The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1897-12-24

words as he brushed away tear:
IAN ter think she didn't offer me q
thing. Hits too bad"
The pretty lady smiled to herself,
while Sambo walked back into the
house and told Johnny and Josie
what had happened.
When night came the children
gathered around the large opon fire.
place to watch for "ole Santa"
while nanny sat back in the cor
ner patching, and sigh would fire.
quently escape from her lips, as she
thought how great her children's
disappointment would be. Sambo's
happy voice sounded above the
others. He was relating story of
a big fat mammy-woman who had
five little black children. One night
old Santa Clause came and carried
one little child off with him, and the
little child turned into a billy-goat.
Each Christmas that little goat
would bring old Santa back to see
his nanny, and oh, at the nice
things the good old man would
bring.
II wish I'd er been datgoat," said
Josie, eagerly. But Sambo frowned
and said "Fer shame, gal, doan
you know dat a gal couldn't turn
into a billy-goat. l wuz dat goat
myself" And he shook his head
proudly.
Presently loud noise was heard.
1t was only dead limb falling from
the large oak tree in front of the
door, but the children sat very still
for moment. Then Sambo spoke.
"Dar now, tole yer he wus er COM
ing!" And Josie stopped down and
looked up the chimney, then started,
sprang up and cried: "Dar he am,
l dun an seed one foot er comm
down de chimbley!"
Thew sat very still. One by one
each little head dropped over, until
all were fast asleep. When the
morning came, the children saw
their stockings banging just as they
had left them the night before. Yes,
certainly, there was something in
each little red sock. A tea cake!
"Oh nanny, is dis all he brung?"
cried Sambo, holding the cake
above his little woody head.
"Sambo, honey" said Mandy in
choked voice, che haint been hyah.
Yo' nanny dun an put dat cake in
dar. OATS all she had, but doan cry
honey, he might come ter-night."
The children ate their cakes in
silence; but at noon, when they saw
the delicious dinner Mandie had
prepared, their spirits revived. In
the center of the table was large
turkey; then there were pickles,
preserves, custards and incest of all,
a large fruit cake that had been sent
from "old mistiss' house. After
dinner they played in the snow aud
when the darkness began to steal
upon them, they went back into the
cabin, much refreshed over their
game.
Nanny" said Sambo, as he
worked his toes ont ut the end of
his shoes "does you bermember dem
tales you used to tell US bout
bout"
Hush, chillun, what dat hyah?
Sho's IN libin' / heered somebody
! knock atdat do" said nanny, as
: she lifted her hand in reproof Sure
enough there was knock, another
; one, and before Mandie had time to
speak, the door was thrown open
; and outside there stood young
: man in a long gray over-coat and
fur cap, and young lady with red
shawl around her and white hood
, rover her head. In their arms were
l numbers OF parcels, while on the
: doorstep were three large boxes. "a
! Dress my soul, Johnny,N muir.
. INJURED Josie. II does bleeVe it's
!, Gawd an all his angels,'
Johnny had crawled under the
. bed, while Sambo, anxious to see
! the new corners, had climbed on tor
i Of the eating table ana stood with
his hands in his pockets, looking on
in wonder.
"Come in, good foxes, come in
9 fer l does bleeve deogood Lawd hal
= sent you hyah. 1 jls tell ye chillun
a Continued to Sfyth pappl