The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-12-25

| That's what mamma said she s'posed, -
| with little sigh. "But course he
| couldn't" with n half laugh. santa
| Claus has too much 10 do Christmas Eve
20 be takin trips"
'tAnd he doesn't travel by rail" some
| ono suggested.
Course he doesn't" with enthusiasm.
Gle goes kitin' along with his reindeer.
| scootn' over the roofs and down the
| chimlcys-my! But" with another sigh,
81 don't know how he'll find me!'
where did you expect him.
"Oh. to granipa's. were goin' there
And l 'spectod to hang mp my stockin
there. And j wonder what Sautan think
when he goes down the chimlcy and
doesn't nnl my stOckin'? DO you s. pose,
with a little anxiety. "he'd so back 20 our
old house where we lived before papa
died. 'specting to find AS there?'
"No. think not Santa Claus keeps
track OF his children, you know
Il guess So" Frightening up, ANA ne
knows me He's brought me things on
dozens Of Christmases.
"Then I guess he'll be likely to ma
you somewhere
small face as keen investigation OF
the face Of the person offering such
comforting opinions !scemed TO reach
results satisfactorily
"If you're sure ne wouldn't forget
though ne 8 got such millions and mil
lions Of places to go 20. Her think II
strange 1 amt there Mt eranopa's WITH
my st0ckin Well With another
sigh. IL hope he'll get 10 undorstaad
some way; and ] hope he'll know was
good. and didn't bother mamma When
she said we couldn't get there. for all
I wanted to awful bad" There was
choke i'm the high pitched voice.
The porter now anne 20 mako up the
berths. and mamma led &c boy 10 another
seat For awhile the clear eyes watched
with a pleased admiration all the ar
rangement of the "cunnig little berths.'
Then mamma dew him into her arms,
and as the quiet az the approaching
sleep fell on him, talked softly of the
Christmas Eve eighteen hundred years
ago. when quiet shepherds watched their
nOcks. with the clear heavens above and
the star leading 10 the cradle of the
child for whose sake We love TO make
Christmas time Of rejoicing for child
rem Inside the curtains of the berth
the pillows for mother and child We're
laid at opposite ends I'm order TO give
moro room, so that the expression of
pleasure in the pretty curtain" mice
a mixture of delighted gggles, was still
easily audible
The next man behind. coming TO his
berth a short time later stopped with
a stare of surprise. and then met with
n smile the smile of tho lady aross the /
aisle as she nodded toward the curtains |
which closed outside the boy who had |
missed a visit from Santa Claus. Upon |
the button Of the drapery hung a small |
stocking.
Others paused on passing and others |
came on hearing Of IT, so that before |
long every one in that sleeper had seen |
the little Christmas stocking. In the |
subdued light there may have been tears |
mingled with the smiles with which il |
was rendered by those who. by force OF |
were not gathering by |
stocking-deked Preside; from those whose
life had lost the music made by little |
feet. perhaps sadder by those who had
wandered far from home joys and home
purity
"A poor place for that sort Of thing.
I'm afraid" said the next behind 10 the
lady across.
Perhaps not so bad as one might
hink' was her answer. She had opened |
4 lunch basket. and Just as the man.
after fumbling I'm his pocket. dropped
a silver dollar In the toe Of the stock
ng, drew out a box Of candy. which
followed the dollar.
Look there" -Four school girls on |
heir way home for the holidays caught
sight Of what was going on. well. il
sn't often you see a Christmas stocking |
IN It's travels We must scrape up some
hing for IT,"
A doll was hastily made up of two or |
hrco silk handkerchiefs and crowded i'm. |
accompanied by nuts and candies from |
unch baskets. A boy further down made |