Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1898-12-23
MR.. AND MRS. SANTA CLAUS.

They Gave Last Year TO some New
York Boys and Girls at a Home In
FIFTH Avenue.
One morning, ten or twelve days before
Christmas several of Uncle Sans letter
carriers looked very much amused as they
made their first delivery for the day.
Each had in his bundle of letters a num-
Der of large, square envelopes addressed to
certain masters and misses who had never
before received letters by mail.
Curious envelopes they were, too. Some
were made of brown paper, such as is used
to wrap parcels in some were of glazed
blue and yellow and pink and green paper,
such as horns of plenty and candy boxes
are made of, and some were made of crepe
paper, like that from which flowers and
fancy bags and other ornamental articles
are formed. Each bore in the upper left
corner of the address side the picture of a
long, black stocking, with an oblong white
patch across it near the top. On this patch
was daintily written the name of the small
lady or gentleman given in the regular ad
dress on the envelope. Above the stock
ing, in the extreme corner, was a part of
the face, including one eye, of Santa Claus.
The address was written in a rugged,
Jolly looking hand that seemed to radiate
a Christmas atmosphere; at least every child
who was presented with letter immedi
ately asked the postman if it was from
Santa Claus, and every time the postman
replied
"Why, Of course it is Don't you see his
crest in the cornerh
Here Was Puzzle.
Inside this teltale envelope was an invi-
taton, clear in all respects but two. Every
body had always supposed Santa Claus was
a bachelor, and here he was sending out
invitations that said Mr. and Mrs. Santa
Claus would be lat home on the evening
of Dec. "a, 1897, at No. Fifth avenue,
where they would be pleased TO entertain
their young friends from s o'clock until /.
Mrs. Santa Claus Huh With millions
of boys and girls all over the world to make
him happy once year any way, what did
he go and get Mrs. Santa Claus fori
One bright toy said it might be his
mother, for, of course, he had mother,
and she would he Mrs. Santa Claus, Just as
much as a wife, and maybe more. The
boys were all willing to drop the subject Of
the Mrs on this suggestion, but the girls
were more tenacious, and every now and
then reverted to 1t with wonderings if she
would prove to be old or young Mrs. Santa
Another Mystery.
And here was another mystery. The
invitations also asked that an acceptance
be signified by each boy and girl sending
one Of his or her stockings, with the name
of the sender plainly written and securely
attached to the stocking, Just as seen in the
picture on the envelope Santa must be
getting very old if he could no longer come
to their homes and look after their Christ
mas stockings. Well, perhaps for once
they could catch him filling them, and so
every boy and girl that received an invi a.
ton sent a stocking in reply.
On Christmas Eve at eight. o'clock the
front parlor of No. - Fifth avenue, was
filled with happy, excited young ladies and
gentlemen ranging in age all the way from
six to twelve years. And 1t is only fair TO
state that they were attended in some in
stances by much older ladies and gentle.
men, who confessed 70 equal curiosity as 10
Mrs. Santa and the stockings Through
the folding doors which separated the front
and back parlors came suspicious sounds.
like the snorting aud stamping of animals
and the juggling of sleigh bells and there
were whispers and low voices heard too
After all they we're going 20 be cheated
out of seeing Santa Claus fill the stockings
just as gloom seemed imminent there
ring of hoofs and several "Whoas" and IN
a moment the folding doors glided back to
disclose this picture:
sight TO Behold.
The lights were turned very low. On
platform, about two feet high and extend
ing across the back of the room, was
beautiful lodge or cabin, open across its en-
tire front. 1t was made of evergreens,
and its roof was matched with straw. A
large chimney was in the centre of the
roof, and just below it in the cabin was an
old-fashioned fireplace, in which there
seemed to be bed of dying Goals. Old
fashioned candlesticks, containing lighted
candles, were on the mantlepiece All
around the interior walls of the lodge
were hung stockings of all sizes and colors
full stockings, too-each with its white
patch across he front Here and there.
on the floor, were bicycles, with stockings
on the handle bars: elephants of goodlv
size with stockings on their trunks. and a
hobby horse that mad the usual four legs.
which could not, of course, be put into one
stocking, had his tail thrust into it, much
to the delight of the guests. In fact such
gifts as were too large for their receptacles
were decorated with them in some fantas-
tic way.
On chair back hung a number of empty
stockings, which at once put hope again
into young bosoms. noise was heard at
one side of the hut, and there was Santa
Claus lifting pack of toys from sleigh.
Loud clapping of the hands and merry
voices greeted him; but never a sign made
he till he had climbed up the back of the
lodge to the chimney, down which he pres
emily appeared TO slip. At all events in