The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-01-02

right OF little girls 10 be out OF bed az
that hour. and as emphatically asserted
the superior right OF boys TO do so, wnicn
was strongly denied by the lareest
girl. who boldly contended that girls had
equal rights with the boys. Then the
boy propounded his difficulties 10 her.
She answered them for a while. but be-
ing cofneTed at last In the argument,
resorted TO the woman's last assertion;
We'll he gets there somehow Another
girl Insisted that they stop quarrcllns,
or Santa claus would take them an TOT
bad children and would not OH the STOCK
ings II he should hear the dispute. Inc
older boy then boldly proclaimed ms
skepticism as TO the existence OF santa
friend on the subject, TO which one OF
the girls Indignantly replied: Not be-
lleve in Santa Claus, Who mis- our
stockings. them" The boy replied that
his friend said he thought his father did.
and that ~ would be sure of 1t unless
be should see Santa Claus The clock
struck II. and the children all rushed
TO the fireplace and looked UP the CHM
ney to see him come down. but the OLD
gentleman suddenly appeared behind
them on a bicycle and asked them why
they looked up the chimney, Inc Sec.
ond boy said he always had thought that
Santa Claus came that way. whereupon
Santa explained that as people lived IN
such tall houses. II urea MS reindeer
too much 10 climb the walls. so he had
made a bike, and now got around mucn
more easily. one OF the boys enqulfed
what he had for them. and he said times
We're 50 hard al the North Pole that ne
had only been able TO get sugar and make
candy. one OF the little girls said that
all the children i'm the neghborhoOd were
coming. and there was not enough IN ms
bag. TO which he replied that the bulk
Of his gift had been sent by the North
Pole express and called his son. who also
appeared on a bicycle. and was ordered
to telephone 10 the express ofice for
two barrels. and reported having done
so.
While the stockings were being filed
an eXprcssman appeared rolling "a barrel
up, followed 10y "A colOred porter Win
another. From these 2S3 boxes OF candy
were given out 10 the classes as they
came up 10 the stage.
The director remarked that the num-
Der was somewhat in excess OF the names
on the roll. and expressed the nope that
he would see all the recipients at sunday
school next Sunday. the largest attend
ance there having been but 100 on any
one Sunday. and was about 10 dismiss
the audience. when Mr.. william \. Nc
GOwan. the senior teacher. appeared on
the stage ana began presentation
speech The present was that OF a fine
rocking chair 10 Father carne. but that
gentleman being wholly unconscious OF
any intention Of that sort, had LEFT the
stage. and was not aware Of the presen-
tatiOn until his attention WAS called To
the matter when he briefly returned hts
thanks for the compliment.
The actors who were Masters J. Car
wood OKeeffe and John Davis and
Misses May Shaughnessy Annie Dick
inson. and Annie Shaughnessy AS the
children Of the house. \. Walsh as Santa
Claus and James McDonough as his son,
and Messrs. Joseph II. b. Fremont and
Louis Ryan as the eXpressman and porter.
all performed their parts exceedingly
well. and the song, "Hurrah For Santa
Claus In the piece, was well rendered.
Everybody left AT . o'clock delighted
with the entertainment.