The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-12-22

dren" (shc called thom). with motherly
condccscnsiun. And the family hung up
their stockings by the great library fire
place Christmas eve. Strangely enough
neither MI. Parker nor the children were
ever satisfied To hang up the.. own
stockings. and they always borrowed
onr apiece from mother. Days was n
tremendous t"nE blue silk stocking. with
yellow clocks on il. and she hung il
nearest to the Smouldcring cmbcrS by
the chimney, because she wanted Santa
Claus IN i'll hers first The two biz
boys played football and knew how to
skate. and they said that there wasn't
no Santa Claus and that there never
was any !iut Day ana the children
knew too much To subscribe to any such
bad grammar rs that
Where were 'Pranccr and Vixen" and
the reindeer sleigh? And Santa Claus
with his rcd checks and white fur over
coat. surmountcd by pack of TOYS?
should he allowed 10 burn low in order
that Santa Claus Nigh, not get slngcd
coming d"wn the chimney
The big boys laughed At their only
sister; hut Mrs. Parker said that the
little lady should have her own way
ana that the boys should be- caIsiul
about shaitering beautiful holiday illu,
yiUns.
Mr. Parker did not spend Christmas
ov" with his family this year. He was
superintendent OF IL great city trolley
system and there was strike among
Tie conductors and moturmen. He had
discharged some cmployc for incom Pc
tcncS: Il thousand men struck in SYM
PATTY with the workman. and insisted
that lie should be restored TO his posi-
tiO;l. Serious trouble resulted There
was an Unprecedented holiday blockade
of traffic ana there WAS Il great deal ~
suffering among employees whose whole
means OF living had been cut off some
weeks ago 10y order OF their executive
committee. Mr.. Parker was uneasy and
50 was his wife. for threats had been
made against his life: but the children
were too young to appreciate the diff
Guilty of the situation.
1t was after Day awokc that she
could not so to sleep again. She had
dreamed ur santa Claus, ana Of her bic
blue stocking filled with everything her
heart desired. And as her eyes was
staring wide into the dark Of the night
the hapry visions of her dreams would
not allow themselves to hc dispcllcd.
Even 10 people much older than she
dreams can bc very real, You can al
most touch them.
Just then the Cathedral clock down
stairs doomed two. Then il occurred To
Daisy that Santa Claus always came
by midnight. and that he had been
gone long while.
II ! can Only So utN ~ HOW, VII IL
out waking them. I'll beat them ALL"
thought Daisy. Last year the boys
had gott ahead Of her in the annual
morning rush for the stockings. She
had never yet won that Christmas race
Now was her opportunity.
In their little cribs IN. children were
sleeping near her IN the same room The
big boys were IN the next room be-
yond: while on the other side was their
mothers room. Day stepped out OF he'd
Ike a little mouse hardly daring 10
h"enthc She had to go through one
of the two rooms to get TO the hall She
chose thu boys room. II they had
been awake they would have been
frightened ont of their wits to see n
white ghost fit in. hover over their
bctls ana fit out again. Not a beard
creaked t.n"ath the chiid's bare steps
When ~ asst she STOOD in the upper
hall, that - dimly lighted by Ian
tern from t,row. she brcathcd relief
Not n soul had stirred. and she knew
that n march had ben successfully
stoien on her brothers this time.
They won't make fun of me any
more" sh" whispered with feeling or
satisfaction. =.