The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-12-16
STORY OF SANTA CLAUS

But" i insisted, 1T is very important
and I'd only keep him minute.
No" said the rosy-eheeked old lady.
He simply won't see anybody. Why, we
have to pass him his meals through a
little door in the wall OF his worNroom
And he hasn't slept for nights and nights.
ruly. I'm sorry to send you away, after
YOU have come so far. but-can you
come again. say about the twenty sixth
of December
Very we'll, said l sadly, III CO. I'm
not disappointed, but. after all, didn't
really expect to see him"
Il beg your pardon?" said the old lady.
NO" l replied. buttoning my coat AID
turning away, Il only came out to- con-
nrrn the growing suspicion that there
isn't any such person Santa Claus,
anyway Good morning"
''Eh? What's that?''
From within the cottage a deep bazs
voice rumbled out these words, VII Oh
were followed by chattering of wood
and metal, as though some one were sud
denly rising from workbench and drop
ping his tools. l smiled, for l perceived
that my ruse had succeeded.
Who says there's no such person.
demanded the bass voice. who says
SOP
Well" said J. its being rumored
more and more every year, and
"Outrageou Scandalous, What is the
world coming to? -I-I-ugh!"
The sturdy tramp, tramp of heavy
boots across the hall within, and the man
! had come so far to see stood before me
in the open door. an incontrovertible proof
that not only did he exist, but was very,
very lively.
His round, broad frame trembled, and
his long white beard seemed to bristle as
he made his appearance, for he was UNI
mistakably provoked for the moment.
. But in another second his mood changed.
Anger gave way to amusement, and his
voice burst into roar of laughter that
shook the house.
NO such person." he chucklei. NO
such person as Santa Claus: Ha, ha. ha.
Ho no. no."
His laughter was infectious, and soon
Mrs. Santa Claus and l found ourselves
chuckling as merrily as the good saint,
for itw as none other than he.
Yes. il was good cid Santa Claus, now
several hundred years old, but hale and
hearty. who invited me into his little
cottage and ushered me through a SNOW
drift of packages into his workshop.
/ would describe him TO you, only you
have seen his pictures so much that you
know exactly how he looks But as for
this magical workshop. / am afraid that
If | ever began to tell you about it could
never finish. There was so much in it
dolls. steam engines, horses, soldiers,
balls, bats, games, sleds, skates-every-
thing that begins with A and everything
that begins with Il, and everything that
begins with the letters between. I've seen
a lot in my time. and I've been given the
run OF several toy shops. but when L
looked abost Santa Claus workshop |
just opened my mouth and said, O-o-oh."
Santa Claus seated himself at a bench
Oh which were toys of all Kinds, most OF
them only partly finished. Immediately
he began TO work on one-a beautiful
rocking-ho
You must excuse me for working while
/ talk" said he, but there are mighty
few more days between now and Christ
mas, and with the extra large increase
In the number Of children whom ! have
10 furnish with presents this year l shall
have to hustle tell you
Why" said /, lis the number so un-
usually large"
oh my. yes replied Santa Claus
"More children have been born since last
Christmas than ever before in one year
But l could handle that increase. ] mean
the good children are so many this
k~hristmas.
> Il hadn't noticed that mine have i'm
proved so wonderfully" l said, thinking
OF the record my young hopefuls had
been making recently.
Just the same, there has been big
Improvement" said Santa Claus. 'Of
course. children will be children. ard we
must overlook their liStle misdoings."
The dear did fellow said this with such
kindness that l wondered if it WASH t
very quality in him that had kept him
young and hearty so long.
How about the New York chilfren?' l
ssked "Are~-they any better this year.
BLESS you. yes, And | can tell YOU,
sir. that unless they DO some terrible
things between now and the twenty-iifth
Of December they are going TO have the
greatest Christmas the world has ever
known.
The old chaps enthusiasm made me sit
up. Perhaps ! should hear something OF
interest to the youngsters in New York.
Yes, sir he continued, as he pro-
ceeded to paint the rocking-horse gray,
Eyes. sir, I'm going to give them a
Christmas they'll remember Why, what
do you suppose I'm going TO provide for
them in the way of Christmas trees?'
Il haven't an idea" l faltered
"Of course not Wen. to supply the
children of New oYrk with Christmas
trees I've had 10 arrange for cutting
down no less than 20e0Oo trees, Two
hundred thousand green fragrant pines,
hemlocks. and spruces, Think of that.
They come from everywhere almost.
am sending my woodchoppers up
through Maine and New York. down
through North Carolina and into Penn
Ysyivania and / shell have hard work sup
plying the demand Why. do YOU. know,
II / relied solely on young trees. jcst the
right size to At In a parior. l should be
,n a dreadful fix. But I'm hav ng the
tops OF big trees cut OFF to use instead
BY this means hope to get through all
right
Il should think" / said that the se
o0,oe3 trees would need lot Of presents
to make them look presentable."
Presents" laughed Santa Claus. THE
eupply is simply cclossal Why. the day
after Christmas. last year. | sent word
10 every one Of my. toy makers in Ger
many. France. Switzerland and through
out the United States TO begin work for
this coming Christmas. And they've been
working night and day ever since Us