The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-24

He is big boy, who acknowledges to
eight long winters, and is very wise. He
goes to school and can fight. She is a little
flaxen-haired midget of five, who stays at
home all day long, playing with little
flaxen-haired dolls. He is generally known
as Tommy but he makes her say Tom. He
prefers to call her simply sis" 1t is
Chritmas eve, and they are rocking before
the fire-rocking very hard and fast, in or
der if possible, to hurry old Father Time,
who has been trudging along with exas-
perating slowness of late. The broad chasm
of three years lies between brother and sis
ter; but there is a difference in the wisdom
the two possess of vastly greater signif-
canoe Tommy knows who Santa Claus is,
Sis does not; and, after all, is the one dis
tnct line of demarkation between infancy
and the grown-up state. That is the reason
he smiles patronizngly when he turns to
her and looks dubious and sad when
ever his eyes rest upon the glowing Goals.
That too, is why she laughs so merrily at
the fire and becomes vaguely troubled when
her eyes meet his-she is very ignorant but
she knows by instinct that Tommy is not
as happy as she.
"Ithnt it fine, Tom" she exclaims, hug
ging her doll into a shapeless mass of saw
dust
"You bet"' he responds, shifting his gaze
and smiling ardently.
when will he Gomez"
bout midnight" l guess"
"But when will midnight Gomez"
ooh, after while"
The midgets chair is dashed into furious
pace again, while she and Tommyrpeer into
the fire. .l,..
"Thay, Tom" she observes at length, 'did
you ever thee him."
Tommy looks wise. Course have"
"Honethed?"
Honest"
But Mary said she thaw him onct an
they ithn't any Sanity Clauth.''
Jaw, she don't know much"
How doth he look, Tom?"
Tom is a successful prevaricator, as a
rule, but it is always hard for him to lie to
Sis, because-he would never own it-but be-
cause she is so devotedly trustful and help
lessy innocent. SO he tries to divert her.
Listen he commands. "Wuzn't that
Il didn't hear EN- Doth he look like
papa" = Jfs'nos Y
guilt. Has Mary told her all? He resolves
to strike out boldly. Tommy is an unwit-
ting hero Mop he replies firmly, hes
but how can he climb down our chimb-
ley, then?" asks Sis, all uncOnvinced.
Listen! I'm most sure l hear sleigh
both listen intently. Tommy decides to
avoid her artless but pointed queries by vol
unteerlng an extravaganza or information.
He's a grea' big feller," he begins, with
a show of enthusiasm, with white whis-
kers an fur cap an boots, an hes got
reindeers, an they got bells, an he's goin'
to bring you
"Honethed?" she cries, clapping her hands
in ecstasy.
Tommy's enthusiasm wanes, but he per-
sists patiently. Yes, a doll buggy an a
little doll cradle"
But who told you, Tom?" she interrupts
him.
Tommy had searched the closet and the
bureau drawers that day, and knew
whereof he spoke, but. "Oh jst s'pose he
WILL he thinks best to tell her.
Gradually as he continues to elaborate
the tale, Tommy's spirits revive to the
point of eXuberance. He pictures Santa
Claus so wildly that the visionary midget
at his side begins to see the saints rudy
countenance and flowing beard among the
Goals in the fireplace. "Ithn't it fine," she
murmurs over and over until. under the
spell of his own eloquence. Tommy sees 1t,
too His faith returns, he believes the story
again-believeS it firmly for the time, no
matter If he did waken last Christmas eve
to discover his father filling the stockings,
no matter If he has seen to-day every pres
ent he and Sis will receive tomorrow. ST.
Nicholas Is his once more, and he goes on
ardenty. brokenly, slowly, drowsly-and
falls asleep at last before the fire. still NUT
tering fragments OF the story in his dreams.
Sis was sleeping pacidly long before But
they must both awake after while.
E. o. LAUGHLIN.