The Cairo bulletin., 1905-01-10

Eve. when his rein
deer had leaped to the top of a new
building. Santa Claus was surprised
to find that the chimney had been built
much smaller than usual But he had
no time to think about it just then, so
he drew In his breath and made him
self as small as possible and slid down
the chimney.
II ought to he at the bottom by this
time" he thought as he continued to
slip downward, but no fireplace OF any
sort met his view, and by and by he
reached the very end of the chimney,
which was in the cellar.
This is oddr' he reflected. much
puzzled by this experience. IF there
Is no fireplace. what ON earth is the
chimney good forT'
Then he began to climb out again
and found it hard work the space be
ing so small And on his way up he
noticed thin. round pipe sticking
through the side of the chimney, but
could not guess what it was for
Finally he reached the roof and said
to the reindeer:
There was no need of my going
down that chimney, for | could find
no fireplace through which to en-
ter the house. fear the children who
live there must go without playthings
this Christmas"
Then he drove on. but soon came
to another new house with a small
chimney. This caused Santa Claus to
shake his head doubtfuly. but he tried
the chimney nevertheless and found
it exactly like the other. Moreover,
he nearly stuck fast in the narrow fiue
and tore his jacket trying to get out
agaisgsso. although lie came to several
such cbimneys that night. he did not
venture 10 descend any more of them.
"What In the world are people think
ing of to build such useless chimneysT'
he exclaimed. I'm all the years ! have
Travelled with my reindeer have never
seen the like before"
True enough, but Santa Claus had
not then discovered that stoves had
been invented and were fast coming
into use When he did find 1t out he
wondered how the builders of those
houses could have so little considera-
ton for him when they knew very
we'll It was his custom to climb down
cbimneys and enter houses by way of
the fireplaces,, Perhaps the men who
built those houses Ind. outgrown their
own love for toys and were indifferent
whether Santa Claus called on their
children or not. Whatever the explana-
ton might be, the poor children were
forced TO bear the burden of grief and
disappointment.
The following year Santa Claus
found more and more of the new fash.
toned chimneys that had no fireplaces, |
aud the next year still more. The third |
year. so numerous had the narrow |
chiuineys become, he even had few |
toys left I'm his sledge that he was
unable to give away, because he could |
not get to the children.
The matter had now become so seri- |
ous that it worried the good man great |
ly, ard he decided to talk it over with |
Kilter and Peter and Nuter and Wisk.
kilter already knew something about |
it, for It had been his duty to run
around to all the houses Just before
Christmas and gather up the notes and
lei sers TO Santa Claus that the children
had written, telling what they wished |
put in their Stockings or hung on their
Christmas trees but sKilter was ST.;
lent fellow and seldom, spoke Of what
he saw in the cities and villages. The1
others were yegg Indignant.
Those people act as IL they do not
wish their children to be made happy"
said sensible Peter in vexed tone.
The idea Of shutting out such gen
erous friend to their little ones@
But it is my intention to make chill
dren happy whether their parents wish
it or not" returned Santa Claus.
Years ago, when | first began max
ing toys, children were even more neg
lected by. their parents than they are
now. so | have learned to pay no at
tention to tholfghtless1 or selfish par
ents, but to consider only the lengings
of childhood.
You are right. my MASTER said
Nuter, the Ryl; many children would
lack a friend IL you did not consider
them and try to make them happy"
Then" declared the laughing Wisk.
Eve must abandon any thought Of
using these new fashioned chimneys.
but become burglars and break into
the houses some other way"
What wsy?' asked Santa Claus.
why. walls of brick and wood and
plaster are nothing to Fairies. | can
easily pass through them whenever
wish, and so can Peter and Nuter and
Killer Is it not so, comradesY7
Il often pass through the walls when
| gather up the letters" said Kilter.
and that was a long speech for him.
and so surprised Peter and Nuter that
heir big round eyes nearly popped out
Of their heads.
Therefore , continued the Fairy-