The Advocate and news., 1898-12-28

CLAUS thought a minute or two and
then laughed.
"How can you make me a fairy? I
am so large he asked.
"'That is all right. VIII you be one?
the queen said.
"'Well, / guess so. I've nothing 10 do
here and I'd like to help you
"'All right, then. Shut your eyes and
I will turn you into fairy The queen
repeated a fairy song and waved her
magic wand over old Claus. Claus felt
a little tingling all over him and could
feel himself growing smaller. At last
the fairy told him to open his eyes and
when he did so he found himself as little
as she was, and his old clothes changed
into nice warm ones with fur trimmings.
"And there stood the prettiest little
sleigh, with six reindeer to pull 1t.
"'And now said the fairy, you can
drive me home. The reindeer know where
to go. l will tell you what you are to
do You are to make the children hap
py; and in your house there Is room
where you are to make wagons and
drums and dolls and candles for them.
Are you satisfled?'
"'Ha! Ha! Ha! l should say so.
is 1t really me, or am / somebody else?'
"The fairy laughed merrily and said:
"Why, Claus! Don't you know your
self? The very idea!'
"'Yes, / believe it's myself feel so
happy l guess I'll always be jolly now,
won't ~
"'Yes, you are going to be happy all
the rest Of the time, and nothing will
trouble you any more. But here we are
at home now That palace yOnder Is my
home. and the big building on this side
is yours. You will have time to load
your sleigh before dark and then you
must go the world over and leave pres
ents to every little child you can find
Here is the list of names. Go, before It
is too late. But, stop. You must be back
just as the first streak of dawn appears
or you will be lost. This is Christmas
eve and you will have lots to do Good
night
"Santa Claus ran in the house after
he saw that his reindeers were fed, and
looked around in amazement. There were
toys of every description everywhere.
He rubbed his hands together and
laughed heartily.
"'Well! Well! Queen Beautiful is
surely going to give me plenty to do
But it's all right. It will be fine sport
for me. How I will make the children
smile. They'll wake up in the morning
and be so happy and surprised. Well,
here goes
''He called the fairies who were to
help him and they soon had the sleigh
packed Then he jumped in, cracked his
whip and off they went through the air,
over mountaines and valleys, and every
where child lived he stopped and rus.
tied down the chimney and left pres
ent
"He was gone all night, and just as
dawn appeared in the east he drove up tG
his door, tired but happy old man.
Next morning all the boys and girls
were surprised and such shouting and
clapping of hands! They were wild with
joy and many were the letters old Santie
Claus got that day, thanking him for the
beautiful things he had brought them.
"Now, tomorrow will be Christmas
and tonight will be Christmas eve. Old
Santa will be around tonight and per-
haps he will find a nice, big dollie for
Marjorie. Won't that be fine?" Amy
said, looking down into the big blue eyes
which were fixed so intently on hers.
"'Ess, that's a pity story. Me tell it
to mamma sometime"
Amy thought Marjorie could be left
to herself while she finished the work,
so she gave her a book and few toys
and left her
Marjorie played by herself for awhile
and seemed contented, but before long
she became restless, and tucking the book
under her arm she said:
''Me go tell mamma the boOtiful story.
She be glad to hear it."
Quietly opening the door she made