The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-12-25

toys and candy on Christmas-at least
those of them whose fathers were well
off. Mr.. FOlan had never heard that
Re troubled himself 1.eecil about The
children of the poor.
Johnny treasured this information in
his mind and pondered upon it fire.
quently in the next ten days. On the
morning of the 23rd of December he ar
rived at a mighty determinations de-
termination that made him sally forth
bright and early in quest of friend
Skinny. He found this youth at last
seated upon a water butt, in Bickering
alley.
skinny he asked breathlessly,
does yer know how ter writer"
well, I guess, young un'," replied
Skinny, who had gone to a night school
quite regularly for two winters and
had now, according to his own and his
family's judgment, completed his edu-
cation. Wat yer want me ter write? ''
I wants. said Johnny, looking
anXiOusly about to see that no one was
near. Il wants ter write letter ter
ter" his voice sank into a whisper,
ter Sanity Klaws.
"Um,' was the response, "I'I do it
fer ye, kid, cause youse de kind er kid
likes
IL
1t was 4 o'clock on the same day that
the above recorded conversation took
place between Skinny and Johnny
Postmaster Herrick sat in his office,
talking to a friend who had dropped in.
What is it, Mr.. Jackson?" turning TO
a young man who, smilingly, ap-
preached him, you seem pleased about
something.
Look here. sir" replied he, read
this, and 1 fancy you'll smile too 1t
has just been handed to me by one of
the clerks" He held out to Mr. Her
rick a rude envelope made of brown
straw paper. It was soiIed and greasy
and the postmaster took il gingerly
between his thumb and forefinger and
looked at the superscription: To Mis-
ter Sanity Klaws-Nort Poal, he read.
and then drew forth a letter, whose
mussiness and uninviting appearance
was in perfect accord with the wrap
per. Dear Mister SANITY he continued.
aloud, 'mebbe axes TO much when /
axes yer TO guy me one of dem tin
wissels, like them in bluchers store
winder j never had a WHSLE an wants
one bad, these is painted red at the
bottom. lives on de groun fore of &c
Little Ease Court you goes down by de
seller dore to git to me house.
JOHNNY FOLAN'' b
Mr. Jackson and the postmaster's
friend laughed at this, but the post
master himself smiled rather gravely.
Poor little Johnny Folan," he said.
thoughtfully. Your letter hasn't mis-
carried"
We'll. Joe, I'll stop for you tonor-
row." and the postmaster's friend de-
parted, still chuckling.
When Mr.. Herrick went home that
evening, he showed Johnny's letter TO
his son Harry. Tt amused that Young
gentleman greatly. Such a queer docu-
ment; and then the idea of anybody's
believing in Santa Claus. Harry was
IA and had almost forgotten the time
when the jolly old saints identity was
as real as his own and pleased with
anything that promised diversion: so
when his father proposed that they
would play Santa Claus for Johnny
Folan's benefit, he readily fell in with
the idea and took a deep and practical
interest in carrying it out
III
1t was late on Christmas eve. The
one room occupied by the Folans was
very cold and very cherries. Mrs
Folan had been drinking hard all day
and now lay asleep in a corner. COW
cred by an old quilt that Johnny had
CONSIDERABLY ff1rOWrl over har Iob~n,x