The record-union., 1898-12-25
DOLLYS SECRET.
The Joke She Played on Santa
CIaus-A Christmas Story for
Children,
written for the Record Union, by Kitu
Spargur HulSel

| written for the Record-U Union, py hllue
| Spargur Hulse.)
Dolly told mamma a secret Papa
wanted very much to find out what 1T
was and tried in every way he could
think of TO surprise his little girl ipto
telling him. But it was of no use.
Dolly was only six years old, but she
could keep a secret. That is more than
many a girl much older than Dolly. can
do. Dolly, six years old, was the oldest
of the three children. Hal, nearly five,
came next, and after him came little
Ted, who had only seen two birthdays.
The children had all been sick and it
had not been long since they were able
to get out of bed, and run around and
/ play again. Dolly had been the sick
est and there had been days and nights
when papa and mamma watched over
her with sad faces; but Dolly had been
too sick to know 1t. She was getting
well fast though, and her cheeks were
growing rosy again.
| When Christmas eve came and the
stockings had been hung up and the
little boys were asleep in their bed,
Dolly crept out very quietly from her
own little crib and got into mamma s
bed. Papa was down town and would
not be home till late. go to. bed,
mamma, and don't sit up for me-" he
said ct seems very strange that so
many papas will stay out late on
Christmas eve) -
Mamma had moved her bed SO that
they could see into the sitting room,
There they had moved the lounge near
the stove and on table near was a
glass of wine and plate of cake.
Put lots in," said Dolly as mamma
poured few drops into the wine from
a small bottle. 1t held the medicine
that had been given to Dolly to make
her sleep when she was sick.
II think that will do" said mamma,
with smile.
Then they turned the lamp down and
went to bed.
Dolly was almost in a doze when she
heard sleighbells.
Did you hear it, mamma ?'' she whis-
pered
Lie down and be quiet" answered
mamma.
The bells stopped at the front door
and some one said, Whoa, there, now"
Soon the sitting-room door opened
Dolly held her breath while she peeped
out from under the clothes Sure
| enough it was Santa Claus himself
with a big fur cap on his white hair
and long white beard streaming down
over his overcoat. He wore smoked
glasses-so that the snow would not
| hurt his eyes, mamma said.
| On his back was a pack of toys. He
| took it off and Dolly heard him rattle
| great paper bag as he filled the stock
ings with candy and nuts and figs and
| oranges and everything that Dolly. liked
| best to eat, except chicken and fruit
| cake, and Of course he could not put
them into stockings
| She watched him as he put drum
| and a red sleigh and some books under
HaPs stocking, and train of cars and
| Jumping-jack and climbing monkey
| under baby Ted's. Then he came to
| her own stocking. He set a little rock
ing chair under her stocking and Dolly
| Saueezedshe mammals hand very hard
and said "Oh, my!' right out loud, but
/ Santa Claus didn't hear her-When he
put the loyeliest doll she ever saw right
/ into the chair.
The doll had brown eyes and real
yellow hair, and she wore pink satin
dress and kid slippers. He set a little
| table in front of the doll and put a
| set Of play dishes on it,
/ When he was done with the presents
he warmed his hands at the stove.
| Mice and warm in here he said in
a low voice, but the little girl heard
him, and she told papa next day that
Santa's voice sounded almost like his.
only she thought the poor old fellow
had a cold.
| Then Santa Claus saw the cake and
wine and the little note that said For
Santa Claus
We'll, I declare!'' he said and then
took off his gloves, sat down on the
lounge and ate the cake and drank
the wine. (Who could blame him for
drinking a bit of wine when the poor
old soul had to travel so far on such
a cold night0
In moment his head commenced
to nod. Then he lay down on the
1 lounge and snored
Now is your chance, dear" said
mamma, so Dolly slipped out of bed
and went softly up to the old man,
hardly daring to breathe for fear Of
waking him. She had her own little
scissors in her hand and-what do you
think she did? She cut off a lock of
his whiskers! Then she ran back to
bed as fast as her little feet could
carry her and laughed little to her
self with her head under the covers
SO Santa could pot hear t'' 49,
In a few moments the old fellow sat
up straight and looked around in sur
prise.
Where in the world am I?'' he said.
Then he remembered My goodness
/ wonder how long I've sleptr' he said,
and took out his watch. Then he put
! on his gloves and took up his pack
and rushed off. Get up, there!" they
heard him say. The bells jingled-and
! Santa Claus was gone for whole
year.
Then Dolly jumped out of bed and
danced and clapped her hands.
Isn't it good joke?" she said, and
mamma must have thought it was,
for she laughed a good deal herself.
She let Dolly go and look at her
presents and eat one piece of candy
| before she tucked hermit her crib and
! left her to go to sleep with her new
! doll in her arms
| Papa tried very hard, but he could
| not guess whose hair it was when
Dolly showed him the lock next morn
! ing, and would hardly believe her
when she told him about the joke she
played on Santa Claus
/ L wonder what Santa's wife
viii say when she sees that lock of
his whiskers is gomez" said papa with
| one of his funny locks at mamma.
| That made Dolly think. They say
that when Santa got home. Mrs. Santa
| Claus wanted to know how he lost
! that lock of his whiskers. He could