Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1902-12-19

would be such "A long pull for the rein
deer"
At last she asked Bertha about 1t.
and was relieved to hear that Santa
Claus went everywhere. to each city
and village and house that he could find.
But how would he find that one little
sod-house out on the prairie. four miles
from the small town that had sprung up
so quickly? Even If Santa knew of the
existence OF the little town, he could miss
the house Just so easy" Katrinka told
Lottchen, Tor it would be night when he
went by, and the little house would be
dark. How was he going to see It?
She resolved TO ask Bertha how Santa
Claus could find her. So. dragging
Lottchen by one arm over to her sister.
who sat busily knitting. she said, in her
quaint, serious way:
Sister Bertha. how will the good
Santa Claus know where l amp
Know where thou art. mein Lleb-
chem" cried Bertha, stopping the merry
click Of her neddles TO kiss the sober. up
turned face. rs It of that thou vert
thinking? Santa always knows where
good girls are. There. run away
dear. and bother thy little head no more
about It,"
But Katrinka and Lottchen were still
in doubt. II there were only a way to
let Santa know that a house was there
on the prairiei II she could but give
some signal. so that he would come TO
see,
All the afternoon she and Lottchen
thought about 1t.
Suddenly an idea popped into Katrin-
kas head She whispered II to Lottchen
who appeared to listen approvingly, and
Katrinka was so pleased with her plan,
and so convinced that the difficulty was
removed. that her yellow braids of hair
bobbed about in lively fashion as she
nodded her head and lanpha6
Then. feeling that in her great anxiety
she had neglected her duty as a mother
TO Lottchen, she gathered the rag baby
close in her arms and sang her to sleep.
She has forgotten her troubles"
thought Berth, listening to Katrinka' 8
children long"
Poor Bertha. She. too. had been
thinking since the snow came of the
home in the Fatherland, of the quaint
old village. with its crooked streets and
matched stone houses. and the friends OF
her youth. She was lonely and home
sick for sight of them all.
When Katrinka asked about Santa
Claus. It made her heart ache. for she
knew that the good saint would leave
them very little from his wondrous
store: indeed. she did not think he would
come at all.
She had limited to Joseph, when he had
| provisions and to sell her knitting to
buy a trine for Katrinka's Christmas.
| If the money lasted. But she did not
| know how II would be. They were so
poor, and every cent must be saved.
| BY and by she laid aside her knitting
and began to prepare supper, for Joseph
would soon be returning, and he would
be hungry.
! When the sound of the snow cracking
under the wheels of the little cart was
| heard outside Bertha threw a shawl
over her head and ran out in the cold.
''Joseph!" she cried eagerly, as he
jumped from the cart, and began to I'M
hitch the old horse. "Didst thou do it
| buy trfle for Katrinka?"
But. alas! Joseph shook his head.
There were so many things to buy
that We needed" he said, land the knit
ting brought so little. There. do not
look so sad, Bertha. Katrinka is a great
girl, now She will not expect Santa
| Claus"
But in his heart he too. was sad. He
! thought that if Katrlnka seemed too
| disappointed he would white her some
| thing from a little wooden box that
Bertha had Something could be in
vented that would serve for a Christmas
| gift.
Bertha could have cried with disap-
pointment and vexation. He could have
| v,
thought. But there was no help for 1t
Joseph could not go back. and Katrinka
must go without Christmas
She could scarcely bear to meet the
eyes of the expectant child, who, still
holding her doll, stood looking from the
window.
"Achl it's cold" cried Joseph. stamp
ing his feet at the door, and then com
ing in, and stretching out his hands to
the fire. But 1t has already begun to
grow warmer and there are signs that
we shall have more snow. How good
and warm II is in herel
He rubbed his face and ears to make
! them glow.
| Joseph's prophecy proved correct II
grew warmer, and snow began to fall
| Then the wind sprang up; the air grew
| cold again, and the snow grew finer
| The air was filled with white clouds OF
1t. The wind shrieked and howled and
swept the flakes hither and you, and piled
them in great drifts on the prairie.
But is was warm and cozy inside the
little sodhouse, and no one thought OF
the storm raging without save Katrlnka
who wondered II the reindeer could gel
through the drifts.
But she rocked Lottchen to sleep again
in firm faith that Santa Claus would
come, and sang her lullaby with a happy
| heart.
But Bertha could not but think OF the
little sisters disappointment on the NOR
row. She thought how different It had
been the year before, when the little
mother" was alive, and they were in the
dear Fatherland.
She knew that in the old German vii.