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

himself sat almost upon the stove, try
ing TO keep warm. Now and then he
poked the miserable fire into a mo-
mentazy flicker. His cheeks were 6ush-
ed in spite of the cold and his eyes
wore a look of expectancy. Mr.. Folan
had not yet come home from his work.
He must er got me letter" Johnny
was saying to himself, The must er. If
he was ter come now I'd hide me eyes
an not look at him. Me fader said
( he didn't like de kids ter see him.
Ders footstep comm up de court-no,
it's gone apast."
The candle guttered and flickered
and threatened to go out, so Johnny
trimmed it the best he could and while
he was engaged in his occupation, foot
steps again sounded in the street above.
They drew nearer and nearer and
! paused at the cellar door. Johnny was
GREATNESS. He was sure it was Santa
Claus, even before the three loud
knocks sounded on the door and the
voice called, Hey, Johnny Folan, look
out for Santa Claus" Then there was
smothered laugh and the footsteps
rapidly retreated. The laugh sounded
like a boys laugh, but the footsteps
were those of a man. When Johnny
had climbed the stairs and opened the
door, there was no one in sight up or
down the alley. A great market basket
stood on the sidewalk, close to the cell
lar door. Johnny grasped it eagerly
and tried to lift it. Then with much
difficulty the little fellow dragged it
down the stairs and pulled it within
the circle of light shed by the flicker
ing candle. His mother suddenly
reused herself and sat up.
What yer got there?" she muttered
! Something from Santa Claus, Nom,
replied the boy, delightedlY.
''Ough," grunted his mother. Shut
that door, will yer," and she turned
over and went to sleep again, leaving
Johnny to look through the contents of
the basket by himself. There was a
card tied to the handle. Johnny knew
his own name when he saw it in print,
and the card certainly read Johnny
Folan.' He lifted the cover and there,
first and foremost, was the tin whistle
SANITY is a good sort an don't yer
forgit it," exclaimed he, his meagre
face shining with delight. Wisht fader
was here an Skinny
Besides the whistle, were toys in
Vulnerable, for the postmaster never
did things by halves. Some of them
were entirely new to Johnny, he had
never seen them even in Blucher's win
dow. But they were wonderful and
beautiful to behold and he spread them
all out on the floor and sat looking at
them with his grimy little hands
clasped and eyes that beamed with
happiness. "a good sort an no mis-
take" he kept repeating. He was sit
ting thus when his father came in.
We'll watts up now, = Johnny" he
asked. where did them tings come
from, little un?" with a suspicious
glance at the toys.
SANITY Klaws, he brung EN-" re-
sponded the boy, proudly Il sent a.
letter an axed him TO guy me a Wissle.
an see what he's guy me. Amt he
the Jim dandy, dad? Ders more in de
basket, too Only 1 amt had time ter
look. Nom won't stir, dad as he saw
his father glance uneasily toward the
corner where she lay, she's fas'
asleep"
Then the two removed the remainder
of the baskets contents. They proved
to be many kinds of provisions. AT
the very bottom lay turkey with a
letter stuck in its bill. Johnny's father
took it. 1t was long time since he
had occasion to put his little stock of
learning to the test, and it came hard
to decipher the superscription on the
envelope, but he did it at last: Johnny
Folan, with Santa Claus love-" The