Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1900-12-21


"Did you ever!" exclaimed Aunt
Mary, holding up her hand. "The
poor little dear!" Tears actually
filled her eyes and ran down her soft
cheeks "rhat's certainly a provi-
dence, Dick. Pm sure of it. That
poor little child is in trouble and
needs friend, and the Lords had
a hand in it, you may be sure"
swell, Derby isn't far off, and /
know just where the slime kill' is and
the old tumble-d down house near by.
1t will be a jolly lark to play Santa
Claus in earnest for once. Guess I'll
try it,"
go do, Dick; it will be just splendid
Wish l could go, too, but it's too cold.
You'll make fine Santa Claus, with
your long, white whiskers and silvery
hair. If she should happen to see you
she'll think you are the genuine old
fellow himself.
They laughed and chatted over
the project as they drank their tea.
1t was nearly eleven o'clock when
he crept quietly around to the back
door that little Nellie was going to
leave open crack. Pushing it gent
ly open, he entered the room. There
was little blaze from few dying
embers IN the old cracked stove, and
by its Oide he discovered little stock
ing-thin, ragged with the holes
drawn together with coarse thread in
a pitiful child fashion. It was PIN
ned to the old faded window curtain.
Santa's face worked strangely, and
a tear or two actually dropped off the
end of his nose as he bent and start
ed up brighter blaze. He heard
discordant snores from the adjoining
room, so he proceeded leisurely to fill
the little stocking with delicious
candy, nuts and bouncing orange
at the very top. Then the lovely
baby doll was comfortably arranged
in her carriage, in cloak and hood,
with her trunk beside it. The bun
dies for Granny Dodd were laid on
the greasy old table, and Santa Claus
was smiling and beaming as he
thought of her amazement when she
should discover them in the morn
ing, and poor little Nellie's delight
over her treasures, when, to his ex-
treme CONSERVATION, he saw little
white-robed figure gliding toward
him, and the next minute a pair of
small arms were hugging his portly
form, and bright little face, radiant
with JOY, was uplifted to his.
81 knew you would comel o, /
knew you would GOMEZ" she whis.
pered, and the next minute Santa
had a little quivering form in his
arms, and she was showering kisses
on his face and hugging him with all
her might.
40, you dear, blessed, good Santa
Clausl l knew you would comet"
and overcome by her Joy and excite
ment, she hid her face in his long
flowing beard, and cried and sobbed
Historically.
"There, there, dear, hush! Don't
cry so! You'll wake mp granny"
With frightened glance toward
the bedroom, she made a mighty eff
fort, and the sobs ceased; but still
she hung fast to his neck.
40 Santa, dear Santa, take me
away; take me now! Granny wishes
l was dead; she says so every day. I'll
be so good if you'll let me be your
little girl"
"Bless you dear" he whispered,
"what or earth could Santa Claus do
with a little grip See! look at your
stocking! See what this is under it!
Don't touch them tonight you are
shivering with cold. Go to bed now,
like a good little child, and you'll be
as happy as lark tomorrow with
your baby doll. She's beauty, and
no mistake"
Still the little arms clung fast and
the small form nestled closer in his
arms; but the snores were winding
up in queer, snorting groans, as if
granny might be waking.
"There, there, dear, granny's wax
ing up! You must go. See here! I'll
come and see you again in the morn
ing"
"Will you truly?"
"Yes, truly"
With one more loving kiss, the
little one slipped down and glided
softly away, without even a glance
at her treasures.
Early the next day Uncle Dick,
as everybody called him, found his
way again to the tumble-down house
by the lime kiln. 1t did not take
long to persuade Nellie's granny to
part with her charge, especially after
$50 had been counted ont to her.
After the necessary papers had been
signed, and the new playthings