The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-06-09
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TO do 30 was an effort and make.be-
lleye. OF his Santa Claus alone he
had had no doubt Every Christmas in
this pnst' he had written letters 10 him
letters that were meaningless scrawlS
Of lead.pencll on tho paper. because
Robb had not then been taught the art
OF chirography-an posted them in
crack Of the attic floor at the foot Of
large post that supported tho beams
and trusses Of the roof. (It would DO
difficult to explain his lden Of the opera
tlon OF MS mail scrvfce). And every
Christmas morning the toys no had
asked for were awaiting him in the
piayroom-thankg oft0urBe, to Mamie
and the powers above her. To doubt
the existence Of his Santa Claus was to
take away the pleasure Of these secret
communication with fairyland, to cut
the wltchery and surprise out OF his
Christmas
SO, when his and Trankle's lessons
had been Anlshed for this morning,
and Mis-. Morris had departed % rule
another piay-room for the afternoon,
Robb E5uad himself fallen upon With.
cred day. He spread his usual rug up
on the floor, in ridges valleys, aud the
accepted cOnHguration OF battlefield,
but lost interest in his game before he
got his fort built on the plateau or his
marbles marahatted In rank for Frank
id's cannonade. Then no grasped nm end
OF the rug in NJ OF dissatisfaction, and
tossed blocks, marbles, cannon, and
commissarlat into the air with II jerk
that threw his brother on his back and
bumped his head heavily. sending him
bowling down the stairway to complain
to his elders, and Robb locked the
playroom door against the visit Of
avenging muid or mother.
But no nsBnut was made upon hIn
fortress. and he was left to fret around
the room in the nitnlessness OF DIS
coatented child. The result Of much
angry meditation was a resolve to write
to Santa Claus. and put him to the
proof He tore sheet from his aerlb-
bling book, and began laborious COM
munlcatlon. crossing out words and
amending spciitHgs with moro petn-
lance than dcll5orntlOn. When he had
the letter finished, II read:
Dear santic Claus pleas write let
ter. Miss Morris left because II be-
leeved In snntle Claus and want a.
letter because / never saw you You
wont lot us sec you, Will write to-
morrow or some other day about what
want Mt Christmas Pleas excuse
blots must now say goodbye. SO good
bye"
written out to the oyo this seemed
scarcely to cxprcHs thu argument Of his
thought, but the labor Of composition
had eused him somewhat, ana he post
ed tho letter In the nltlc with n quiet
mind. He found from the calendar that
he would have Gweek to walt for hID
answer, expecting Santa clous's letter
TO como with the toys. Miss Morris
said nothing more about his supcrstl-
tions. and Frankie unconsclously eNscd
his heart by nAltng him to Talk
Chlsmas" Lying In their cots OF
morning. they talked their I'LL Of lt--of
the presents they would receive, Of the
arrival OF SANTA Claus, OF his method OF
coming down the chimney, Of the trnns'
portation Of hts millions OF toys In one
small sleigh, and other such ucklIsh
mysteries OF the season. Robh cx'
planned IN idea he had OF how saH'S
Claus londCd n anowcloud with Christ
mas presents from the top windows OF
his towering ice pniacc, and ucnt them
floating down the wind to tbs cities OF
mon. He followed In his reindeer sleigh
that new In the air, and whon he emp
tied one cnrgo hn drove back to a cloud
and loaded up again Frankie lay on
his back and gasprd with delight Robb
was even persuaded by hn own fNucIcs.
But with Christmas Eve his letter
and the suspicion that had dictated It
required to him He caught u scent OF
conspiracy In the air, aud mnYelled at
the repeated iniunttlons of his elders
that when he went to bod he was to
close his eyes tightly and not open them
TIL the morning Because, dcnG' his
mother said. kissing him goodnight,
~ Santa ClnuS secs you looking nj
him hen dy nwny and not leave you
anything" Robb Baid nothing being
confused with much thought
The slccplug.room Of the two boys
had been moved to the top OF the
house to protect The SAUNDERS OF the
baby, who occupied the nursery Their
playroom hnd been designed for u bill
llnrd.room and pair or roidIng doors,
with glasses newly frosted, connected 1t
with their bedroom, Robb had once
licked vt the rrosting OH those doors
In mistaken idea that It was the
same az the icing on a cake Finding II
tastnless he had scratched Nt It with
pcn-nlb inquisltivcly and 80 made a
pcepholc, which hp had since used when
hiding from Mlss Morris, Now, iust rs
M felt himself falling uslocp-hc had
explained the term to himself by lmag
lining phyWoAI H'H"uuH W N""l"b
through the floor with his bed, and in
ducod sleep by confusing HIS brain
with the whlrl and giddlurss OF HIS de-
scont lust when tho bed Ind sunk
through the floor and wAg beginning to
rocl, gonty down to dreamland, the
Thought OF that pecpholo rutHo To him
win a vlvldn,m OF suggestion that
might have nude It seem, 10 nm older
dad a., nro,nntIng OF the devil. And In.