The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1906-06-21
The widow bade him hush.


"One'll do, Paul" said his sister Pol
ly, with knowing air.
mo, 'twon't," the boy insisted.
"They amt half as big MS yours. I'm
goln' e try 1t, anyway, an see what
he'll do to 'em."
He drew off his stockings and pinned
them carefully to the braces on the
back of a chair.
"Well. my SON." said Mrs. Vaughn,
looking over the top of her paper, '1t's
bad weather Santa Claus may not be
able to get here"
"Oh, yes, he can," said the boy con-
fdently, but with a little quiver of
alarm in his voice. "I'm sure he'll
come. He has team of reindeers,
An the deeper the snow the faster
they co."
Soon the others barred their feet and
hung their stockings on four chairs in
row beside the first
Then they all got on the bed In the
corner and pulled a quilt over them to
walt for Santa Claus. The mother
went on with her reading as they chat.
tered.
Sleep hushed them presently. But
for the cracking of the fire and the
push and whistle of the wind that
room had become as peaceful. silent
cave under the storm.
The widow rose stealthily and OPEN
Cd bureau drawer The row of limp
stockings began to look cheerful and
animated. Little packages fell to their
toes, and the shortest began to reach
for the floor, but while they were fat
In the foot they were still very lean in
the leg.
Her apron empty, Mrs Vaughn took
her knitting to the fire and before she
began to ply the needles looked
thoughtfully at her hands. They had
been soft and shapely before the days
Of toll. A frail but comely woman she
was, with pale face and dark eyes and
hair prematurely gray.
She had come west, girl OF nine
teen. with her young husband, full Of
high hopes. That was twenty one
years ago, and the new land had poor.
ly kept Its promise.
And the children-"How many have
you" caller had once inquired. Lis
ten," said she. "hear 'em, an you'd say
there were fifteen, but count 'em, an
they're only four"
The low, weathered house and sixty
acres were mortgaged. Even the will
derness had not wholly signed off Its
claim. Every year II exacted tribute,
the foxes taking share of her poul-
try and the wild deer feeding on her
grain.
Presently there came a heavy step
and quick pull at the latchstrlng.
An odd figure entered In swirl of
snow-a real Santa Claus, the mystery
and blessing of Cedar hill. For five
years every Christmas eve In good or
bad weather he had come to four little
houses on the hill, where, indeed, his
coming had been as n godsend.
Whence he came and who he might be
none had been able to guess. He never
spoke in his official capacity. and no
citizen Of PARKWAY had such beard
or figure as this man. Now his fur
coat, his beard and eyebrows were
hoary with snow and frost. Icicles
hung from his mustache around the
short clay pipe Of tradition. He lower
cd great sack and brushed the snow
OF It. He had borne 1t high on his
back, with strap at each shoulder.
The sack was now about half full Of
things. He took out three big bundles
and laid them on the table. They were
evidently for the widow herself. who
quickly stepped to the bedside.
"Come children" she whispered. rousi
ing them. here Is Santa Claus"
They scrambled down. rubbing their
eyes. Polly took the hands Of the two
small boys and led them near him.
Paul drew his hand away and stood
spellbound, eyes and mouth open. He
watched every motion Of the good
saint. who had come to that chair that
held the little stockings. Santa Claus
put a pair of boots on II. They were
copper toed. with gorgeous front pieces
Of red morocco at the top OF the reg.
Then, as II he had some relish Of
Joke, he took them up, looked them
over thoughtfully and put them back
In the sack again, whereupon the boy
Paul burst into tears, Old Santa Claus,
shaking with silent laughter, replaced
them In the chair quickly.
AS II to tighten the boys heart he
opened a box and took out a mouth
organ. He held 1t so the light sparkled
ON Its shiny side. Then he put his pipe
In his pocket and began to dance and
play lively music. Step and tune quick
ened. The bulky figure was flying up
and down above a great clatter Of big
boots, his head wagglng to keep time.
The oldest children were laughing, and
the boy Paul began to smile In the
midst Of great sob that shook him to
the toes. The player stopped suddenly,
stuffed the instrument In stocking
and went on with his work. Presently
he uncovered stick of candy long as
mans arm. There were spiral stripes
Of red from end to end of 1t. He used
II for fiddle bow, whistling with ter
rife energy and saving the air. Then
he put shawls and tippets and boots
and various little packages on the other
chairs.
At last he drew out of the sack
sheet Of pasteboard, with string at
tached, and hung 1t on the wall. 1t
bore the simple message, rudely let
tered In black, as follows:
Merry Crismus. And Children 1 have the
honnor to rename. Yours Respectfully
SANDY CLAUS.
L.. h. ii. .l~