The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-12-23
Copyright 1906. by TIE NEW YORK Tisirs.

names am unable 10 say whether she referred to
Susanna or Rose Ann. Bending over the figures
Rose AIMS mamma continued.
Let me see. Rose Ann wears blue ribbon IN her
hair, or is It Susanue that wears blue ribbon? I'm
quite sure that wears blue and the other wears
red; but declare TO goodness I've forgotten which
wears which. But dear me, guess I ought 20 know
my own sweet title pwecious baby dirl. no matter
what color she wears"
Why Of course She ought to- know. The idea.
Taking up one Of the sleeping figures and leaving
the other 20 keep Romeo company Rose AIMS
mamma put the figure TO bed tucking her
snug and warm that only two eyebrows and little
pink nose could be seen. and left her the night
some time after that Santa claus who had tied
his reindeer in the orchard and had been stamping
his feet and thrashing his arms about his body to
keep warm while he wondered II the grown-up peO-
pie ever would go to bed. slipped down the chimney
and hastily crammed all the stockings he could find
there fun OF Christmas presents. while Romeo purred
and rubbed against his legs AS he picked UP his
bag toys to so. Santa Claus stumbled over p little
figure lying on the before the fire.
Iullo. " said Santa Claus i've dropped one
Of my biggest dolls out Of the bag"
" Observation-Disclosures" said Romeo
" Got out; YOU don't know what YOU talking
about" retorted Santa claus. Guess I ought to
know my own dolls"
Wen. should say he ought The idea,
So Santa Claus hastily stuffed the figure into his
toy has scrambled up the chimney. and drove OFF as
fast as his reindeer could TO make up for lost
time
Santa Claus must have tried to get the figure he
picked up off the rug into fifty different stockings
mat night but an were too small. The result was
mat when all his other presents given away.
santa still had the figure left lie drove home as
fast as he could for day ives beginning to dawn and
Santa is so bashfu he doesn't like be seen.
Stamping the snow off his boots al the kitchen
door Santa Claus walked into the sitting room and
threw the empty bag-that IS empty except for this
one nsure-down I'm front OF the fireplace
The reindeer took OFF their siver-rnounted har-
ness and hung It up I'm a mahogany cabinet with
plate glass doors which stood i'm the barn. Then
they all trooped into the sitting room too wip
lag thei~ feet carefully the mat at the kitchen
door, lfy this time Santa Claus had piled the fire
place high with dry hickory wood. so that the fire
was swapping ana cracking at a great rate
one OF the reindeer went down into the cellar aft
or pitcher Of cider. while another went TO the pan
try after some cold mince pie and doughnuts Then
Santa Claus and tie reindeer leaned back in their
armclars before the roaring fire ate and talked
drank and laughed until they were drowsy One
after another dropped off TO sleep.
know it is unpleasant thing 20 say: hut II Is
fact nevertheless that Santa Claus snores dread
fully. His reindeer no better I'm this respect
Now that have begun it ] may as we'll tell the
whole truth. They snOred SO loud that rhey woke
each other up.
The oldest reindeer yavled. stretched himself
and rubbed his eyes. All at once ne CAV, a snort
that sounded like a Mississippi River steamboat go
ing mp stream and grabbed Santa Claus 10y the arm
" Ow-w-w-w-w-w-ch. S-s-s-s-s-nhl Don't pinch