Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1906-12-22
A DAY WITH ClNDER CLAWS
CONTINUED from Page 1s)

Continued from Page 49,
surprise he received no answer. and
for an instant he felt strangely alone.
Then suddenly there was warmth and
light. and he found himself in the
familiar living room, with the great
logs burning in the big fireplace. And
there. too was the Little Chap, the
eldest Of a lively group Of youngsters.
II was evident to the minister that
they could not see him, though he could
see them all-the rough and tumble
brothers with the Little Chap at the
head and the two sisters. the one next
himself aspiring to little womanly airs
when she could resist the delights of
being a tomboy, and the other the baby
Of IN. The mother had her on her lap
such a mite of q mother. with light
and laughter in her blue eyes In spite
Of the tired lines about her mouth.
There was n jingle of bells outside,
and in strobe neighbor Francois, his
dancing eyes and rudy cheeks just
showing above his great tip Of
"Mcrra Creesmas! Merra Crees-
mas" he shouted as he came toward
the fire. where he was at once the
center Of boisterous group. mo. no
Noel stories desc night Hlaf | net you
tOle dem tOusan times?'
Are your stories really true. Fran
co.s?" asked the little sister breath
! lessly.
True? All you doubt dem? Know
den, Francois tell noting but Of true.
Ole Cinder Claws-if you pad poys an
girls you fin ont he vera true. An
de cattle at meednight--" Francois
| crossed himself and shook his head so
sulemnly that the children were quite
awed, and their mother laughed at theft
big. round eyes
But Francois solemnity did not last
long lie was in hurry to do hiS
! errand and be off.
Pierre de Baptiste," he said 10 the
mother. "he lefe you here some mo
lasscs jug Of heem. II he ask me would
/ take him M for II. heh?"
So the jug was delivered. and Fran
co.'s went on his way. leaving the
youngsters gazing from the window!
and talking in subdued voices Of his
strange tales.
Francois says they are true" they
persisted. and their mother only smil
ed and said. Francois thinks they ar,
true" Then she added in the vote,
! they associated with Sunday. Here II
the only true Christmas story" AND
in that same voice she read IL to then
as she had so many times from thu
Book with the thick leather covcrh
while they listened with their eye
bigger and rounder than ever.
When the reading was over the chill
dren trooped on to bed. the Little Char
bringing up the rear of the procession
with John Elderson close beside him.
There's no stocking hanging or an,
such frivolity here tonight. Is tber,
Little Chap" said the minister. e
forgot-you can't hear n word | say
and you wouldn't understand me II yo'
did. ! was only wondering what you,
think II you ever saw crowd Of mod
ern youngsters on Christmas epe. BE
tween you and me, though, I've oftel
longed for your quiet version OF tn
night before Christmas. The holidn,
rush never troubles you much in thi
corner of the world, does it,"
While he was speaking they ha
reached the attic chamber, where tn
Little Chap hurried out of his home
spun clothes, his teeth chattering, an
Struggled down under the PATCHWORK
quilts. His eyes were wide open, star
ing hard through the chinks in tn
sloplng roof at the frosty stars over
head. And soon the minister discover
cd that though what he might say wa
] heard by no one but himself, he never
theless could read every thought In th
boys mind.
81 wouldn't say so TO mother. bu
somehow IL seems as II the story in tn