The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1909-12-24

Iiedse uOn go. santa Ntaus' Do
sought the Littlest Boy. Well talk
real low. so nobodyll hear. That is.
II you're not In too big a hurry 10
stay" he added. politely
Sure" responded Santa Claus.
Its almost empty. isn't IT," assert
ed the Littlest Boy. "P~t s'pose
you've lots more up in TIE balloon.
\ Had you got all through with meg
My chair Is the middle one there.
and these are my stockings in front OF
IL"
Well. was kinder foolin' around
when you come in" confessed Santa
Claus: but | reckon I'm through.
Them other chairs are your mas an
pas. ! take it,"
Yes: mammals is the rocker and
papa's is the other" informed the Lit
TEST Boy. hurriedly. did you bring
me a red wagon and a silver napkin
ring?"
Aren't they there!" queried Santa
Claus
May look?" asked the Littlest
Boy. eagerly.
Sure" grunted Santa Claus. with
his favorite word
The Littlest Boy was not slow In
taking advantage Of that permission.
In a twinkling be was at the chair,
and. oblivious to the rustling that he
was producing. was burrowing amidst
Its contests.
He did not have TO burrow 10 find
the red wagon. Its two front wheels
were sticking straight up against the
chairs back.
~Oooo-ee," jubilated the Littlest
Boy. turning with sparkling eyes.
viii its sides fold over?"
You bet" assured Santa Claus.
Just bushels and bushels OF thanks.
Santa Claus" purled the Littlest Boy.
rapturously. Il hope it's bigger than
my Cousin James is, Is it,"
Sure" said Santa Claus. Now.
about the ring? Amt It there?"
4 don't see it," replied the Littlest
Boy. rummaging
"Mebbe it's in the stockin's." sug-
gested Santa Claus.
And II wasl-a beautiful shiny. sill
yer napkin ring.
-Oooooo-eee," gurgled the Littlest
Boy. unwrapping 1t. Il bet it's the
very solides kind"
'Lemme see" demanded Santa
Claus That's what | intended it TO
be. anyhow, an | hope | amt made
no mistake"
.syae Ffse solga al rt1h. aro,,,h % y a
said. weighing it in his hand. while
the Littlest Boy watched him. anx-
iously But don't you think that that
there wagon an this here ring both
together. are too much for a kid like
your"
Il don't know" responded the Lit.
tlest Boy abashed. I've tried TO be
awful good. I've picked up kindlin
and went on errands and brushed my
teeth-and-and gone down cellar
after dark. and-and-and I've hardly
ever cried when | got hurt"
Still. seems to me-" persisted
Santa Claus. gazing at the shiny ring
in his fingers. that a wagon alone Is
good enough for one kid, besides all
them other things you've got in yon
chair and socks. dunno but what
I'll take this an give Il som 'ers else. 9"
Well" agreed the Littlest Boy.
gravely. tiff you can find some lit.
tie boy who ought 10 have IL
more'n me. then you can-can take
e.; and praps next Christmas-"
Cod" roared the Biggest Boy. like
an angry lion. leaping through the IL
brary doorway
With a slam up sped the window;
with an oath. out whirled Santa Claus
You've scared Santa Claus, You've
scared Santa Claus" walled the Lit
tlest Boy. in despair
Il have. have T." exclaimed the Big.
gest Boy. gathering the waller into his
arms.
And he took my ring" farther la
mented the Littlest Boy.
He did. did he" repeated the lion
that is. the Biggest Boy-in a com.
miserating growl Never mind; we1l
get another
but | told him he might, n there's
some other little boy who'd ought TO
nave it more" explained the Littlest
Boy. truthfully. Maybe he'll bring
me one next Christmas"
Here the Biggest Boy shut the
treacherous window: and with the Big.
gest Girl. who by this time had ar
rived and was hugging and kissing
the Littlest Boys two rosy feet. as
they hung down inside the Biggest
Boys arms. close accompanying. car.
ried him upstairs to bed.
What do you think. Evidently Santa
Claus repented. or else be had only
been joking. or else he could find nc
other little boy who was more worthy:
for. after all. at daylight there was
discovered. lying on the mat before
the side-door. that very same ring
wrapped. IL is true. not in fine tissue
paper. but In coarse brown paper.
However. upon the paper was
scrawled. in ragged but unmistakabIs
lines.
''for the kid
SANITY CLAWS