Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1901-12-20
A Christmas Fairy
By KATRINA kLAUSEN.

peaut1ful dig library wore festive
air, as indeed it should. Was it not
Christmas eve and was there not a
child in the house? In the bow window
stood the tree. Surely no expense had
been spared to make it beautiful, and
instead of being lighted in the old
fashioned way with little baby candles
which drip on things and have to be.
watched, it was gorgeously illuminate
ed with true electric lights. A special
man had been there that morning to
fix the wires, and another had come to
decorate the tree that it would be
correct and artistic. And all for one
little girl only ten years old. She felt
very small and queer as she sat- curled
up in great leather chair, watching
the man put the finishing touches to
her Christmas tree.
swell, miss, I suppose Santa Claus
! will be along after awhile with his bag
| of presents. You should run away and
give him chance said he, coming
down from the ladder.
"There isn't any Santa Claus. I'm
too big to believe in him, and my pres
| ents are all piled up on the hall seat.
| You may have seen them-thcre are
quite a ]o:." The forlorn lille voice
caused th man to pause a:ca II as he
was hurrying away.
mo Sar;a Claus? Well, that is Just
as little people believe. You know
people, little or big, can't all think
alike, but my little ones say that every
one is Santa Claus who gives gift,
or does a kind deed at Christmas time
Good night, and a Merry CL1istmas
to you, MISS"
docs kind Decd" thought the
child, hugging her dear Fritz closer.
Mother said she gave $25 to the
orphan asylum for me-and l saw
it. in the list in the paper-'Mrs.
James Marcus-Crewes. for her daugh-
ter, Rowena, $685. wonder if the man
wouldn't think that kind deed?"
Fritz was sympathetic, tiny
brown dog and he knew that when his
little mistress squeezed him like that
around the neck she needed him badly,
so he Struggled up closer and put his
cold nose on her cheek. Sure enough
the tears did come, and this poor little
| grille sobbed and sobbed, and Fritz
could do nothing more to comfort her
She drew in her breath suddenly and
stopped when she heard some one en-
ter the room, and looking up. saw Sally
come to light the lamps.
'Well, and cryin', are We. We poor
little Lamb! What is troublin' We
now? The same old story sure; no one
to play with? Will, niver mind, child,
the Henley-Jones children will be
down soon to see your tree and-why,
if they amt here now!"
Miss Margaret Henley-Jones and
Master Duncan Henley-J ones were in.
deed Herewith their governess.
"How do you do. Rowena. All, that
is your tree, is it? 1t is very pretty,
lighted; but am afraid ours is little
taller" said Margaret. as she shook
hands exactly as she had seen her
mother do.
"Do not say little. taller Miss
Margaret" said the ever-attentive
governess,. "say some taller You re-
member the rule9"
eyes, but I can't always think" an
swered Margaret. Have you very
many presents YETI" she asked. turn
ing to Rowena.
II have 81 in ALL" answered Rowena.
leading the way to the hall, where
some dainty boxes and packages were
piled.
Haven't you looked at them yet?
I've seen all of mine. l think it is
! childish to wait and open them all at
| once"
Sally looked at this fashionable lit
tie lady of II years. "And what are We
but a child, Miss Margaret" she asked.
"Oh, I am almost in my teens" said
the child, land then, of course, shall
be Miss" - -
you'd be a cad if you were boy, I
can tell you that, jolly quick" said her
brother. -.
= "What's q cad?" asked Roweaa.
why it's : fellow that's MI prinks
aad always thinking how he leels and