Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1902-12-12

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from his ship in the excitement, forgo
to cry. We all forgot everything bu-
Helen, for she had secret she woulc
not tell us.
we dubbed over with excitement
and desire and eagerness, begging for
her story, but she was calm and nys
ferrous and grew in Importance as we
pressed about her.
We hung about restlessly, watching
her every move; we could not play the
games so dear to us; we wanted to
pounce upon Helen and with brute
force make her tell what she knew,
out we dared not, fearing never TO
learn Mother was preparing to 90
out and, feeling sure we should know
when she left, we offered to help her
to get her hat, to button her shoes
while she looked at us wonderingly.
not understanding our willingness to
assist. When she had gone, Helen said
nothing, but led the way out of the
room, across the hall, up the stairs
and into the garnet room. The dar-
ing pirate again fell, but recovered
himself without tears and with grunt
followed on quickly rather than lose
sight of Helen.
Finally she stopped before a closet
far over on the other side of the house.
She waited for all to come up, then
opened the door and pointed.
Santa Claus" we shouted and were
silent with awe. There on the shelf
under the rafters stood all the evil
dences that Santa Claus had been
there
Delight made us speechleSs. forget
full Of all save the joy Of seeing before
US toys coveted so long. There stood
the automobile to carry the doll with
pink cheeks and chestnut hair with
eyes that opened and closed. with mag
nticent silken gown The drum ma
jor's cap was there thc horn that Lit
tie Boy Blue would blow, dishes for
the little mother, a sword and a gun
for the fierce pirate a noddng ele-
phant, bleating sheep. bats ard balls,
ships and sleds books. skates and a
theater for our dolls.
Still we Were silent The daring pi-
rate brought his chair ship and. climb.
ing into it, captured the shelf's cargo.
Automobile, doll dishes. gun. balls,
sheep, elephant books. skates and all
came down. We scrambled for them,
silently teasing them from each 9th
er's fingers. Each gained a treasure
coveted and became alb
sorbed in it. forgetting time and place
and all else but that the longing to
possess at last was satisfied.
Below stairs a door slammed, caught
by the wind. We jumped to our feet
us here. We snatched the toys from
the little ones, sending them away in
D flood of tears. We put the toys back
in their places and went below stairs
The little ones chartered eXcitedly
but we tried to quiet them, impressing
upon them that Santa had left these
gifts for Christmas and would take /
hem away if any one found out. We /
all agreed never, never to tell; we /
promised not to peep into the closet, /
lot even to go up to the garnet from /
hen until Christmas.
We returned to our play, wishing to .
let as though nothing had happened. /
40 one spoke of our secret. but the .
excitement in the air made
IS forget our piratical battles. We
cared for the little ones too.
In the morning uIe nttIe ones came .
whispering, begging us to 90 upstairs
but we dared not fearful TO let them
see more Yet nothing we did would
luiet them. and we We're afraid of an
of tears. Mother looked at us
with suspicion, not knowing why We
and we did not dare TO keep
t up lest she should question us and
earn from the little ones what we had
lone. SO we told them Santa Claus
lad taken the toys away and if we
we're very. very good and never spoke
If them again he would bring them
pack on Christmas eve. Satisfied, they
began to play in the usual way. We
played, too hoping to forget, but could
lot. When the little ones took their aft
,rnOon nap. we started for the garrett
o take one peep, but were hidden to
tay downstairs. We longed for sight
# our treasures. One glimpse would
make us happy, we felt sure. but we
ould not get it and hung about, uneasy
md hard to please. We asked ques-
ions about Santa Claus and what he
would bring, hoping to learn which
oys would be our own, but we were
answered evasively and told to wait
Until Christmas. When night came.
mother sent us early to bed. Judging
rom our action we were sick. We tried
o sleep. but could not. thoughts of the
treasures over our heads keeping us
wake. We got together and whls-
,ered. longing for a sight of the new
ovs. and. knowing that all were safely
sleep. quietly took the night candle
nd crawled up the garnet stairs to the
upboard. Again the sight filled us
With longing. Again the daring pirate.
loft in his chair ship, took down one
fter the other. and in the delight OF
heir possessiop we lost ourselves ana
laved and played until the Growing
f fine cock warned us to our beds.
Next morning we slept long. ana
mother again feared some sickness