The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1902-1905, 1902-12-25
Santa In tbe nortb
II Story Of Christmas.
By ELIZABETH N. BARR.


At last when there was nothing left
but the red embers, the mother
raked them into the corner of the
| fireplace, and covered them with
ashes. The invalid was helped to
bed and all retired for the night.
#%%%
"And now the storm blast came,
and he
Was tyranous and strong"
All was dark and silent in the
house where the tiny stocking hung
beneath the portrait. But the ele-
ments without were in the widest
cOmmotion. The wind roared and
howled like mad beast; it gradu-
ally changed to a low growl, and
then to long uncanny wall. Lower
and lower grew the sound till its
savage voice softened to tone OF
lamenting; only to burst out again
witha terrific shrek as 1t charged
upon the poor little structure, which
shook with every fresh outbreak.
The night wore on with the spirits
Of the tempest doing their worst. II
one had listened he could have
heard the voice of the storm king
himself, above the din Of the COM
motion, as he shouted his battle-cry.
For with banner and standard hS
rode at the head of his legions. He
shouted his orders with a voice of
thunder, and charged with the fury
of demon. But although his mad
jesty loved rough play and reveled
in destruction he was kind enough
at heart He sw' pit down the chin
ney to see il the Goals had been well
covered "Eo! Hon. he laughed az
he sried the row of empty stockings.
We've made it too rough on Santa
tonight" He slipped around and
peepod through crevice in the bed
room door, and saw three sleeping
children smiling in their dreams.
A wave of pity smOte his rough old
heart.
dreaming OF Christmas, / wish
1 had something to give EN-" he
said, as he whisked about the room.
He swept back and stuck his head
out at the top of the chimney.
Jack, are you carving those lilies
on the children's Window"
Eyes sir" answered Jack Frost,
without pausing in his work.
The storm king came back and
toyed with the little stocking under
grandpa's portrait. Finally bright
idea struck him. He waved the pic
ture to and fro for few moments
and then, as if angered, he shook it
till it nearly fell from the nail. A
white something fell from behind it
into the / ~ stocking, and the storm
king fitted away.
The clouds drifted By, the wind
ceased and the moon came out full
and bright. Jack Frost, finding the
field clear, worked harder and hard
er to put his finishing touches to the
masterpiece of the storm.
%#*%
Christmas morning dawned clear
and cold. The bright sun came up
and gazed over city and fields, max
ing the earth glitter as if coated with
diamonds. All around in the crisp,
still air tiOated tiny particles of gol-
den dust.
In the little house in the outskirts
of town, the little stocking still hung
under the portrait, whence the low
ing glance of the dear grandfather
seemed to fall as benedictiOn upon
the household.
The mother rose, deeply depressed
but feeling that she must be brave
for the children's sake. When she
came into the living room she found
Alice crOuched upon the floor build
ing a fire.
"Merry Christmas, mammal" said
the child cheerfully, as she sprang up
to kiss her mother. The mother
looked sadly at the row of empty
stockings and tears came to her
eyes.
"Have you looked out this morn
ing?" asked Alice.
mo dear, my window was all
frozen over, and what is there to be
seen out of doors, anyway"
Alice stepped to the east door and
flung 1t open letting in flood of
cheerful sunshine.
at is a merry Christmas after ALL"
said the mother as she looked over
the hills which sparkled and
gleamed-a universe of Jewels.
Suddenly childish cry of delight
was heard. Baby had slipped into
the room and pulled his stocking
down. 'See what queer thing
Santa bringed baby!" he cried, hold
ing up folded paper.
HT eft mo see If " crin1 namrna