The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1908-01-01

child, drawing long breath. Then
you must be more disappointed even
than l 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 a 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 Will to Men,
and sev'ral others.
"And there was a 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 a parcel OF
candy for each child rec'lect. Twas
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, them" said the child briskly.
"had 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?"
''Have 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 It we can have real tree,
but If we could bring in that tallest
apple wood chunk that's out in the
shed and cut some notches in it and
stick some of the twigs from the brush
| pile in the notches l think 'twould
make real good pretendin' 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"
| NluSSt SdkCS dhfCs CJdCuldtCO
Grandfather Nichols. "What little
planner you be! Well, well, / guess
there's quite little job laid out fol
me- I'll look over the old papers fust
and see what can spare. s'pose it's
no use askin' you what they're for"
mot a mite" replied the child mer
rily as she took down the 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 il
'em," said the old man, cautiously
opening the kitchen door at about II
o'clock with a little package Of ole
newspapers in his hand. will thai
be enough for your purposes? Seems
to be great doin's in here this mornin'
Haven't l smelled molas''-
'tGrandfathery' said Sarah Mary IL
a warning tone, and the old man drop
ped the papers and retreated.
"Jest like her ma, that child is" ht
said to himself as he put on his coat
preparatory to 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, I can tell We"
Dinner was what Sarah Mary callet
'slim" that day and was eaten will
all possible expedition. Sarah Mary
thin little cheeks were flushed, and he
eyes were unusually bright
do you s'pose-do you reckon it,
silly for me to be pretendin'?'' sh
asked Had l ought to consider Tn
too old for play, grandfather"
Lets see-how old be you 'xactly :?
inquired the old man.
I'm jest about leven," RESPONDED
the child.
"Well. that's gettin' on, O. course
but, seem you're small for your age,
presume it might be allowed We t
play little spell longer if you get
good chance like this one''
The child's last doubt vanished wit
this assurance.
1t had been agreed between then
that when Grandfather Nichols ha,
placed the chunk, with it's twi
branches tightly notched in according
to Sarah Mary's directions, she was t
take possession of the living room ant
beautify it as she saw fit
, All her grandfather had to do wit
it was to give her few more particu
lars about the decorations he had seel
that other Christmas so long ago. H
was not 20 be permitted to see the liy
ing room till o'clock
I Precisely at that hour Sarah Mar
in the character of guest and SAINT
Claus in the person Of her grandfathe
were to enter the apartment, one fror
the kitchen and the other from th
entry.
t Time hung rather heavily on the oil
man. At o'clock he muttered to hin
IL Ia