Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1905-12-23

morning. TOO busy to see you. but
win leave few reminders. Hang NJ
stocking. Santa Claus.
ne hooked up into her face with an
EXPRESSION Of rapture. That's straight
even 20 the press copy Then his
thourhts took n long Jump. How
long before Chrssfmasl'' he asked
During the next three weeks Amy
was VERY busy. She had TO cAlcalate
closely for the money. Her salary vas
small. and there YRS her widowed
xlother 20 care for. But her anxiety
was unnecessary. One day a note
came from the manager OF the SSse-
graph company The boys IN the ofifS>
had taken Us a little collection Tor
Tcddy's Christmas. ne said. and u was
his pleasure TO send hsS the cash-tcn
a GOd-send. Teddy should have q
royal Christmas-eyent 90 the -iugyne-
that would so by itself
There was now no doubt that Teddy
was improving Day by day the thin
face filed out His color returned
He Was eating regularly. sleeping
soundly. and the spells Of coughing
were less frequent. The doctor spoke
OF the change. but Amy was uncom
municative.
Some new influence IS at work" ne
said TO her one day IL was just a
| week before Christmas. The gain is
ton. what wonderful elixir have yon
given him? I may need q myself be
fore long /. too. have malady that
defies drugs
She looked az As1a in sudden fear
then flushed before his strong. tcnfcr
g2ze- Il cannot tel you now" Her
eyes were turned sway Her face was
bright with pleasu e.
But cant know soOn2'' he asked
with an almost boyish pleading in his
voice. Name a day when nay ask
and be answered.
She turned TO him with a new light
in her eyes Something told her that
his interest was not IN Teddy alone
Ask me Christmas morning." sLs
whispered. and I viii tell you. not a
day before" And try as he might he
could get no more from her.
Christmas eve arrived. with wind
: and snow and bitter cold Teddv
feared the weather would keep santa
Claus away But Amy treasured him
oh. Santa Claus h6es the snow. III
rides in big sleigh with a long team
Of reiudeers. He's sure TO get here
rAAAN AAAAE IA NI- MI-las W. IT
up your stocking right here on the
bedpost- And then you must so &C
sleep early"
At eight O'Clock she went on drtv
Teddy didn't get 70 sleep as directed
for excitement. but finally he fell into
n deep slumber- His telegram In his
hand. and his long black stocking
hung In plain sight on the hedpdst
All over the city. fathers and mothers
we're commencing their work Of Rove
and Amy. tired though she was. becsa1
her own
In a private room stood the tree
The floor was strcwu With packa -cs
she had no assistance. but she worked
on. with strings OF popcorn and Gran
berries. fancy BAGS OF candy. brilliant
glass balls. and showers of tiusel
Near Midnight four strong men cam,
from the lower ward. and Ted'iys nt
tie iron bed. with Teddy SQUAD asleep
was carried gently into the private
room. Then she slipped away TO he
rest.
Il seemed to Amy that hut lev
minutes had elapsed when she wa
awakened by the alarm clock on hc
bureau She arose, made n light. an
bathed her face again and again IN tn
cold water until she felt able 10 koel
Ihcr eyes open IL was five O'Clock
stiu dark
She entered Teddy's room an
Turned on the elccEric light. lie wa
lsleeping quietly. There was n step &
the hall and the door opened It wa
the doctOr-his face a study. She hcl
lup warning finger. then turned 20 On
bed and reaching down took the bo
Ia her arms and kissed him. Teddy.
she cried. a little sob in her voic,
i"Teddy. Merry Christmas Merr
Christmas Teddy"
Teddy woke suddenly and SAT- DO
upright He gave shout OF 10.
"Oh-h-h.' he cried. ia a long. echoin
N gasp. "Oh. Jimmy WhinIlin
II amt that great" Then words faile
e him. and he could only look and lool
10 his eyes teasting en- wonders that IA
p tongue could not describe.
> They put a warm bathrobe aroun
y him and placed him on the door. +,
4, be was not yet able 60 walk. BY n
y, side Amy laid the stocking. no
~ bulging With treasures. In front
him stood the "ingyne" and mar
&c other things dear 20 boyish hear,
-, he handled them one after another
silent awe. Then he took the stoc
ing and wsth delicious deliberate
poured from Il a wealth of treasure
- he Nsas dazed by his sudden accum
"a latiou Of riches. He leoked up
a. them with 4 smile That's a bul
santa Claus he said ~He done d
~ part n0hly- I'm g0iR' ID set Wen .
= right"
al After a while they put him back
hnA hfcr Il Il.