The Wichita tribune., 1898-12-24

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fGas4x%> full of sleighs,'
- - said Archie pres
emily. but they were all marked one
dollar and a half, and 1 have only
.Wenty five cent pieces in my bank"
Bring me the banfk,' said his moth
sr, opening her pocketbook.
In another moment Archie stood be-
fore his mother rattling the coins in
the small tin box.
"If l give you ten more fve-cent
pieces" said his mother, smiling, "hoW
much will you have then?"
"One hundred and fifty cents" cried
Archie, laughing aloud. May go and
buy the sleigh now?"
"Yes," said his mother, ''but I want
some OF those lovely red berries 1 saw
In the wood yesterday. They would
look SO nice among the eVergreens.
And besides, grandma and your aunts
love them So"
''I'll bring you lot," said Archie.
In a few moments he was running
down the road toward Mr. Dunkirk's
store.
AS he passed tiny cottage On the
way very small boy pushed open the
window and shouted:
Santa Claus is going to bring me
sleigh tonight"
How do you know, Dick?' asked
Archie.
ELLEN told me So" said Dick.
10
lows face look so bright and happy.
He knew that Dick lived alone with
his sister, who, though only Is years
old, worked hard all day long in the
big silk factory to support herself and
her brother. And as Archie walked
toward Mr.. Dunkirk's store he thought
a great deal of Dicks happy face.
Archie took long time choosing his
sleigh, so when his selection was
made and he started off penniless but
happy, dragging a wonderful red and
green sleigh after him, it was almost
dark.
AS he turned corner suddenly he
ran against a girl standing in the road.
1t was Dicks sister, and she was cry
ing.
what is the matter?" asked Archie.
"Why don't you go home?"
Il can't bear to see Dick. prom
ised him a sleigh and I spoiled a lot
Of silk today and have been dismissed
from the works without my weeks
pay"
She gave one look at Arches new
sleigh and hid her face on the fence
rail.
The tears we're in Archie's eyes as
he went on his way. When he reach
ed the little cottage he stood still be-
hind a great bush outside of the gate.
Little Dick was still peeping out Ar
chic watched the eager face for several
moments, then, when the child left the
window, he stole safet55-t = tlllraffgh the s
lite eng Tns rope of his beauti-
g sleigh to the door knob, ne
: I've - three loud raps and ran away.
He heard Dick open the door ana
shout:
"oh! oh! oh! See what Santa
Claus has brought me!'
Suddenly Archie remembered the
berries he had promised to bring his
mother.
"It is not dark yet" he said, "and l
know just where to find them. tie
climbed the fence at the side OF the
road and went toward a thick clump
Of trees.
It was eight o'clock on Christmas
Eve and at Archie's house his mother
stood at the door looking white and
frightened. His father, with a Ian
tern in his hand, stood in the road.
Archie had not come home.
Il have been to Mr.. Dunkirk's store"
said Archie's father. He left before
dark. Now 1 will search the wood"
Some one shouted, Hello! hello!
hello!''
There he is now" cried Archie's
mother. Il am so glad!' and she ran
down the road toward the voice.
The first person they met was Ellen,
pulling a beautiful new red and green
sleigh over the smooth snow, and on
it was little Dick, and Archie with his
arms full Of red berries.
ooh, where have you been?' said his
mother as he ran to meet her.
II went to the woods for some ber-
ries and my coat caught in a branch
and could not get it away. II it had
not been for Ellen I might have beer
hanging there yet"
How can I ever thank your sale
Archie's mother, turning to Ellen.
'I saw him go into the wood" re-
piled Ellen, "after he put this beauti
full sleigh on our doorstep for DICK
Then, when I heard he was lost, l fol
lowed and looked for him. l woult