ghost
fit In, hover over their beds, and fit out
again. Not a board creaked beneath the
chfld's bare steps. Wien at last she stood
in the upper hall, which was dimly lighted
by a lantern from below, she breathed RELIEF,
Not a soul had stirred, and she knew that a
march had been successfully stolen on her
brothers this time.
"They won't make fun of me any more
she whispered with a feeling Of satisfaction.
Now she almost felt like an explorer In
her own house. How new. how dark. and
strange, How adventuresome to be poking
about alone in the middle of Christmas night!
The child began to be much excited. but