The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1908-01-01
ould not be determined, inasmuch ar

COulu uOl De QeIRrmlneu, 1naSmucn ar
| it was completely covered by Sarah
Mary's best apron, very large white
one with strings of great length. These
strings were crossed diagonally on the
child's back and brought over her
shoulders to the front, where they ter
minated in large bow securely pinned
to her dress. Her curly hair had been
made to lie as fiat as such hair ever
would. She stood with her eyes rivet
| ed on Santa Claus, on whose face was
| a broad smile. Truly he was a Won
| derful Santa Claus! An old buffal
| skin, plentifully besprinkled with
| -four, was gathered about him and tied
| in place about his neck. arms and legs.
| 1t was easy to see that getting down
stairs at ever SO slow a pace must
have been a difficult matter His hail
and beard were well covered with
flour, and SO was the old fur cap on his
head. There was even a dash of flour
here and there on the boots he wore.
| ooh! Oh. I'd never know you in the
world!' gasped Sarah Mary. Then
recollecting herself, she walked sedate
/ ~ " q CAd1I pldCGu OuG COInSI vi
the room.
Santa Claus for his part was unable
to suppress an admiring "Well. | de
clare to man. as he looked about the
room. On the wall in several places
were strips of brown cambria on
which were pasted sentiments appro
pirate to the season. The letters were
| Of f.in1Jc cir mi fho
"Peace ON Earth" read Santa Claus,
looking at the words over the stov.
through a tremulous mist that made
them waver.
A wreath of autumn leaves was
pinned on one window curtain and a
bunch of dried "everlastings' ON the
other. There was a big candle in the
center of the wooden mantel and a
small one at each end. A lamp burned
on the one table, and the smallest can
die of all shone from little tin can
dlestick placed on the top Of the tree.
The inverted washtub was hidden by
an old red cloth, and above it the tree
rose Respondent, it's bare twigs glis-
tening with strips of tin and scraps of
colored paper and hung with strings OF
popcorn. Tied to the two largest
branches were two packages wrapped
in newspaper.
Sarah Mary's eyes shone with pride
as she looked at the tree.
) "This is glorious, blessed time, chill
!, dren," said Santa Claus, advancing
slowly to the tree and turning his eyes
on his sedate but beaming audience
We've got sight of things to be joy
GUS about. and, wishin' you all a mer
ry Christmas-New Year, will now
percede to distribute the presents"
So saying, Santa Claus put out his
hand and cautiously united one of the
newspaper packages.
"'For Grandfather Nichols" ht
read slowly aloud. Il understand he's
, expected to be with us this evenin
!, and will probably be along in few
minutes"
! He united the other package ant
read, "'For Sarah Mary Nichols Will
the little gal step forrard and get he
present." Sarah Mary received TIL
package and pat on the head from
then stopped.
Grandfather" she cried, facin.
about and throwing her little arms a
far around the befioured buffalo rob
as they would reach, you've been
splendid Santa Claus, and now vii
!, you take your package and be the res
Of the children with me? It's only jes
! molasses candy, but it's real good.
, tasted it to see'
"Well, I reckon I WILL" said Grand
father Nichols heartily as he burst tn
bonds of his buffalo robe and kicke,
off the clumsy boots with right goo
q will
= He and Sarah Mary We're sitting to
gether in the big old rocking chair, tn
), candles were burning low and the me
Il