Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-13

the wind had broken, off and placed it in his
sledge
1t was nearly morning when the deer
stopped before ? the lonely tent of skins
where the poor children lay asleep. Claus
at once planted the bit of pine tree in the
sand and stuck many candles on the
branches. Then he hung some of his pret-
test toys on the tree, as well as several
bags of candies. 1t did not take long to do
all this, for Santa Claus works quickly,
and when all was ready he lighted the cam
dies and thrusting his head in a the open
ing of the tent, he shouted:
Merry Christmas, little onesr
With that he leaped into his sledge and
was out of sight before the children, rub
bling the sleep from their eyes, could come
out to see who had called them
You can imagine the wonder and joy of
those little ones, who had never In their
lives known a real pleasure before when
they saw the tree, sparkling with lights that
shone brilliant In the gray dawn and hung
with toys enough to make them happy for
years to come! They joined hands and
danced around the tree, shouting and laugh
ing, until they We're obliged to pause for
breath. And their parents, also, came out
to look and wonder, and thereafter had
more respect and consideration for their
children, since Santa Claus had honored
them with such beautiful gifts
The idea of the Christmas tree pleased
Claus, and the following year he car
ried many of them in his sledge and set
them up in the homes of poor people who
seldom saw trees, anu paced candies and
toys on the branches. OF course, he could
not carry enough trees in one load for all
who wanted them, but in some homes the
fathers We're able to get trees and have
them all ready for Santa Claus when he
arrived; and these the good Claus always
decorated prettily as possible and hung
with toys enough for all the children who
came to see the tree lighted.
These novel ideas and the generous man
ner in which they were carried out made
the children long for that one night in
the year when their friend Santa Claus
should visit them, and a such anticipate
is very pleasant and comforting the little
ones CLEANED much happiness by wondering
what would happen when Santa Claus next
arrived.
Perhaps YOU remember that stern Baron
Braun who once drove Claus from his
castle and forbade him to visit his children?
Well, many years afterward, when the old
baron was dead and his son ruled in his
place, the new Baron Braun came to the
house of Claus with his train of knights
and pages and henchmen and, dismounting
from his charger, barred his head humbly
before the friend of children.
my father did not know your goodness
and worth he said, land therefore threat
ened to hang you from the castle walls
But 1 have children of my own, who long
for visit from Santa Claus, and I have
come to beg that You will favor them
hereafter as you do other children.
Claus was pleased with this speech for
Castle Braun was the only place he had
never visited. and he gladly promised to
bring presents to the Barons children the
next Christmas eve,
The baron went away contented, and
Claus kept his promise faithfully,
Thus did this man, through very good
ness, conquer the hearts of all: and it is no
wonder he was, ever merry and gay, for
there was no home in the wide world where
he was not welcomed more royalty than any
king