Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1903-12-24

all his short lie. Al last night came.
and Jimmy was tucked away in bed;
but he did not go to sleep, He had
made up his mind to see Santa Claus
that night, and brave!y kept awake
until all the family were in bed.
When the house was finally quiet he
crept out, and hurrying into his
clothes, went softly through the hall TO
the nursery. How cold and dark it
was, and how much louder the clock
licked at night He shivered as he
curled up in front of the fireplace
where the embers were dying out. and
he almost wished he were back in
bed again.
He had been sitting there a long
time, rubbing his eyes to keep awake.
when suddenly there was noise on
the roof of many feet and sleighbells
ringing.
ut must be Santa Claus and his
reindeer" he thought, and his heart
beat fast as the noises stopped right
over his head. Pretty soon there was
noise in the chimney as if some
thing were sliding down.
Jimmy moved back from the fire
place; and it was we'll he did, for just
as he got out of the way a fat little
man with a big pack on his back
stepped out. From his jolly red face
and white beard Jimmy knew it was
santa Claus, and watched him eagerly
as he brushed the SCOT from his fur
coat and cap.
i should think people would have
their chimneys cleaned before Christ.
mas" said Santa Claus as he slipped
his pack to the floor and began to fill
Jimmy's stocking.
Jimmy sneezed. The snow on Santa
Claus coat had made the room colder.
With a start that made the sleigh
bells around his waist jingle Santa
Claus looked around.
Merry Christmas. Jimmy" he said
as he saw the little boy 80 you sat
up to see me. did you? Sometimes I've
caught little boys before. It's well |
didn't see you before | filled YOUR
stocking or | wouldn't have given you
such nice presents"
Don't you like little boys?" asked
Jimmy timidly.
Yes, yes | like boys, and girls too.
nut II | let them watch me work I
can't get through as fast and some of
the children's presents would be late"
he said but Mrs. Santa Claus and I
both like children"
is there a Mrs. Santa Claus p"
Jimmy asked in surprise.
Santa laughed heartily. "To be sure,
Didn't you know that?"
Does she look like you?" Jimmy
ventured.
Again Santa gave his jolly laugh.
Yes, she looks a good deal like me
I'm going back now to get more pres.
ents for the children in this block and
III take you to see her if you like
Jimmy could hardly believe his ears,
tut he eagerly donned his coat and
cap which were lying on chair, and
let Santa Claus put him in his pack.
Ihen they went up the chimney, Santa
Claus putting for breath but neyertbe.
less climbing very quickly. When thew
reached the roof, Santa Claus. placed
Jimmy In the sleigh while he united
the reindeer from the chimney and
then got in himself.
what ride that was through the
cold night cir with the four reindeer
TWO hltched ahead of the others. lean
ing from the roof of one house TO the
next, and the sleighbells ringing so
merrily!
Where do you live?" asked Jimmy
as he saw they were going far from
town.
UP on the north POLE You are the
nrst boy to go there, and no man has
been there either"
Jimmy felt very proud to thinE no
was being so honored, and Thought
now the other children would envy him
when he told them in the morning
AT last they reached a tall. white
pole which was larger at the bottom
so that when the reindeer climbed nm
II was like ascending a steep hill At
the top Santa Claus gave a peculiar
call to the reindeer and they stopped
before large. white house.
Az the sound of their arrival the
door had been thrown open by a short
lat woman whose round face was as
cheery as Santa Claus. She greeted
Jimmy warmly as he went with Santa
Claus into the large, brightly lighted
room
me place reminded Jimmy of a big
toy store where he had been the week
before In enc corner were Christmas
trees, and on shelves along the sides
of the room were drums. dolls. sIeds
games, skates and all kinds OF TOYS
while the chairs, table and floor were
covered with toys in small heaps.
Jimmy thought Mrs. Santa Claus was
not a very good housekeeper, but as
the little woman hurried about point.
ing out the different heaps for Santa
to take. Jimmy saw each pac,,age con.
tanned the name and address OF the
owner ready for Santa Claus.
Are all the presents ready?" asked
Santa Clans nf HIS wife