Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-12-24


,, ing Zip at the lofty ceiling. and the
S.ittering chandeliers. "And. oh. do
YOU hear that lovely music? I'm sure
there's IA band somewhere"
The door leading into the next room
was slightly ajnr. Nan crcpt toward
1t. and Deeping, IN. could hardly keep
from crytng out at the sight that mot
her eyes. For there was company
Of little folks. arrayed in the quaint
| costumes Of years before The boys In
knee: breeches. gayly colortd vests.
velvet coats ard lace rutIies. with be-
%igged heads. The girls in trailing
| robes and high-heeled slippers. with
hj2h-toDped combs on their powdered
pufcs and curls.. They might one and
all have just stepped from the III issivc
p.ttu,c frames which hung on the
| walls. enclosing the portraits of their
great great -grandfathcrs and grand
| mothers.
They were dancing Il minnet. and
| Nan watched with wondering eyes.
while the miniature men and women
moved through the stately measures of
| tn" graceful dance. She was sorry
whcp the music stopped. and each
| cavalier, with n stately bow. led his
wee partner to II seat.
1t tiiat moment. the lights on tn"
christmas tree flashed up.
'.The tree. The tree cried the cvcit-
ID .liitle folks starting 10 th,ir feet
| and i;rowding toward the doorway
where Nan was concealed. Santa had
barely tii,c to whisk her up the chin
ney before n joyful shon, from the lii
tie men and women told the listeners
that the. tree had been discovered.
"a narrow escape said Santa. puff
ing an laughing. as they reached the
roof.
oh. but wasn't II lovely. IT was
Just like 4 picture cried Nan. Ana
her- head was so full Of quaint cos
tunes and sweet music that she did
not notice how long they mad been lid
irS. or how many calls Santa had
! mi, dc before tc Invited her to get "u:
again.
"Have,.v go through the window
here" said Santa, as II" hung the rope
l-,id.r down the side of IN" house:
because they have stove In the fire
place
Nan thought that "A stove wasn't df
much use withou; any fire In II. JId
she couldn't help noticing that Il was j
very poor house they had come -
Rags were stuffed in the broken win
low banes. ana there was search. an,
iCr rtIrr in the I, ON. \ canil" was
! burning -dimly on II table. hy wnici' =
pti "acad Whmar had fallen. aDi""p
over hcr. v urk. ON cot in one cornui
hay two hungry locking little fellows.
fest asleep. \ scrap Of paper was
pinned 10 the ragged quilt.
See IL YOU can read it, said Santa.
Il left my specs at home. Tn" letter
vas printed in very uneven characters.
but Nan managed to maxi. 1t out
Deer S;untN Claws At r.adl '-Vl, ls..-
bring us s"m'ihti fur dinner "n \ """
so"; klos.. m "" wui TX" sum Toy.
handy. yours ironly. Tom an J"rr!
-Exiry. We n,v"r had II" krisnu~ ~
,ur lives.
Nan f.lt very soi..r whom she had
SUR" she saw tears in Sant1s - Ent
he went TO rIin.tuagIhg his pat X. nn"
tish'd "ut two good warm suits ~ = !th,.'
;tndl som, heavy shoes and stockings.
Nuts and candy aud sim toys i".l"wri
;,nh j big turkey ana som" vegetable
w"rr into III" empty Cupboard.
She ought To HAY. I warm hir-s amt
shawl. said Nan. iIli, KY.
Anything else asked Santa
Well. | ShoIld think some m0nc! ." hIN
GOA. and Hour AMI sIch things W uld do
her lots of gcod." said Nam
Santa pinned fiv.-tol!nr bill !" ;h''
si-ering woman Then he blew n,. th.'
candle. and he and Nan st"l" softly "ut
uf the room.
HAY U-.ar. ON h,t- q I.
many folks as poor rs that
Too many" replied Santa looking y,.rv
grave, And SOM. "vcn l'oorrr Thy
worst oi 1t Is. can't possibly get around
to them all every year
People ouSht t. help H"u. said MAI
Yes; they ought r"'Irnrd s'nta
have some cast-off clothing and . q toy
al your hous" that would help maxi
M,rry christmas for som" poor child "'
children.
Yes. indeed said Nan. and I'll ASH
mamma to le, rnc giy" away big h'Sk",
ot things tomorrow.
Then Nan tell into brown study. hCt
she wasn't thinking Hb"n, POWDER 4 wig,
and dainty costume this time. hut OF
roor little Tom and !. rrN,
Il believe said Santa. after II had
mad. several morr visits. ~ II hdN" I" |
TAX" a run home and g.t som" NOR" |
l,r.s.RIls.
Home exclaimed Nan. "Why. q" !
y"u iiv" anywher" in particular?
To he sure. replied Santa cooilA. ~ |
liv. up close by tn. North P"i" IN! dear. +,
have a big storagr mouse. w th.rr
'Oh. how funny. said Nan. 'Hut how I
do you ever get anything II put in y"iI: (,
SIorlg" house?
We'll. | don't mind telling you.' sad Z
Santa. though its Il great secret. You (
see. in The summer time. Just put on |
m! business suit Iud L" round I" IN"
stores. pick NJ \ good many nc" /
hngs on tho bargain counters.
My exclaimed. Nan. how ul"": |
Eut II must b.- lots OF work to ert N"'i. /
goods W to the North POLE. /
''Oh. don't mind that said santa II I
know al the shor: cuts.
Dear me" said Nan. And ~ think
that SO many pcopl" have been trying ,
fo, so many years to find the North Pole. ,
Why don't YOU show some Of them whef,' |
il is?''
''Rless me-" cried Santa. aftcr u burst !,
Of laughter. they woudn'F thank me- t"r !
spoling their fun. Don't you sec. tar
really enjoy making a dash tor the pole.
and taking up relief expeditions once IN |
Il while.
Nan and Santa had left cities and
towns behind them long before this. and |
were flying over the frozen ground. Aitc. |
a while. Nan noticed grea, mountains ol
ic" looming up on every side.
II suppose there isn't any danger nf
orr getting lost Is there" said Sn".
hR Call