Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-12-24
HOW WINKIE FOUND
SANTA CLAUS
BY MRS. MARY B. THOMPSON.

BY MRS. MARY B. THOMPSON.
His name wasn't Wrinkle sure enough.
In his mammals big Bible, with the
| lovely pictures in 1t, it was written
down. Bernard NJ. Chanler," but no
one ever thought of calling such lit
Tic fellow anything but his pet name of
| Winkie." Now, Wrinkle had been
down town with his mamma. and had
seen-really secn-Santn Claus, in the
Dig shop window on Main street, and
| wrinkles mamma had told him she was
| very much afraid Santa Claus wouldn't
be able to find him, and as there was no
| accommodating Fireplace in their room
| tor him to warm by-their room be-
| ing warmed on very cold days by Il
| small oil Stove-he had decided as
Santa Claus couldn't come to him, he
would go and find Santa. His little
head was full of plans, and his heart
full of love and trust in the children's
patron saint. Now, this was Christ
| mas Eve and Wrinkle knew there was
| no time to lose, so, as mamma had a
very bad headache, and he had rubbed
| IL Tor her for ever SO long, she told him
he might play for while outside the
front door. as theirs was quiet neigh
| porhood. Indeed he never meant 10 do
wrong, but it seemed that something
Just kept pushing him farther and far
ther from the door. His little head had
put one fdea:he must find Santa Claus:
| ana almost before he knew 1t, there he
was right In front of that lovely win
COW. Oh! how grand it all was! The
| colored glass balls hung from one end
OF the window to the other, the toys,
the drums-oh dear, everything. Win
kte was Just wild, and over it all stood
santa with the finest red robe on,
Ihere were so many people crowding
around the windows 1t was hard for
Nnkle to see real well. II he only
knew where Santa Claus Iived-it must
be near his supper time-perhaps, If he
walked very fast he might reach his
mouse before he did, for of course,
Santa Claus would ride home Two
young ladies were pausing for an in
slant to gaze at the well-arranged win
dow. and sudden thought came to
Wrinkle He would ask one of them:
| Please can You tell me where Santa
Claus lives?" The young lady looked
down at the small figure and answered
laughingly. Why, away up town, Of
course" then she turned to her friend
saying: II wonder who the little fellow
Is! Strange, but he someway reminded
me OF Louise" But her companion
hurried her on, and the child was for
gotten. Away uptown, oh dear"
sighed Wrinkle. II wonder if could
1
started. keeping as close to the young
lady as he dared, for he felt sure she
must live near Santa Claus. Thoughts
as to mammals missing him did come
into his little head, but he tried to
ease his conscience by saying lie would
kiss mammals scoldng all away; and
| he did want Santa to bring mamma a
new dress. Why, she hadn't had a
new one In ever so long. He just
knew his mamma was prettier than
| the young lady with whom he was try
| ing to keep I'D. If he only had n
grandpa, now, wouldn't it just be fun F.?
| Wrinkle knew u boy who lived upstairs,
| who had grandpa. a nice. fat, Jolly
old fellow, and that boy did put on lots
| OF airs. just because he had a grandpa,
| and had told Wrinkle great stories OF
what he was going to have in his
stocking.
Once Wrinkle had asked his mamma
why he didn't have a grandpa. like
Jim, but mammals lips had grown so
white. like they did when she talked
| 10 him Of his papa, that Wrinkle had
Rugged and kissed her over and over,
never daring to ask her again.
| The boys mamma upstairs said
| grandpas Just spoiled boys; but Win
lsie thought he would like 10 try the
spelling"
The winter evening was passing very
QUICKLY, ana W)nKle was growing very
| tired, but lie kept on manfully as he
wondered if he WAS not almost up
| town. 1Nhe stores were all passed up
now he saw nothing but rows of hand
| some houses. Worst of all, the young
lady had disappeared, and Wrinkle felt
even more lonely, and began TO think
very longngly of home and mamma.
| He wondered was mammals headache
better and was she missing her little
boy. He began to realize he was hun
gry,toO But he could not go back with
out finding Santa Claus. Mamma did so
need that new dress, and Wrinkle dec!d-
| ed 1t mus. be trimmed just like that
1 young lady's; but there, mamma
always wore black. Great tears wel!ed
up in his big. brown eyes. but he chok-
ed them back. Should he turn around
and go home? But, then, suppose he
1 was lost! Sadly he turned mis-
back on the row of brilliantly
lighted houses. 1t was no use. Blu,
| just then, one of the large doors was
thrown open and an old gentleman
| stood in the doorway, looking out into
| the gathering gloom. why. bless my
| soul, / believe we are going to have
snow for Christmas" Wrinkle stood
spell-bouRd. with a queer rushing
] sound in his ears. his little feet seemed