The Monticellonian., 1901-12-20

He strode rapidly along and soon reached The small block of gaXly-Iieht- l ed shops But he had not eXpected 10 find SO great a crowd of shoppers and for a moment he was inclined to turn about and go back empty-handed- he had e0me Then he thought of he child's delight when he-joel Gennis- ter-had been SD absurdly mistaken for santa Claus. and he went in.
 Mir. Gennister submitted to the push ing and hustiine of the holiday 4a- mored crowd until he had succeeded i1 buying asNoah's ark. a box of ten-piHs and flag. Then to add 0 his diseoH- fort the sudden thought came to him suppose the child had awakened and Was screaming himself into fits OF suppose q spark from the b.azing l0os should sci fire 10 the house. There l, i upon he made his way out and hurried home. feeling much relieved when he had let himself in and found all as quiet ana as safe as when he had gore out. an hour before.
 And now he really had 10 do the work of Santa Claus. Again he visit ed James room. and having possessed himself of the little limp stocking. he returned 10 the fireside to fill il. when he discovered that even HOW he had nothing suitable to put in. twas ab- surd, What sort of things did they put into stockings. anyway,
 So he thrust in the flag, with its stick extending far up in the air. and he poked Noah and some other of the ark's inhabitants into that seemingly bottomless abyss, and then he took back the still limp stocking toits hang ing place, put the ark and box of ten- pins near it on the foot of the big bed, after which Mir. Gennister himself re tired.
 When he awakened next morning Mr. Gennister heard vague sounds of unmistakable delight, and presently when he went over and looked in d i the door of James room he saw com ical sight.
 A very small boy in flannel night "Johnnies." surrounded by Noah, his family and all his animals. was vain ly trying to stand on his head-pre sumably for joy. But when he saw Mr Gennister ne regained an upright position.
 "Gamma?" he said, inquirngly.
 Your grandma's gone away, but it's all right. I'll look out for you till FL len comes. You know Ellen?"
 The boy stared hard. "Who is oo?" he said at last.
 "Tm Mr. Gennister-thi is my house. Say, can you dress yourself? We'll then, get dressed and I'll give you some breakfast
 The boy jumped up and down. Nit ter Dennitter, Mitter Dennitter, Santa Claus bringed Willie all dese!"
 Yes, l see Hurry, now; get your clothes on and come downstairs.
 But the child was too wildly excited to be able to dress himself that day and Mir. Gennister actually had to play l the nurse!
 Afterward MT. Gennister played cook and made the coffee. Then the two breakfasted together with Noah and his wife, for guests, standing between l them on the table.
 But it was after breakfast that the fun really began. Evidently Willie had never seen tenpins before, so Mr. i Gennister set them up and showed him how to play with them. And Will lie enjoyed the companionship so much that after that he would not l play alone with anything.
 As long as Mr. Gennister sat on the floor and rolled the balls, Willie would fetch and carry and set up the pins and chatter in perfect delight. But when Mr. Gennister drew his chair up by the fire and tried to read, Willie in- sisted upon climbing on his knee and putting his chubby face between the readers eyes and the printed page. Commands and persuasions were of no avail and at last Mr. Gennister gave in and went back to his place upon the floor, and so it was that Ellen found them.