Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-12-22
MR.. S. CLAUS;
Or, the Queer Thing That Happened TO
Dick on Christmas Eve.

Dick on Christmas Eve.
Dick Sniffer sat in a chair before the
fireplace in the library gazing at his limp
stocking which hung from the mantlepiece.
Dick was an only child, and matter of
fact young gentleman, who declared there
were no such things as fairies and openly
scoffed at the idea of Santa Claus coming
down the chimney, and, in fact, he even
went so far as to express doubts of the ex-
istence of the iovial st. Nick.
The doorbell had been rung several
times while they were all at dinner, and
each time Mrs. Sniffer had said to the
waitress, "If it's bundle take it up stairs
and leave it in my room, Mary"
And now, as Dick sat before the as yet
empty stocking, he could hear his parents
moving about up stairs, and he could hear,
too, great rafting of stiff brown paper
and the creaking and grooming that told of
the wrenching open of heavy cases and
boxes. And now and then Dick would
catch a word or two, such as Isn't it love-
lyF' and Won't Dick be pleased with
thatl" which was very tantalizing and very
trying to boys patience.
Once Dick heard something fall with a
steely crash.
"Jimminyl" exclaimed Dick CHATS
a
| in his chair and gazed incredulously at the
narrow opening above the CRATE.
Dollars to doughnuts," he muttered,
THAT if / ask the folks tomorrow who gave
me skates they'll say Santa Claus came
down the chimney and left 'em for me.
| Jes' as if didn't know that there wasn't
any such a personl It's jes' papa and
mamma that gives you everything. They
ought TO know that they can't fool me with
any baby talk about Santa Claus"
Dick went to the window, and, pressing
his nose against the pane, he tried to make
out what the weather was like. The white,
unbroken snow lay waist deep over the
| road and the meadows beyond, and now
and then furry of flakes blown against
the glass told Dick that the storm had not
altogether ceased, though the moon was
trying its best to escape from the hurrying,
enveloping clouds. Then Dick went back
to his chair. 1t was past his bedtime. but
his engrossed parents had forgotten to re-
mind him of the fact. Even the delightful
speculation as to what was likely to find its
way into his stocking could not prevent
Dick from yawning several times, and by
and by, with no other sound audible but
the quiet ticking of the old grandfather
clock in the corner, Dick began to nod and
|
at the slamming of door or a suspicious
noise from above stairs. Suddenly Dick
was aroused to a thorough consciousness by
the faint tinkling of sleigh bells, which
seemed to be growing louder and clearer
with each second. Now, Dicks home was
quite way from the village and on a most
unfrequented road, so he was curious Il
see who might be travelling by at that time
of night. Running noiselessly out into the
hall he picked up his cap and muller, anC
in a trice he had slipped out of the from
door, closing it softly behind him.
Il had stopped showing and the moor
was shining out gloriously over the whit
ened landscape. Strange to say the all
felt almost balmy. As Dick reached thu
front gate, which opened on the road, h
caught sight of fat little horse trottin[
along before small, low sleigh, and seated
in it, all alone, was a funny fat little ole
man. He seemed strangely familiar t.
Dick, though the boy could not remembe
whether he had ever seen him before o
had Just seen his picture. At almost tn
same instant the funny old man caugh
sight of Dick, for he called out a cheer,
''Hallo therel" and, drawing rein, he threw
back the lap robe and clambered laborious
ly from the sleigh. He had the merriest
brightest pair of eyes Dick had ever seen
and his round little nose reminded the bo
of crab apple, it was so red and shiny.
"Why, my boy, glad to meet you'll" h
cried, cheerily. always glad to meet
boy, and most boys" he added with
} chuckle, "are glad to meet me-"
! AS though this last needed explanation
the old gentleman thrust mittened han
r deep in a capacious pocket and fished out
card. 1t was an absurdly large card for {
Q small man-about the size of an ordinar
! envelope. He handed it to Dick, and ii
q astonished boy read, 'Mr. S. Claus, (
1 Toytown."
( "Why-why, you're not really, trul
: Santa Claus, are youp cried Dick, with
= fast beating heart.
"To be sure ami" was the repl
!, "And now perhaps you can tell me som
" thing" Santa Claus went on. II ha'
v just heard Of a boy who lives near he
.. J who says he does not believe there is Al