The Red Cloud chief., 1898-12-16

emily, but they were all marked ore
dollar and a half. and | have only
twenty i've cent pieces In my bank"
Bring me the BANK" said his moth
or. opening her p~ocketbook.
In another moment Archie stood be-
fore his mother rafting the colns in
the small tin box.
IF ! give you ten more hve-cent
pieces" said his mother, smiling, "how
much will you have then3"
"One hundred and nifty cents" cried
Archie. laughing aloud. MAY ! go and
buy tho sleigh nowY"
"Yes,' said his mother, but I want
some OF those lovely red berries | saw
In the wood yesterday. They would
look SO nice among the evergreens.
And besides. grandma and your aunts
love them 3d."
"I1l bring you n lot" said Archie.
In n few moments he was running
down the road toward Mr.. Dunkirk's
store.
As he passed n tiny cottage on the
way a very small boy pushed open the
window and shouted:
Santa Claus Is going to bring me q
sleigh tonight"
How do you know. Dlck9" asked
archie.
ELLEN told me so." said Dick.
Archie had never seen the little fell
lows face look so bright ami happy.
lie 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 a long time choosing his
sleigh. so when his selection was
made and he started off pennlless but
happy, dragging a wonderful red and
green sleigh after him. It was almost
dark.
AS he turned q corner suddenly HI
ran against n 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 homer"
IL can't bear to see Dick. I prom
ised him a sleigh and / spoiled a 10
OF silk today and have been dlsmisse,
from tho works without my week
pay" ~
She gave one look at Archie's new
sleigh and hid her face on tho fenc'
rail.
The tears were I'm Archic's eyes a
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 severa
moments, then. when the child left tn
window, he stole solely through tn
little garden and up the rickety steps
Then, fastening the rope Of his beauti
full new sleigh to the door knob, 4
gave three loud raps and ran away.
lie heard Dick open the door an
shout:
"Oh! oh! oh! See what SAINT
Claus has brought mel"
Suddenly Archie remembered tn
berries he had promised to bring HI
mother.
1T Is not dark yet" he said. 'and
know just where to find them" II
climbed the fence at the side Of III
road and went toward a thick clun
OF trees.
II was eight O'Clock on Christina
: Eve and at Archie's house his moth'
: stood ut the door looking white an
: frightened. His father, with a laI
tern In his hand, stood In the roa
Archie had not come home.
II have been to Mr.. Dunkirk's store
said Archie's father. "He left befoI
dark. Now ! will search the wood
r Some n shouted. Hello! hello
q hello!"
There he is now!" cried Archie
I mother. Il am SO glad!" and she ra
down the road toward the voice.
The first person they met was Ellie
pulling a beautiful new red and gree
h sleigh over the, smooth snow, and c