The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1907-12-08
,,- 4--As.- e.An s'-.~
and he was yiSitin' with Brother Her


child. drawing long breath. Then
you must be more disappointed even
than | am. because you know what
you're missin'. But you can tell me
what it was like. SO we can pretend
just complete"
well" began the old man, there
was q tree all covered with sparklin
things and colOred ones and candles.
and then the folks presents was hung
on the limbs too. The room was all
kind Of trimmed round with green,
and there was words on the walls.
Peace on Earth, Good VIII to Men
and vral others.
"And there was Il Santa Claus. &
man all dressed up in furs, with long
white whiskers and lOokin' as if he'd
been out in a snowstorm. and he made
some remarks fust and then give out
the presents. There was parcel of
candy for each child. l reclect. Twas
a handsome sight"
1--WE can pretend most of it if you'll
help, grandfather" she said.
I'm ready for anything you suggest
ma 'am,"- said the old man as he rubbed
Sarah Mary's hand between his own
rough palms.
"Well, then" said the child briskly,
chad you Just as soon have your din
ner at half past 'leven, so l can have
the whole afternoon to get ready to
pretend in?"
"Haye it at ten thutty if you say So"
said her grandfather gayly.
NO" returned Sarah Mary, with
much gravity; half past 'leven will be
early enough. Now, there's two or
three things you can do to help. /
don't see t we can have a real tree
but if we could bring in that tallest
apple wood chunk that's out in the
shed and cut some notchcs in it and
stick some of the twigs from the brush
pile in the notches l think 'twould
make a real good pretcndin' tree.
"And then. of course she went on,
"you must be Santa Claus, and you'll
know just how. s long as you've seen
one, and if you could spare me some
of your old papers I'd be obliged. And
I'll do all the rest
"Mussy sakes alive"' CALCULATED
Grandfather Nichols. What a little
planner You be. Well. well. l guess
there's quite little job laid out for
me. I'll look over the old papers fust
and see what can spare. l s'pose it's
no use askin' you what they're for?'
Not a mite,' replied the child mer-
y.iIx hn broom from
its peg on the wall.
Guess I'll step out if it's house
| cleanin' time" said Grandfather Mich
OILS as he beat retreat in pretended
dismay, to the living room.
Here's four numbers from the three
years ago file that haven't got any
thing of no great interest to me in
'em," said the old man. cautiously
| opening the kitchen door at about 1o
| o'clock with a little package Of Old
| newspapers in his hand. will that
be enough for your purposes? Seems
| to be great doin's in here this mornin'.
Haven't smelled molas'-
"Grandfather.' said Sarah Mary il
a warning tone. and the old man drop
ped the papers and retreated.
"Jest like her ma, that child is" he
said to himself as he put on his coat
preparatory to a trip to the cold gar
ret, where he expected to find some ar
| ticles suitable for his afternoons mas
querade. There amt no stumpin'
he. not for long. can tell ye.'
Dinner was what Sarah Mary called
| "slim" that day and was eaten with
all possible expedition. Sarah Mary's
| thin little cheeks were flushed. and her
| eyes were unusually bright.
do you s'pose-do you reckon it's
silly for me to be pEe:endih'?" she
| asked Had l ought to consider I'm
too old for play. grandfather"
Lets see-how Old be you 'Xactly?'
| inquired the Old man.
I'm jest about 'leven." responded
| the child.
| "Wel. that's gettin' on. O course;
| but, SEEM you're small for your age.
presume it might be allowed ye t.
play little spell longer if you get a
good chance like this one
The child's last doubt vanished with
| this assurance
1t had been agreed between them
| that when Grandfather Nichols had
| placed the chunk. with it's twig
branches tightly notched In according
to Sarah Mary's directions, she was II
| take possession of the living room and
| beautify 1t as she saw fit.
All her grandfather had to do with
it was to give her a few more particu
lars about the decorations he had seen
that other Christmas so long ago. He
was not 20 be permitted to see the liy-
ing room till 6 o'clock.
Precisely at that hour Sarah Mary
in the character of guest and Santa
Claus in the person of her grandfather
were to enter the apartment, one from
the kitchen and the other from the
entry.
Time hung rather heavily on the old
man. At o'clock he muttered to him