Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-12-26
/ Copyrigkt, 1907, BY the Ne,o YORK Heralt
! Contpany-AH Rights Reserrcd.l

Il + j l
!, - ROM my earliest infancy up to the
83i present have always had the good
III fortune to believe in Santa Claus
4 Lots. of people, old and young--par-
ticularly some very wise young peo-
ME that j know--have told me that
K such person exists, but | know better.
Fhe dear old saint is to my knowledge
RI very beautiful spirit, and every time
That Christmas comes along see him al
saIost everywhere 1 turn, among the rich,
L. powerful,. the fashionable; equally
4 knong the poor and lowly. I've seen MIN
5yeaming from the comfortable cushions OF
fine electric motor car speeding along
The parkways, and perched happily up
alongside the driver of a heavily laden
Struck IN tile dusk of bitterly cold win
Ner's day prompting his companion to deal
A,ntlv with his weary horses and under
he spell of the hour to forget the dreadful
Jsondition of the highway, the clogglng OF
the streets and his poor frostbitten nose
/ md cheeks. So no one need tell me that
Santa Claus does not exist or try to push
the glorious old gentleman back into the
realm of what the wise people call myth
shall siniplyttreat all such absurd state
ments as that with broad grin and
wink that shows that 1 know better
But l have other reasons than these for
believing in Santa Claus, for once, some
Years ago-I shall not specify the exact
date-I lay in ambush for him one Christ
mas morning and caught him just as he
had completes ! his work upon my stock
|, ing, hanging from the chimney. place, and
IL made him talk to me-.
IA .tHullo, your cried, as I popped out
a kfrom behind the bureaus, where ! had
34a Been hiding. You're Mr.. Santa Claus,
aren't your
Yes he said, with funny little laugh
that made him shake so that it also shook
the house 81 may as well admit it.
Nothing to be ashamed of, eh?'
mo, indeed" said |. Something to
be proud Of rather, | should say
Thank you" said the old gentleman
ITS very good of you to say So What
can do for you?"
II thought I'd ask you to take me back
with you to Santa Clausville,' / an
swered. I'D like to take peep at those
&iu MOuueIlul VI WI
HIN! Well, that isn't a bad idea,"
said he, stroking his beard thoughtfully.
'But-er-what would your family think
about it? Wouldn't they worry over your
n disappearance? They might think I'd
"a turned kidnapper, and that would never
do
Il shouldn't be gone long," suggested.
s. Say only, for day. l could get good
81 peep at things in day, couldn't l 2
Yes, | think you could said Santa
Claus .But the way things go In this
3 worh! there is no communca ton between
"a Santa Town, or Clausburg, as some people
"A call it, except between midn ght Christ
~ :,as Eve and six o'clock Christians morn
;l,s So if you went back with ME to-
light it would be whole year before you
could come home again. Pin afraid
you'd be awfully homesick before long
]. even with me, and your friends would he
s. drradfully worried"
j "Do you only have six hours in which
to do all your work 2" | asked.
THAT is all l have here" said SAINTS
NM Claus THAT is why of late years yor
III hnd me using the mails and the express
v companies so much in the delivery Of
packages. There are so many. more place.
to be visited now than there used to b,
that have been forced to have assist
ance. If didn't I'd be detained here 81
4 late thatI couldn't get home at all for
whole year,
NV hat!" cried. Cant even you .ge
& in after SIX
'.Nope. replied Santa Claus. "If
Il We're one minute late in driving up to TIL
gates of my own country l should b.
4 unabesto get in
That's queer! Ever been locked out?
querieds
Once" said Santa Claus. '.only once
and assure you it was Il dreadful ea
~ perience. I've been particularly careful
"a ever since to be home on time, for Will
e | am very fond of you earth people
prefer my own home to live in. You Sc
IN I'm /; great man hereabouts during tn
holidays, but after Christmas has gone
don't seem to he quite SO popular, or .
# any rate people don't think so much abou
"a ME after the Christmas season is ovel
"a They put their minds on Abraham Lii
81 coin and ST. Valentine and George Wasl
e ingtonand ST. Patrick and other most e,
"a ceilent people, and it is perfectly rigl
I they should. I've had my day and the
are entitled to theirs
tel me of that time you We're locke
out, Won't you?" | pleaded.
"a Certainly" said Santa Claus. lookirl
81 at hia watch. Its only five o'clock nov
and I'm practically through for this yea
"A. I'll tell you about it with pleasure. Ju!
~ climb back into bed SOS you wont cato
cold and I'll sit down alongside of yo
and tell yon NIL about it !"