Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-12-26


II was oil lost till ! said my
prayers" was the quick reply, I'VE
were going to see grandpa, and | tum-
bled out of the big sleigh into the
| snow. Then the horses wouldn't stop.
SO | told the Lord, just as amm told
me to, and He helped me to get here
"And didn't you get hurt anywhere,
you poor babe" inquired Martha
Dean, blushing at the little girls sim
pie declaration of faith.
mo, ma'am; the snow was nice and
soft; it didn't hurt me one bit, but
my toes are freezed, I guess" And
she sobbed with pain as Martha
chafed her little. chilled feet, from
which she had Immediately removed
the cold, wet covering.
! Underneath the damp outer cloak
/ the child's clothes were dry and
warm, and, having put the cloak over
a chair to dry, Martha wrapped her
in a heavy shawl and sat holding her
and gently rubbing her chubby feet,
watching the blue eyes slowly Closing
in sleep and wondering to whom she
belonged and if the child's account of
: her mishap were really the true ex
PLANTATION of it.
Wont mamma come 500 to get
me? l want to go to my grandpa's
house." murmured the little girl,
drowsily, and just then there came a
clamorous jingle of sleighbells and a
loud rap upon the outer door. Almost
simultaneously with the knocking
upon the door it was opened and the
snow-covered form of a man stood be-
fore Martha Dean for a single in
slant; then, turning hastily, he shout
ed to some n outside:
"She is found! She is here!" and
fastened out.
Then there entered into that plain
little kitchen a company of people
the like of which it had never con-
tanned before.
First a tall, beautiful lady, fur-clad
from top to toe; then a gentleman,
also stately and fur-clad, and behind
them came busting and painting an
elderly gentleman, neither tall nor
handsome, but, like the others in re-
gard to outer wraps, he was as furry
as any Santa Claus, and very like that
mysterious old parsonage in many
other respects.
The lady's lips were quivering and
she seemed speeches. with joyful
| nrNfinn E. ord Aha fo11 ro,+1o-,a,
stopped and lifted the child up to
her with r%eassuring words, as if to let
her see that her darling was UNI
harmed. AS for the elderly gentle
man, his sharp, restless eyes swept
the room and its contents in a trice.
mo fire, ma'am, such a night as
this? Why, why, pray? It's a won
der my little granddaughter didn't
finish freezing after she got in here"
'Oh, no, father, the lady has her
well wrapped up, and her wet things
all removed" said his daughter, for
she noted the flush that rose, to the
cheek of Martha Dean.
eyes, and it was perhaps better
tIdU Dix was llOU tdhCll III ny u AOL
fire when so near freezing" said the
younger gentleman, who was evident
ly the father of the little girl. He
now turned to Martina Dean.
~We were driving from the station
to the home of my wife's parents,
madam, two miles beyond here, when
the horses became excited by the
wind and storm and somehow man
aged to tip the sleigh so that little
Annie was thrown out, though all the
others stayed in. The horses were
unmanageable and ran, yet they kept
the road, and when they reached
home stopped. OF course, we re-
turned as soon as possible after get
plains our intrusion upon you, and
no words can express our thankful
ness to you for your kindness toward
our poor little girl"
1T is nothing" replied Martha. II
would be glad to do more. I will now
build a fire, so that you may get
warm and dry before going out into
the storm again"
Needless trouble, madam; we are
not cold" quickly replied the old gen.
tleman. "James and John are waiting
and we must go. Just tell me one
thing, madam. if you please, how
many little mes have you? I see sew
eral pairs of peppers in yonder."
Martha Dean informed the old
gentleman as to the number Of her
family, while busily engaged in dress
ing the little girls feet in some shoes
and stockings belonging to her own
little Edith. while the child chung
tightly to her mothers neck.
1.-TWO boys and two girls, the Oldest
a girl Of IL, the youngest a girl of
four; Tommy and Johnny between"
he repeated, as he turned,to 60. II will
see you again tomorrow, madam;
goodnight and a merry Chfistmas!"
Then. with the little Annie wrapped
until she made an enormous bundle,
the whole party took their departure.
"Our name is Lewis and fathers is
Ray; we will see you again; l will call
tomorrow if you do not forbid me-"
were the lady's parting words, and
soon Martha Dean stood alone in her
little kitchen. the sound of the de-
parting sleighbells ringing in her
ears, her senses almost whirling.
"He looked adzactly like Santa
Claus!" declared little Edith.
"But she didn't look like Mrs. San
to, and he hasn't any little girl" OBJ
jected Tommy.
Besides, he didn't leave a thing for
anybody" dolsfully supplemented
Johnny.
"Mamme, what does it all mean? 2" in