The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1902-12-20

ulSul OuC anu du nave just SlSppSu
from the massive picture frames which
hung on the walls, enclosing the por-
traits of their great-great-grandfath-
ers and grandmothers.
They were dancing a minuet, and
Nan watched with wondering eyes,
while the miniature men and women
moved through the stately measures
of the graceful dance. She was sorry
when the music stopped, and each
cavalier, with stately bow, led his
wee partner to seat.
At that moment, the lights on the
Christmas tree flashed up.
'The tree the tree !" cried the
excited little folks, starting to their
feet, and crowding toward the door
way where Nan was concealed. Santa
had barely time to whisk her up the
chimney before joyful shout from
the little men and women told the
listeners that the tree had been dis
covered.
"A narrow escape" said Santa,
putting and laughing, as they reach
ed the roof.
ooh, but wasn't it lovely 1t was
just like picture, cried Nan. And
her head was SO full of quaint cos
tunes and sweet music that she did
not notice how long they had been
riding. or how many calls Santa had
made before he invited her to get out
again.
"Have to go through the window
here" said Santa, as he hung the
rope-ladder down the side of the
house; because they have stove in
the fireplace"
Nan thought that stove wasn't of
much use without any fire in it, and
she couldn't help noticing that it was
a very poor house they had come to.
Rags were stuffed in the broken win
dow panes, and there was scarcely
any furniture in the room. A candle
was burning dimly on a table, by
which a palefaced woman had fallen
asleep over her work. On cot in
one corner lay two hungry-looking
little fellows, fast asleep. A scrap of
paper was pinned to the ragged quilt.
"See if you can read ii" said Santa.
II left my specs at home" The let
ter was written in very uneven char
acters, but Nan managed to make it
out.
"Deer Sanity Claws" Git read)
"please bring us sumthin fur dinner
and moo SCOT ov klose, an we wud
like sum toys if it want to much trub-
bel, n nuts an handy. yoors trooly,
Tom and Jerry.-Extry, we never
had no krismus all Our lives"
Nan felt very sober when she had
finished reading this letter. and she
was sure she saw tears in Santa's
eyes. But he went to rummaging
his pack, and fshed out two good
warm suits of clothes and some heavy
shoes and stockings. Nuts and candy
and some toys followed, and big
turkey and some vegetables went into
the empty cupboard.
Then Santa looked at the poor
mother
'She ought to have warm dress
and shawl" said Nan, quickly.
Anything else?" asked Santa.
"Well, I should think some money
to buy coal and -four and such things
would do her lots of good, said Nan.
Santa pinned a fve-dollar bill to
the heavy shawl he had thrown over
the sleeping woman. Then he blew
out the candle, and he and Nan stole
softly out of the room.
ooh, dear !" said Nan, with
sigh, when they were on their way
again. care there many folks as
poor as that?"
"Too many" replied Santa, look
ing very grave. "And some even
poorer. The worst of it is, 1 can't
possibly get around to them all every
year"
People ought to help you," said
Nan.
eyes, they ought" returned Santa.
Then he added: "Now, l dare say
you have some cast-of clothing and
old toys at Jour house that would
help to make Merry Christmas for
some poor child, or children
eyes, indeed" said Nan, "and
I'll ask mamma to let me give away
a big basket Of things tomorrow"
Then Nan fell into brown study,
but she wasn't thinking about pow
dered wigs and dainty costumes this
time, but Of poor little Tom and
Jerry.
"I believe" said Santa, after he
had made several more visits, "Tn
have to take a run home and get
some more presents"
'Home p exclaimed Nan. "Why,
do you live anywhere in particular
TO be sure" replied Santa cool
ly; 'I live up close by the North
Pole, my dear. 1 have big storage
house up there"
ooh, how funny" said Man. "But
how do you ever get anything to put
in your storage house?'
'Well, I don't mind telling you,
Santa, though it's a great secret.
You see IN the summertime, I just
put on my business suit and go round
to the stores. l pick up a good
many nice things on the bargain
counters"
"My," exclaimed Nan, chow
queer But it must be lots of work
to get your goods up to the North
Pole"
"Oh, don't mind that, F." said San
ia. 81 know all the short cuts
"Dear me % said Nan. "And to
think that SO many people have been
trying for SO many years to find the
North Pole Why don't you show
some of them where it is ?"
"Bless me ' cried Santa, after
| b11rct of 1aJ1Ohter Hfhev wouldn't +