Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1899-06-29
TOO GOOD AN IMITATION.
Story of Stuffed Santa Claus and the
Fate That Befell Him.

/ Story of Stuffed Santa Claus and the
Fate That Befen Him.
Miss Elizabeth Allerton and her
sister Augusta had for years lived
all alone in big house not thou
sand miles from Boston. 1t had been
their pleasure on each successive
Christmas to gather a company of
children in the great, handsome par
lors and join with them in having
gay time. But finally they planned
to depart bit from their usual Gus
tom of planting the Christmas tree
in a cambria covered tub, and here
they were On Christmas eve, sur
rounded by lot of old garments
that they had found among the
trunks and boxes up garnet, max
ing a figure TO represent Santa Claus
that should stand in the jog by the
fireplace and clasp the well filed
tree in his strong right arm
Miss Elizabeth was skilled in the
use of paints, and upon the surface
of an apoplectic looking bunch COW
cred with light flannel she was
busily engaged in tracing sundry
dabs and streaks to represent hu-
man features. Augusta, meantime,
was brushing up the copper colored
vest thickly bestrewn with green
roses that was to appear from be-
meath the dressing gown, covering
the deficiencies in the shape of
broOmsticks and shawls that COM
posed the form. A gray squirrel
muff that had not seen the light of
day for many a year had been shaped
into a hat and was tho crowning
point, in every sense, of this home
made Kriss Kringle.
Dear me!' said Miss Elizabeth
when the sticks had been adjusted
and the curled hair pulled over the
dressing gown collar, "he looks
amazingly like a real man. 1 do
hope the children will not be fright
ened when they see him.
Il was thinking of that myself,
said Miss Augusta II wish you had
not made his eyes so staring and his
cheeks so red. Let's set him down
and put some flour on his face"
This was done after considerable
trouble. By that time it was 10
O'Clock, and the tired spinsters lifted
the result of their labors, stood it
up in the corner, then withdrew and
shut the door, Before they were
half way up stairs they heard some
thing fall II s'pose that's one Of
the brOOmsticks, said the elder
Miss Allerton. They returned to the
parlor and started to repair the
damage. 1t was true One of the
supports had slipped, and there was
the figure tilted tipsily forward, with
those awful eyes looking straight at
the door. Each waited for the. other
TO straighten the thing up, and
finally it was done.
Again the sisters started for their
room above. Miss Augusta pulled
the door so closely after her that
she shut half of her sleeve in. Her
sister noted that she locked the door
and put the key in her pocket. They
both sat down IN their room and
said nothing for a few minutes
when the scurrying Of a mouse be-
tween the walls made them each
give little nervous scream. Miss
Elizabeth started up. Augusta"
she said, Il cant sleep a wink to-
night with that man in the house.
I'm just going down and take him
to pieces" Il was just going to
suggest that very thing myself"
said the younger one, echOing, as
she generally did, her elder sister.
They tiptOed down once more, keep
ing very close to each other, and,
creeping behind the rosy checked
efigy, they reduced him once more
to heap of old clothes, which they
thrust into the closet, putting the
head into a handbook on the top
shelf. Then they retired to peaceful
slumberS Boston Transcript.