The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1902-12-19

only he went OIL long ago ana grandma
prays and cries for him every night,
and she hugs and kisses me, and says
l look as Billy uster. l don't like to
be cried on, but l keep still, COS after
awhile she stops and tells me stories
about the three bears and Daniel in
the lions den, and them sort"
you're good to granny: amt your
"No; l hide her specs sometimes.
But we are good friends, just the same,
for she and l are just of an age, and
that'sa riddle"
The boy looked up with laughing
eyes.
"Guess i,?"
81 can't
"Well, I'm nine and she's seventy
nine. She says she's lived nine years
of her second childhood; so we're just
of an age. Her and l have lots Of
secrets bout Christmas presents. l
had 'leven cents. Want to know what
l did with it?"
"Yes."
II bought cup an saucer for papa,
handkerchief for mamma, doll for
sissy, and a pair of mittins for the
hired girl, and an apron for grandma" :"
"What! all with eleven cents?"
"Grandma helped me out with her
dollar, you see-else l guess l couldn't
got quite all the things"
"Is your father good to her?'
"Good to grandma? Every hody S
good to grandma but Billy"
"What's Billy done?'
"It's secret, but I'll tell you, as
you are Santa Claus, and won't tell.
Well, the hired girl said Billy was no
good, and almost broke grandma's
heart. But love him just the same,
COS grandma does, and that's the rea-
son l love naughty boys. Grandma
says he went to be soldier, too, and
l love soldiers. I'm gonter be one. l
think the hired girl licd-don't you?
A soldier couldn't be no good could
he?"
81 guess she was right"
You'd orter hear grandma talk,
and then you'd believe her, and not
Jane. But must you go, Mr.. Santa
CLAUSE"
"Yes, l must. My reindeer'll get
tired of standing, won't he?"
81 guess so. Wonder if there's any
thing on the sled for me! I've hung
up my stocking, you see. But don't
tell me; l want to be s'prised."
"This is the stocking?"
"Yes."
A bright object shone in the mans
hand for moment, and then disap-
peared. The child knew it went into
the stocking, and his prophetic instinct
told him it was a jack k-knife; but, with
true delicacy, he refrained from saying
so. Then the man returned to the
little fellow and SAID, after some hesi-
tation:
"Want to take word to grandma
from Santa CLAUSE"
"Oh, yes"
Tell ber-tell her Billy's all right,
and coming back to her some day;
next Christmas"
"Oh, my! won't she be glad?'
"Tell her Billy meant to come back
before, only he's down on his luck.
But he's all right now. Mind you
tell her that"
"Yes, l will"
"And, now, suppose you kinder put
your arm round old Santa Claus neck
and kiss him.
"Course, I'd love to-" hugging him
enthusiastically. "Good-by, dear old
Santa Claus. Say, you've dropped
something"
The man stopped to pick up the nip
pers which, with their sharp little
teeth, had been used to unlock the
doors of the farmhouse. But he had
no further use for them, nor ever would
have. Another year, please God, he
would stand, an honest man, under his
brothers roof, and make glad his
mothers heart.
The little boy, mindful of his moth
er's words, did not cross the room to
examine his stocking, nor to watch
Santa Claus drive away with his rein
deer team; but he thought he heard
the faint tinkle of the bells, and pres
emily fell asleep and wandered in
dreamland with Santa Claus and Billy
till Christmas morning.
Early in the keen, gripping cold of
Christmas morning little Perley crept
to grandma's bed and lay down beside
her.
"Guess who it. isl" he said. puttino