Ladysmith news. [volume] (Ladysmith, Wis.) 1906-1907, 1906-12-22

I1ClC yOul pCt1 C1IO C111O llACAoO LII JOOA
stockings on Christmas eve, and that
good old fur-clothed Santa is a myth.
Now, have here letter from Santa.
Great excitement among the chill
dren.).
And he says he will arrive here
at 10 o'clock, coming down the chin
ney which you see before you. I must
watch out side; but you must all keep
your seats, or Santa Claus may become
angry, and refuse to enter
Ten o'clock was announced by the
tall clock in the adjoining room, and
the mellow chimes Of that ancient
timepiece had scarcely died away be-
fore the children heard other sounds.
Up overhead there was violent
scratching and tearing, as though a
poorly shod reindeer was trying TO
climb the roof, and they distinctly
heard the silvery tinkling of bells,
and some of them believed that they
could make out the grinding Of the
sleigh runners on the shingles. 1t was
a moment of awful excitement; John.
ME Bell, who had never quailed in
dangers stormy hour, did not try to
conceal the cold PRECIPITATION that
stood on his forehead; Amelia Grimm,
whose courage was generally unswerv-
ing and uncomrromising, tried to st1fle
q shrek and only half succeeded.
After the roof had been successfully
assembled, they heard great noise by
the chimney, as though Santa had just
alighted, and then they heard him de-
scend the interior Of the chimney;
lower and lower he came, until finally
his legs were in the room, and they
kicked in a very human and prosa1c
way. After they had kicked for
, awhile. and no more of the visitors
body appeared, it began to dawn upon
everybody that Santa was in difficult
ties. The children and the older Wis
itors sat staring at the legs for few
minutes, and then Mr.. Moon, who was
a. man for an emergency, CALAMITY
rushed to the rescue He seized
Santa's ankles and pulled with all the
force of a pair Of gymnaslum-educa-
ted arms, but he didn't seem to make
INV Roadway, for Santa yelled IN
voice that sounded like doletul cry
from the tomb that he was being
wedeed in tighter than ever, and ne
implored the company to do something
for his relief.
The elders held a council OF war.
Mr.. Brewster mildly suggested that II
would be q good plan to send IN hre
alarm. but his wife crushed him with
look. and said that the only way she
saw was to take the bricks out OF the
chimney; ard she added: This comes
of a Man trying to act the fool when
he ought to be thinking Of the World
| to come"
Meanwhile Santa groaned and
shrieked in a fearful manner IN the
chimney, and protested that II ne
| wasn't soon released he would be
cornse. Mrs. Bell was fainting COM
| fortahlv in her armchair, and most OF
| the children had vanished. 1t was
then that Miss Rose approached Mr..
Moon. wringing her hands and weep
| ing beautifully,
sMr Moon" she cried, "you see the
srfferings of my uncle, and you stand
here idle. Can you not rescue hlm?'
Miss Rose" said the intrepid young
man. 81 can get him out of that in i've
minutes: it rests with you whether
shall do it or not. The last time pro-
nosed to YOU you refused me, as usual
IF you'll promise to marry me, III res
| enc YOUR uncle; if you won't, leaVe
this town forever-and your uncle III
the chimney. His kicks are growing
feeble and labored; [ don't THINK ne
can last more than three minutes.
The young lady leveled a glance OF
scorn at him that should have wlther-
ed him, but he stood firm. He felt thaC
his whole future was at stake and re-
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