The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1898-12-24
A STOY FOR CHILDREN.
The Little Sisters of Santa Claus.


child l ever knew who could tell me
about it. | myself have lost the way to
Dream Country, and never can fad the
gate, though 1 sometimes wander past
the walls and catch a breath of the lily
fragrance, or the tinkle of the waterfall,
or the bubble of a chlld's laugh. So |
can tell you only what Margery has told
me, and what Margery saw ami heard.
Dream Country, but the air is filled
with beautiful radiance, bright as sun
shine, tender as moonlight, that falls
from great Star.
Little Sister Love came walking down
the lily path of the Dream Garden.
She WAS not much taller than Margery
herself, and wore gown of soft blue.
The light of the star was on her golden
hair The lilies whispered perfumes as
she passed by, and she paused mo-
ment to smile at them; then she took
Margery's hand IN hers, and they went
on, past the laughing waterfall, to
school. All the children were there,
in frilled white gowns and little bare
feet, though their mothers thought
Them tucked safely in cribs and trun-
dlebeds.
Now at the Dream School the chill
dren have no lessons to learn, but the
teachers tell Their, stories, one after an
other. Sister Love has the lttlest chill
dren of all. When they are older, Sis
ter Hope teaches them; then they pass
on into the classes of Sister Faith, and
Star.
Never before had such thing hap
pened at the Dream School. Sister
Love had seated herself in the midst of
the happy children, with tiny Isabel
OF her knee, and she begun her first
story, So
In far corher of the Dream Coun-
try. Santa Claus has his castle, all white
and shining, built of snow balls. Before
1t are wide: snow fields, where his rein
deer Craze. Tender little icicles grow
right up out of the ground; SO they can
nlbble them easily. Prancer is especl-
ally fond OF them"
All the children nodded and smiled
at one another, thinking of the pretty
reindeer,-al' but Teddy; he frowned
and cried out, very crosby" don't
believe there is any Santa Claus"
There was moment of dreadful ST.
lence; Sister Love looking very sorry,
and all the children listening breath
lcssly to hear what she would say. Sud-
denly smile came dancing into her
ewes. Come" she said, I'VE will 20
and see"
oh" cried all tie children, laugh
ing and clapping their hands together.
SO Sister Love led them away through
fields Of lovely flowers, across twinkling
brooks that sang to them, and beneath
great trees that murmured a greeting as
the children troopcd by, TIL he came to
a great gate, all made of icicles, that
shone in The light of the Star, purple
and pink and green and rOse-color. SO
that they cried out with joy at sight of
it. Sister Love laid her hand upon the
latch, and the gate swung open, all It's
beautiful lights flashing in rainbow
colors, and there before them were the
great snowfelds and the castle Of Santa
Claus
The funny little reindeer came trot-
ting to meet them, and let the children
Chamber upon their backs, and az they
went on, Dancer nibbled sIyly at the
roses Margery carried When they were
quite near the castle the door suddenly
flew open, and the children all caught
their breath, for Santa Claus himself
stood before them-their own dear San
ia Clans
Come in come in - he cried, tax
ing Sister Love BY the hand, and they
all went tlocking into a great white hall,
that WAS wrrathed with green's.
What wonderful things they saw in
Santa Claus castle,--one great room
after another, and all filled with toys
But presently Margery crept closer to
SIsltE Love, anu W iils pciCh u cLiu'Ouo't
" There isn't single doll -
Dolls ?" cried Santa Claus. ''Of
course not. The dolls are in bed"
Then he led them INTO a great garden,
where ali the little girls clapped their
hands and cried out: "Oh, dear Mr..
Santa Claus :" for the trim garden beds
were filled with growing do!lies,-some
whose tiny heads were just peepins
above the ground, and others nearly
full-grown, with curling hair and beau
tifuI eyes. All the authenticated dolls
were on one side OF the patti, and the
dark barred ones on the other.
The soil is different" Santa Claus
explained, when Margery asked him
about it. Then it i partly the wsv l
water them. If want them to have
dark hair. water them With rain drops:
il | want it golden, | shower them with
snow flakes"
Thank Won" said Margerv. q
am 50 glad to know. Do dolls mind be
Ing cold ~
NO; but there's one thing that
makes them suffer very much," be said.
looking around to SEE if little Ruth were
listening; - il = bling too warm. There
was IA dol NEE. i rInctss Edith Was
her nAIne.-hcr mother left her by the
fire tie poor iuI-me!ted Melting."