The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1905-12-15

We ha,. Travelled for MANY DAVIS into The
hoftfland, and all about us were noun.
tains of SNOW and ice 1ha shone like bur.
nished silver in the sunlight of the brief
northern day.
The valley glintcd like Il stream Of crys.
tai between the mountains. aud the deep
plue Oh the heavens blended into the steely
hlue OF the ice caps which lowered far
above the band of fir trees that seemed
like a stripe of emerald fcstooned with
strings of diamonds sending forth thei,
sclntillating rays of light.
Far from the habitations of men. none
OF whom had been able to direc, us in ou1
search for the home of Santa. and about
TO give up in despair. we discovered a
column OF smoke arising out of the cente1
OF a small grove to our right.
Inc trees were so large aud thickly set
that nothing was visible in them, even
when we had come to the edge of The
grove.
Entering. and making our WAY as hest
possible toward the center, where we
thoueht 10 find old Santa at home, we
reafd some one calling, stop. stop! You
cannot go through there"
we looked in the direction whence the
eau came aud saw a figure reckoning us.
ana When We had come near, so that we
could see Alright, and speak in ordinary
tones, received II royal welcome.
- "@ i''iAiIB lCT santa Clans
hone,' he said, Come with me and |
VIII show you where it is. Everyone who
travels SO far, and braves the storm and
me coid Is welcome to the best we have.
l am one OF Santa Claus helpers, You
Know lie could not supply all the childre,
WIN pretty things. il he had 10 do al,
thc work alone, so some of us make dolls
lor me girls, others make rocking horses
ana TOPS for the boys, and others make
toys of all kinds for Santa 10 take win,
nm when he makes his rounds on Christ.
mas eve"
so, this laxative. chubby, fur-wrappee
person spoke as he led us through n
snsht opening among the trees. until we
came toa cave-likc dwelling on the side of
me mountain back of the :rove. Snow
ana ice, many feet in depth. nv rpon The
dwelling except where "A vent i'm the roof
Jet out the curl of smoke which had al
tlrst attracted our attention.
N'.hont ceremony, our guide opened a
heaNE' wooden door that closed the en-.
trance, and waited until we had stcppe6
inside where we found ourselves in the
presence OF Santa. He is a Very fat. little
person, with Il full rosy face thar is ful,
Of good humor; his hair and beard are rs
Whlte as the snow that lies on his native
mountains and he does not seem the least
ON surprised at our entrance, but has the
itlr oil one who expects company. After
he mas shown us where to place our wraps
ana invited us TO seats near the fire. he
mas made us feel quite at home.
Then, while we were being w:,,rnod IA,
;he fire, our fat little Santa pointed ia
she different objects in the well lighted
room. and explained their uses to rs.
mere were many patterns and models OF
,hlhSs that are useful and pleasing for
the children, In fact, Santa was showing
US lhe place where he spent his time in
venting things, so that his presents would
be in keeping with the times and countries
of the children whom he visited every
year. And, he talked so rapidly thar II
seemed to us that he knew we had come
,here Tor information, and that he was
bound to give II to us as quickly as pos
flble so that he might so to work again.
1or II was coming near the Christmas time
which is his busiest season of the year.
After explaining all The queer things in
ms room. he took us into another and
another, and still another, where we saw
stacks and stacks of pretty playthines
ana useful as well as ornamental things.
There We're horns of all shapes and sizes.
Noah's arks filled with animals sleds
dolls and doll cabs, fire engines, steam
engines. trains OF cars, drums, flies, ac-
corridor, organs, pianos, windmils, Ferris
Wheels. boats. balloons, caps and coats.
boots and shoes. silks ana furs, watches
and clocks. and everything ,ha anyone
in the world might want for a Christmas
present.
Then, Santa told us that this was only
one OF mis- many storchouses; and that
he had people all over the world. in every
country where the Savior and Christmas
were known, working for him the wear
round, making and storing things in diff
fercnt cities where they would he handy
for him when he made his flying tlip with
the reindecr and the sleigh.
Don't you think that boys and girls
should be very good?" asked Santa, when
so many people all over the world are
working all the time to make them laDpvp
And when ] drive my reindeer over the
mountains ana prairies in the cold ana
wet weather, skipping from house TO hons.
In the dark night. to bring them so many
and such fine things2t
We all answered, Yes" as Santa led
us out OF the storcroom,
On our return to the first room wa
found a table spread with a bountao,,s
feast. and we enjoyed n splendid dinner
with our CHEEKY. little host, after which
we bade him goodby, and started m, IN,
return homeward.
The talkative little Stub who Ioo,;ad ca
much like an animated ball of fin. me.
us at the door and guided US out of IN.
grove, assuring us that Santa would he
on time this year and visit every home
where there We're good boys and girls.
H1,l;{o,.o, Il. Nit aH