The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-12-12
0riainal gtorp.
ACHRIETMAS STORY OF TWO CHILDREN
Written for the Democratic Advocate,
BY LIZZIE B. sHRIvER.

from Philadelphia They had been to the
big city once when they paid visit to
Aunt Clara, who took them all around,
showing them so much that they were lost
in wonder. They thought it must be the
whole world, for it was ever and ever so
much larger than their town, and, as to
stores, why 'Kerling's' in Camelford was
nowhere. Toy stores, candy and book
stores were their delight. But when Aunt
Clara took them down Chestnut street to
see ''Kris' their joy was unbounded.
They then knew for certain there was a
Kris Kringle, for ''guess hadn't they
both seen him walking about in big
store, and hadn't they been in the stores
where he got all his presents for good boys
and girls p
Well, that very Christmas 'tKris'
brought Fannie ''the very same doll and
set of dishes she saw in the store where he
was, while Eddie had his wish, too, and
good old ''Santa" must have heard him,
for on Christmas morning when he awak-
ened the first things his eyes rested on
were the Every same pair of skates and
game of ten pins that he so craved. Yes,
''Kris' heard them and was so good, for
he brought them just what they wanted.
That was a merry holiday season, and
our dear little friends often thought and
spoke of it when home at Camelford.
Dear little innocent children 1t was
the last bright Christmas of their childhood,
for the demon rum had gained strong
foothold with their poor father.
Mr. Tompkins was very worldly man,
belonging to several clubs, and gradually
the wine cup alluerd him from home and
loved ones. He became careless about his
business and SO cross that very often his
dear, loving wife had to shield her little
ones, as their merry voices seemed to en-
rage him when under the influence of
liquor. Once dear little Eddie saw his
father fall, while coming to his home,
and the little fellow, thinking ''to help
papa," ran to pick up his hat and help
him to rise, but received only curses and
blow. When Eddie reached home he
went quietly up to his sisters room and
poured out all his trouble to her. They
both cried bitterly and did not know what
to do to help dear mamma They both
saw and knew it was grieving that dear
parent, for she so often had the headache
and cried SO.
But our good, kind Heavenly Father
was watching over his loved ones One
night Mr.. Tompkins, with some of his So
called friends, had been to political meet
ing and on the way home stopped in at
several taverns. At the last they got into
a quarrel and the man who sold the vile
poison was putting Mr. Tompkins out into
the street when he fell and injured him
self so that the next day he died, and his
poor, patient wife and children were left
alone and penniless. Kind friends came
to their assistance and they were able to
keep together.
Christmas was once more drawing near
and Eddie and Fannie often thought and
talked of their holiday at Aunt Clara's
two years before, and of good kris Krin-
gle,' and wished they lived in Philadel-
phia, so they could ''see the good old man
again, and tell their wants to him. So
one day Fannie said, II do believe if we
could get letter to that dear old man it
would be all right. Eddie believed so
too. Finally they thought of an old col
ored woman living near them. They were
sure she could write, for they had seen her
put letter in the postofice. So off they
started
Aunty Beck was kind, jolly old soul,
and entered into their plan at once. Yes,
indeed, she could write, aud if they would
tell her what to say they should soon have
letter for ''Kris. They only had
piece of brown wrapping paper, but Aunty
Beck said that was just the thing. She
heard her ''young Missus' say colored
paper was fashionable. Besides, sit would
not show the dirt So she sat at the
table, with Eddie on one side and Fannie
on the other, and this is their letter
To Mr. Kris Kringle, in Philadelphia
Dear Mr.. Kris We are called
Eddie and Fannie Tompkins. We live at
Camelford We saw you once when we
went to Aunt Clara S, in Philadelphia, and
you heard what we wished for and were
SO kind as to send us just what we wanted.
You used to come to our house, too, but
that was when papa was agood, kind papa.
But he used to get drunk after that and
beat us. Then he was killed, and now
dear mamma has to work to take care Of
US We are very poor. We wish you
would come to our house this Christmas
and help to cheer dear mamma up, and
bring her some -four and meat, oh, and
some wood SO she can be warm and not
cough SO much We would like lots OF
things too, hut it would take lots Of money,
so if you viii only give mamma these nice
things we will do without and thank you
ever SO much. We cannot write, so Aunty
Beck is writing for us. Couldn't you
bring her little candy or something for
being so kind to us? No more from your
little friends,
Eddie and Fannie Tompkins.
The letter was directed and taken to the
postofice. Here a good woman, whose
little girl had gone to heaven, noticed the
strange address, and thinking she would
like to take Kris place to some ones lit
tie one, opened and read the letter. She
wept when she saw how self-sacrifcing
these dear little children were and how
they loved their mamma. She found out
where they lived and visited them, and
whilst talking with their mother found she
was an old schoolmate Of hers and the
daughter of the good clergyman of their
native town. Seeing how needy they
really were she sent all and more than had
been asked for in the letter, 50 that Eddie
and Fannie were sure their letter had gone
right to dear Mr. Kris Kringle -
Aunty Beck also believed it and often
used to tell her grandchildren about Mr..
Eddie and Miss Fannie's letter to kris
Kringle
Pi.ilddelol.ia. Pa.