The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-12-21

hino SNC JoillilcdtluH
down at District school No. g."
"Oh. Icouldp't disappoint them. I've
promised, and l must be there. Be-
sides. / took ten dollars of the money
got from the ticket and bought few
little presents for the youngsters. And
then. too, you know IL don't so there'll
be no Santa Claus"
When the mother and son reached
home, they made hurried meal, and
VIII rushed up stairs TO get together
the primitive Santa Claus parapherna-
liza which his mother had fixed up for
him. These he did into n bundle, and
his mother being ready, they set out
for the schoolhouse.
The building belonging to District
No was the typical country school
house. 1t was painted red and con-
tained two rooms, one for the more ad-
Vanced scholars and one for the "pri-
maries." There was an entrance for
each section. One of these little vesti-
/ bules had been transformed for the oc-
casion into dressing room for Santa
Claus. In the middle of the primary
department, which was the larger divi-
sion of the building, short but broad
spreading Christmas tree had been
placed. It bore fairly generous yie!
of tinseled gifts. Will added the pres
ents he had brought and then before
the children began to arrive retired to
the vestibule to make up" as Santa
Claus.
The room soon filled, and, to the ac
compartment of the music of tin and
brass horns. Santa Claus entered. The
children gazed upon the weirdly built
up st. Nicholas with feelings of awe
mingled with admiration. Santa step
ped up to the tree, bowing to the little
folks as he went. Clumsily, he selected
the first present within reach, knock
ing over couple of candles as he did so,
and then in stentorian tones entirely
out of keeping with the supposed char
acter Of Santa Claus called out the
name inscribed thereon:
Jimmie Brown!'
A youngster about seven years of
age, with his hair plastered down into
cowlick on his forehead, promptly
stepped forward from the front row,
looked around and, seeing that he was
the only person out of line, stuck his
HhEei ilto HIS CIleeh, pebdH " DluDDeF
and abruptly rushed back to the shell
ter of the crowd. He was quieted and
made his way haltingly to the tree,
where st. Nicholas handed him
mauve colored sheep which emitted
plaintive "Ba-a-a" when 1t was press
ed. AS Jimmie moved jerkily backward
toward his original position the door
opened. Every one looked around and
all were astonished to observe that the
two men who stood there were stran-
gers. One of the newcomers asked If
VIII Lawson was there
The school trustee went over to the
man and explained that VIII was Santa
Claus and that 1t would not do to let
the children find out that their idol
was but a man of clay. The fellow
walked over toward the tree. placed his
hand upon Wills shoulder and grufily
remarked:
"Will Lawson, you are my prisoner!"
VIII was dumfounded, but his sur
prise was as nothing compared to that
of the children, who then learned what
they had never even suspected-that
their Santa Claus was only a man. The
festivities broke up in a hurry, but the
man, who was an officer from New
York, never left Willis side. Will was
pale. and folks thought he acted as
though he had been expecting to be ar
rested. However. he put brave face
on the matter and asked friend to 60
for Lawyer Clapp. Then everything
came out.