Arizona republican., 1897-12-30
THE NEwsBOYS SANTA CLAUS.

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 "Do yer tink he'll come ternight?" asked a little Park Row newsboy of his companion.
 Do I tink who'll come ternight?" replied the second boy
 why, Santa Claus.'
 Say, what's der matter wid yer, anyhow? Is yer getting dopey? What do you tink Santa Claus ud be do 'ng down in Park Row. He'd get the grand ha ha if he come down here He only goes among der rich folks, up on der avnoos.'
 Well, he come here last year an took us ter der beanery an filled us all up wid pork and beans, an pie and coffee. Oh, I wish he'd come ter night. I'se awful hungry
 Oats jes like you, Petey; you's al ways hungry, an' besides dat feller wasn't Santa Claus He was a chap dat bet on der fbeef-an' horse at der races an made big wad Why, dat blokey had dough ter burn. an he wanted ter blow hisself I don't tink he'll come around again cause I guess he's broke-all dose race track fellers goes broke. It's jes as shooting craps ter get away wid fel- ler's dough-"
 'I'se awful cold Let's go an sit on der grating over der press room"
 fDere yer go again, Petey. I never seen feller like you. Yer can't stand nothing. If yer ain't hungry yer cold, an if yer ain't cold yer hungry. Come on. You can lay on der grating an I'll hustle round, an if I sell desc pOiperS we'll have some buns''
 A little later the boys met again on the grating.
 '1 tink Santa Claus'lI come sure ternight," said Petey.
 Come notting,' exclaimed the sec- ond boy; Ines got better graft den dis.''
 sT wish I was up in dose s.aTs Santa Claus lives up dere, an all der boys are warm an have plelty ter eat.''
 See here, Petey, dere yer go agin Yer gettin' daffy fer sure. Get a brace on yer an we'll go an buy some buns Pse sold me poipers and we'll cele- brate."
 T can't get up, Chimmy; something's der matter wid me. Ise sick and I guess I'se going to croak. Oh, I wish Santa Claus'd come"
 The second boy stopped down over his sick comrade, and just as he did so "a big policeman appeared on the scene and said:
 See here, get a move on you or I will fan your hidss You can't step here.'
 Oats all right, boss,' said Petey's chum, 'but Petey's sick an I guess yer'll have ter get der ambulance"
 The big policeman laid his hand gently on Petey's shoulder and tried to rouse him, but the boys eyes were closed, and he did not move.
 Just then a rough looking man clad i1 big ulster pushed his way through the little crowd that surrounded the sick newsboy ard asked what the trouble was.
 'fOh, Petey's caved in," exclaimed his chum. 'He to'ght dat Santa Claus would be down here ternight, an he didn't come. Dere amt no Santa Cl3ms. Dat feller dat treated us in der beanery las year was a race track feller. dat's a1l.''
 ''Who says there isn't a Santa Claus?" shouted the big man of you say that again I'll throw you down a manhole. I am Santa Claus, and don't you forget it.''
 Then stopping over Petey's prostrate form he tenderly picked him up in his arms, and, telling the rest of the boys to fall in line, he carried him in to the warm and cheerful little restau- rant short distance away The genial warmth of the room and few spoonfuls of hot coffee soon aroused Petey from his stupor and, looking trustfully up into the face of the man, he exclaimed:
 "I know'd Santa Claus'd come''
 The man stayed in the restaurant