The Chilhowee echo. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1899-19??, 1899-12-23

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As he saw Mrs. G. he held up the letter
and laughed outright, ''just look here"
| b said, and when Mrs. G. looked she
laughed also. The letter was address,
cd to "Mister Sanity Klaws, Knoxvil,
Amerika"
II wonder what little chicks wrote
that" said Mrs. Clarke" and if it will
ever reach it's destination" Then sud-
dAnly it dawned upon her that the
printing was very familiar to her. "Mr.
Black do believe my little midgets
did that. 1t looks just like Rob's print
ing and spelling and they were still as
mice all day yesterday. Do open it and
see
He opened it and glanced at the sig
niiture. "You are right" he said.
Mrs. Clarke took the letter and read it,
then passed it over to the postman who
read it and then laughed until he almost
clpked. Rob had at first made an effort
to consult his spelling book but had soon
given that up as entirely too much to
expect of any one. There were blots
and blurs and ugly scratches as well as
rubbings out and dirty thumb marks,
but that was the best they could do, so
they had sent it as it was, trusting that
Santa Claus could read it.
sAs soon as, Mrs. Clark recovered
from the surprise, she went on, turn
ling some blocks out of her way to go
Iby her husbands office. After the
precious epistle was read again they
held brief consultation, which appar-
emily was very satisfactory. Mrs.
Clark went out smiling, and her hus-
bands eyes twinkled as he looked after
her.
How long the day was! The little
ones thought it never would end. They
were sure the longest day of the year
came the day before Christmas instead
o. hfJune. They were surely going to
stay awake all night to see Santa Claus
Eefae, and see him if possible. But af-
] ter The stockings were hung up and the
EAtk prayers said in which Hal had
=. = od 70 be sure and send Santa
| CIaNsr and mama for the hundred thous-
Iandth time, had told them everything
she ever knew of Christmas, tired ma
turd asserted herself, and the children
were off to sleep again in the fairyland
o7 childhoods' dreams, and they knew
nothing more until they heard papa
dressing in the morning.
Hal rubbed his eyes and shouted spa
pa may I Diet up, where is my 'tocking?"
and out of bed he bounced, with Rob
right behind him, both shouting and
dancing like little wild Indians. There
were the stockings, too, full to the top,
and by the hearth they found the
abundant evidence of Santa's generosity
which could not go in the stockings.
There was the tool-chest full of tools,
for which Rob had longed for months,
and the wagons, and balls, and marbles,
and the rocking-horse, almost a
real horse, it looked so natural, which
was Immediately appropriated by Hal
and put to use; and the drums, and
sleds, aud candies, and sweetmeats OF
all sorts. My! did children ever get so
many things before. While they were
being dressed Rob heard a whine out in
the hall and rushing to the door, he
opened it and there was the cutest little
black dog, and something tied around
his neck which proved to be a letter.
j Papa took it and read the big bold
letters on it, which said, For Masters
Rob and Hal Clarke. Opening it he
read:
i Iceville, Isle of Santa Claus,
Dec. 25th., 1899.
Dear Children: Your letter was re.
ceived. l was so glad to get it, for it is
not often the little folks write to me for
J pretty things l carry. | should have
gone to see you anyhow, for l never
have missed you, but I might not have
remembered all of the things if | had
not had your letter to remind me. | an
sorry some of the things you asked for
/ could not leave, for even Santa Claus
can't do everything. The Kangaroo
would not go down the chimney, and
the porcupine and gorilla would Ger
tainly have made trouble before yor
learned their habits. I am sorry youi
dog was killed last Summer, so I senC
you this one to take the place of it
Goodbye and be good boys.
Your Friend,
SANTA CLAUS.
Oh, what good Santa Claus, and wha
a good Christmas they had! All thu
morning they played and in the after
noon they went with mamma to visit
! Epoor family, and took with them bask
: Ietful Of good things, for they remem
bered that there are others in thi
Rgreat world who were not so abundant
Ely remembered by Santa Claus as the
had been. And when the day wa
done, tired little mortals as they were
. they thought there had never been sue
r good Christmas before.