Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1899-12-21
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Santa Claus ives driving post-haste
through the streets. There were
mar nseple anu Sfro. but
no one saw him. Large sfeathery
snow flakes obsoared histsleigh, aud
his eight reindeer were speeding
along as silently as fell the snow-
iiakes. Thore were no dolls or
skates or sleds or toys Of any kind
in his sleigh, because he had just
finished filling the ohildrsn's stock
ings. 535s
Now he had other work to do. So
he gave low whistle to hisreindeer,
and guided them down narrow
street to a stable. The hostlers were
asleep. Santa Claus glided past
them into the stalls and quickly
heightened the halters of the horses
SO that they could lie down and rest
thoir tired legs. fastening from
table to stable he went to the har-
ness rooms and let out the check
reins, and took away some of the
oruel bits, leaving other bits in their
place. iie put sugar and apples into
the managers, and he gave a double
quantity Of apples to the docked
horses, at the same time saying /:
"Poor creatures, Pm going to put a
stop to this cruel business of cutting
off your beautiful tails"
f., Then jumping into his sleigh he
drove to another part of the city,
where he found lame aid sick horses.
Taking off his fur mittens he rubboIs
the poor animals stiff and aching
legs with liniment, and filled the
empty managers with hay and oats,
and in jiffy he mendea all tho
loose binders he could find. In an
old tumble-dow shed he spiod a
CALLED mule shivering with the cold.
Quick rs flash Santa Claus put a
blanket on the half-frozen animal,
gave it bundle of hay, and nailed
boards over the holes in the shed.
AS this good-hearted friend rode
from place to place he, threw a
blanket over every horse that stood
exposed 70 the snow storm in tho
streets, and he threw food to all the
stray cats and dogs.
In every house he gave seed and
water to the neglected canaries and
fresh water to the gold fishes.
The sparrows roosting under tho
caves of the buildings, and the pig
cons and doves in the church towers
took their heads from under their
wings and saw this merry old elf
flying through the air as he threw a
shower of grain TO the birds, and in
the twinkling of an eye was out Of
sight.
Then on he fled 10 the country
farm-yards where he surprised the
sleeping horses with apples and
sugar, and the cattle and sheep with
chopped pumpkins and supply of
rock salt. To the pigs he gave long
ears of yellow corn, and he flung q
shower of grain to the hens, ducks,
turkeys, geese and guinea-fowls.
Having finished his Christmas
round with the domestic animals,
Santa gave long, slrill whistle, and
away he sped to the woods, where he
found the owls wide awake, watch
ing for him.
"Merry Christmas, my wise
friends," cried Santa, tossing pack
ages of meat up into the trees.
"Tu-whit, tu-who, merry Christ
mas to YOU" sang back the owls
from far and near.
Santa had been very shy while in
the city and around the wards,
but when he reached the wood he
felt perfectly at home. Thelo many
animals were waiting for him. The
woods were all aglare with bright
eyes, watching for the jolly little
man and his reindeer. There was a
rustling of little feet, and suddenly
a troop Of rabbits and woodchucks
appeared close up to Santa Claus
sleigh, standing on their hind legs to
receive heads of cabbage and celery.
The squirrels and chipmunks were
fast asleep, the weather being too
cold for them to be ont of their
nests but kind old Santa dropped
nuts into the hollow trees, a happy
surprise for the little animals.
All the birds were ready for their
Christmas dinners, nor did Santa
Claus even forget the wild bees.
They all wished Santa Claus q merry
Christmas and happy New Year.
Charlotte Curtis Smith, in Our
Dumb Animals.