The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-12-26

voice was encouraging. 81 told him abou, you IN my
letter wish had told him you'd never had = doll.
a real one
" Huh, Whatd ! want OF dolis" shifted Maggie
Haven't always had Terry, Haven, got you"
Maggies words and may have been brusque.
but her mothery. and Bobs little hand Vas
stretched touch her gown she passed him
Blu, by this time. the Santa Claus who hied Bobs
dreams by day and night with such unaloyed Joy had
become a horror Maggie and Terry: each night
they discussed their fears.
He'll never come sobbed Maggie. and poor
Bobll be disappointed.
But what do MasSie, questioned Terry.
" II the wasn't deep. Meters might come and
bring candy. and could tell Bob that Santa
Claus had brought that bu, he can't. and II Meters
can't sc, up. you know nothing And there isn't
another bowl. anyway. Even Santa Claus could set
here he couldn't find the bowl
The children could comfort each other. and they
knew only we'll that they could get no help from
the men who had stayed at HoRans II Mrs. Mon
Afghan had only been there. Maggie thought she might
have helped but il there nothing. abso-
lutely nothing.
To make things worse. on Christmas Eve. .
heavy snowstorm in. great white fakes falling
softly down. huge white ping higher and
higher around stumps and deserted novels
IF Harris don't move out to-day. he'll be showed
under to- night
This the comforting speech that Maggie heard
fall from her fathers lips in the morning SHOWED
under! Then Santa Claus could hnd Bob At all.
And. OF course. Harris wouldn't move. All day long
he .hovelled the away from his cabin else sat-
gloomy and morose, paying no heed to his own child
the other little boy and girl.
Just before nishtial the children struggled home.
and after their supper. crept into bed They could not
sleep for thinking OF Bob and his coming grief and dis
appointment. The cold grew more and more in.ense,
and at ten o'clock the moon shone out round and
white revealing a QltterinR frozen world.
Terry tried console himself with his dice. :" II
the six comes up he said. he won't come" And
the fateful six had come
cit isn't the bowl" by this time Terry snug
Cling with his tears; he only little boy and very
fond of his pathetic playmate don't want i. but
Bob tax: it did Hem 70 s
happy again If Santa Claus don't come just know
Maggie felt that her cup OF grief would surely
Aow for here was Terry sobbing. and she eoad not
comfort him. for she knew. too that wa: Santa Claus
And them surely the dear old saint. himself who
sent her thought .,,
ing to give Bob your bowl?"
"Of course would you stupid: didn't tell you
Then" and Maggie's voice mysterious and
low. we'll take it to him now"
sis. , %s5
roon ping on all the warm clothes she could find.
and Terry followed her example. They tied
forters over their heads and muiied themselves in
blankets
Have you 60. it," she whispered. and he held up
the beloved possession.
How can give it to him now?" he asked again
and again. but Maggie vouehsaied no answer Out
wadded figures gded along the frozen surface of
the iaem never KNOWN the crystal ro, he, word,
clattered against each other" he'll never know and
he'll be sure it was Santa Claus because and she
grasped Terry's hand harder. because we'll drop il
down the chimney.
Terry stood still in the snow.
Climb the roof and drop it down the chimney? "
banked up between the slide and the chimney. We
will climb up on that and creep along to the chimney
and drop it down. Then it'll fall the ashes II
can't burn and Bobll the first thing in the morn
Terry voiced little shrek like the squeak Of
mouse than any human sound.
iii only had some BELLS he cried. Bob nigh,
Then Maggie reached the climax of her delight Out
from under her muling garments she drew the camps
dinner bell tina, she had seized her passage through
the dining-room.
He said they ,inkled. and don't think this tinkes
xnox said but if he's not very wide awake he won't
She shook the iron clapper around in its bra,en cup
producing sound that no, even the most imaginative
child could have transformed into a sleRh-bell But Il
satisfied Terry, it satisfied Maggie and entered into
Bob's light slumbers enough to make him smile and
=" Santa Claus: Yes mamma"
Up to the very chimney top they climbed. and Terry
heavily on the ashes in the hearth For just seeont
they waited, Would Bobs hear his beloved Santa
OIarss would the clumsy nttic ieet IN their snow
shoes sound like twinking reindeer hoois.
Silently they slipped down from the roof. and be
fore long they fast asleep in their cold little bed
The next morning. with never thought for break
fast, they hurried the Harris cabin In through ,h'
door they tunbed and there lay Bob, the stone NOR
clasped in his arms
:. Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas" he shouted
and in tones tremulous with JOY. added: /" You see
You sees l knew. just knew that i, would come
It's little smaller than yours. Terry. this with
kindly discriminating glance from Terry to the bowl
but it's jus. good and you'll never have to brni
yours over to me again
And then something curiou. happened The mosose
silent father put his hand Terrys head and said:
:" God bless you,"
But Bob. in his gleeful voice. cried " God bless q
all That's what mamma used to say.