Rocky Ford enterprise., 1904-12-23
a VISIT TO
FATHER
CHRISTIANS

One Christmas Eve. while his psi'
ents were out dining With friends. W
Ito Walter began a letter To Father
christmas- To tell the Truth. Waller
could only write straight strokes a.
yet. but he set them side by sid. Nep
eseniy and neatly. All tho ~hlio he
Was writing. Walter argued with hin
self that Father Christmas would be
abie to read the .xae, meaning hs had
10 mind.
What Walter wanted was To visit
the piae. where all Christmas toys are
kept. -oh. II only might 30 into ihat
storchouss ot things" ho thought. and
cisppcd his hands with Joy.
Il ought To have written !. yesies'
day. for he must bc a~faiiy busy To-
day. Bu, he can manage 10 many
things at once. What trouble could
my visit give him- would no, stay
long: l would look round very quick
iy. and come back TO papa and nam
ma. who would not yet bo home"
These were III. reflections that
not stupid boy.
Hc had not finished his page of
strokes. when two little angels. ono
dArk.haircd and one fair. who wcfo
looking through tho window-pcThapH
noting what toys were To be delivered
ut that house. silently came In and
carried him of.
Away won't Walter. up through
space. The brown'haircd angel wen,
on his way. but the fair one took Wal
Ter to be introduced to Father Christ
mas. who Is the King Of the Toys now
and forever.
After mounting thousands OF white
steps. Walter found himself In tho
presence OF Father Christmas. Tho
old man had white. pointed hood on
, his head. His face was serious anu
his beard long and silvcry. Behind
him n Wide staircase led up. up. and
other stairs. too. led up to an Immense
/ cathedral. US wh.:o rs milk.
Father Christmas looked hard n, tho
] little traveller and said to him:
II have read your letter. cannot
allow you TO go into that building
which Is In my charge. But can tell
YOU this: II Is full to the dome with
toys which | shall send rs presents all
over the world this very night. But
b will allow my messenger boys to take
/ you into the forests OF Christmas
trees. You may help them to cut
down or pull up the FIR trees. and then
| tic little toys and colorcd tapcrs
to the branches. They will sew wings
to your shoulders that you may be
1nauf"
And Walter went with the fair an
gel, not daring to look back at Father
Christmas, who spoke to him SO grave
ly, nor at the white cathedral where
we're such heaps and he.:.;rs. Of toys.
"And where shall we flnd the things
we are to fasten on to the branches
OF the Christmas trees?" Walter asked
OF his gentle companion.
"They will be brought to us from all
parts of the workshops where they arc
made"
"How many are there?"
"Three. In the first dolls are made
and then dressed from head to foot.
In the second weapons and armor are
forged. Swords must be tempered and
breastplates hammered out. To say
nothing of the castings of cannon and
the making of lead soldiers. Our
smiths and our chemists are very
clever"
"In the third they make boats.
barges and sailing boats and steam.
ships. The engineer angel who man.
ages the business knows all the latest
improvements. He himself has in.
,,hp rin yAgaal that IN N
be propelled about for six months be-
low the surface without stopping"
The vast forest OF snow and pino
trees stretched as far as the eye could
see. The light of the moon and stars
frightened the pretty snow. which
kept on falling. The straight trees
stood as motionless as wooden sol.
diers.
Now, let us go to the workshops" ,"
said Walter, eagerly.
Not Just yet. 1t is our business to
dress and beautify some Christmas
trees. We will do that here, so as to
lose no time. Postriders come
straight down from heaven with
sleighs loaded with little toys. and we
only have to tie them with gilt twlne
to the strong branches"
"And yet" said Walter, very timid-
", there are Christmas trees in the
houses before Christmas Day"
"a few days before, yes" replied
tie fair angel. But they have all
been provided by us. In fact. there is
a troop especially employed in that
service. They set to work Immediate
ly after the Sunday before December