Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1906-12-22

Bible is almost us strange rs what
Francois tells. wonder how she
knows which is the true one"
"Oh, Little Chap" said the minis
ter. you're foreordained for a heresy
trial! You've begun asking Pilates
question early. and youll grow gray
before you find the answer"
81 hope II isn't wicked to think such
things. If It u.s. old Cinder Claws will
get me. Francois says he comes down
the chimney after bad boys on Christ
mas eve His eyes are like two sparks.
and his long claws are all black with
the chimney SCOT Oh-h. Old Cinder
Claws. don't come for me tonight.
never meant TO be bad--honest ! never.
and ! won't fight Joe Sinclair again
| don't b'live he will. cause licked
him SO yesterday. Please Old Cinder
Claws, let me of this time
And as the hobgobin became more
and more vivid to his childish fancy,
the Little Chap drew the bedclothes
tightly over his head in an agony Of
terror.
well. WELL" cried John Elderson.
"I'd almost forgotten that bad half
hour with Old Cinder Claws. Christ
mas eve does have Its troubles, does
/ Mt II? It's wicked that that old demon
should he your Santa Claus. Never
mind-one of these days you'll find
| yourself grown up, with small daugh-
ter on your knee. and. remembering
/ these early terrors of Cinder Claws.
you'll take pains TO tell her that there
! Is no such person. And then. what
will be your surprise TO have your
well meant assurance met with a wall
| of disappointment over her shattered
dreams of Santa Claus. who (strange as
II may SEEM. you have never before
discovered to be quite another person
age from the hobgobln of your youth
full Christmases? And what would you
say to see yourself. years hence, in full
regalia gray beard. with pack on
his back, playing old Santa for the
edifcatiOn of crowd of frolickinS
youngsters? SO. we live and learn
Old Cinder Claws Is only bad dream.
after ALL Little Chap"
After while the boys fears suo-
sided so that he dared uncover his
head and look up again at the stars
still shining upon him through the
Crevices. and. though he did not under.
stand why. some way their quiet light
brought with ii sense Of safety. lie
drew long breath. II guess he's
rOne." he said himself. Perhaps hl
wasn't looking for me after all won
der what time II is | wonder II It's
nearly IL o'clock. Francois says that
! when 1t comes midnight on Christmas
eve all the cows knesl down in thei,
: stalls. I'd like to see them do It, bu,
, tried last year TO keep awake and
! couldn't"
II was so still for few moments thai
John Elderson began to think the bo!
had really dropped off to sleep, bu
pretty soon there was whisper: IL
must be most midnight. | wisht
could see them, just once"
Evidently he had come to some sor
of Il decision in the matter. for In |
moment he crept out Of bed and dress
ed as quickly and quietly as possible
Then he took one Of the patchwork
quilts and wrapping 1t closely abou
him crept down stairs and out to tn
big barn, where the cows were stabbed
"See here, sir" John Elderson want
ed to say. as he followed on. "if yo
had gone through the living room YOU
have seen your mother Just coverin
over the embers for the night, and thel
you'd have known wasn't so late afte
all. What's more, she would have see
you and sent you back to bed, 20
young rascal. However, you'll rea
your reward when she puts the coug
mixture on in the big kettle tomorrow
and doses you for the cold you're sur
to have"
The dozen cows stirred In surpris
y at such an unusual interruption Of thei