Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1906-12-22
Ia FIR n,Innvo Particulars at our Office
I'D IvI uWlIUIO Corner Fort and Merchant Streets
SHORT STORY FOR
EVENING HOURS
A DAY With (INDES CLAWS

A WI viii ClNUtR GlAW0
The last candle had sputtered to its
! death on the dismantlei Christmas
tree and the jnnitor had turned of
the lights In the disordcred vestry that
still seemed to ring with the shrill
voices OF children. A figure in n red,
fur-trimmed coat and a most remark
able growth OF snowy beard hurried
across the lawn TO the parsonage and
disappeared under the portico of tho
study door. II was the Rev. John
| EldersOn In his disguise as Santa
/ Claus. tired. but jubilant over the sue
cess OF his annual mcrrymalSing for
the mission youngsters. once a
year" he was in the habit Nf dcclar-
Ing II become really big man." re-
| icrring to the proportions that he was
wont to assume on Christman eve.
when he acted as the children's patron
saint. Now, MS he loosened the thick
coat. one could see that physically he
| was vcritablc little minister" but
those who called him so with familiar
| yet respectful fondness. knew best Of
all how the broad mind and big heart
more than made up whatever might
be lacking in bodily statute.
| lie did not stop to remove the Santa
Claus Srappings. but threw himself
YEARLY into the arm chair before the
CRATE where few Goals were still
glowing.
Santa Claus is somewhat stiff In the
joints from his nights work" he said
TO himself. as he stretched out to-
wards the fire.
The quiet OF the little room. with Its
lows Of familiar books smiling at him
like old friends, seemed very comfort
! able and soothing after the evenings
tumult.
| This restful stiffness must have last
ed for some time-John Elderson him
self could never tell exactly how long
when he gradually became aware
crate and was rafting about on the
hearth, Naturally enough the mini
I stGr looked In the direction Of the noise
and there on pile OF books near the
fire sat an urchin. pushing bit of coal
back and forth with the copper toes
OF his boots. Some way the boy SEEM
ed TO know what was passing In the
! minister's mind, for he said at once:
mo, sir. I'm not one of the mission
boys" Then he laughed mischieyous
laugh that quite glOrliied his face In
spite OF the freckles and upturned nose.
Indeed" said John Elderson. 81
thought knew every boy in town. and
I'm sure your face Is very familiar
Who are you. and what can | do for
you?"
The boy laughed again. then. with n
sudden seriousness. he answered:
You've done a lot for me already
Don't you really know who | am?
Why, I'm The Little Chap You Used
TO Be,
He said this slowly. with his clear
gaze fixed on the minister's face. John
Elderson took the boys hand In his.
and for moment their eyes met.
Then the minister said huskily:
80 you are-the Little Chap. the
same Little Chap. can't tell you how
good II is to find you again"
The childs face lighted up at the
welcome, and he said, something In so
low tone that John Elderson could
not catch the words, but they seemed
TO be IN the nature of an invitation,
Tor the minister felt the grip OF the
rough little hand tighten on his own,
and then with a strange and sudden
| power something seemed to close over
his heart as well, with n strength he
did not even wish TO resist. The walls
Of the study faded and fell away and
be WIS floating out into space, with
the Little Chap for his only guide and
companion.
Miles OF farms and sleeping factories
and luminous cities few past and the
dim outline OF a sandy coast appeared,
and vanished as they sped on with the
ocean beneath them dazzling in the
icy moonlight Now they neared the
/ land again, but this time the shore
was wild and rocky and darkly wood
ed: on they went over the white hills
and rivers and great pine forests. Soon
/ they were crcling nearer the earth
/ where the woods and snow fields of
northern Aroostook stretching far
! abort them, and here and there \
I g-oup of farm buildings along the
banks OF a nearby river Then a trift-
ed road led them quite to the door
Of rambling, red-painted farmhouse
"Ah Little Chap! How well you
know the way" said John Eldcrson.
speaking tor the first time But to his