Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1909-12-25
OF your people"

itA " ~ A~A - ~
lookin' for Santa Claus for years an
years. an It's most time for him to
be along here"
The sergeant turned his head and
looked down the trail, and when he
had regained control OF his feelings
the little sisters had gone. Two days
after that he rode down the valley to
the army headquarters and sought out
/ the quartermaster.
q want two blankets he said. big
ones and warm forty pounds Of cot
fee case Of sweet crackers and
some ginger snaps II you got 'em. and
! some sugar, and let me see--got any
canned goods, pears and peaches and
the Ike o that?"
"Gee!" exclaimed the quartermaster
you fellers going to have some duke
up there for Christmas?'
Don't make any difference who
we're going to have" retorted the ser.
geant." These things are necessary
Fetch EN- Quit"
| The day before Christmas was clear
and bright. The troopers were walk
ing about their campfire. their guns
stacked. but within easy reach. The
sergeant was not there. Pretty soon
the little girls came out of the cabin,
hand in hand like a pair of elfs. They
had hardly reached the camp when
the captain of the guard suddenly
Strengthened up.
Halt" he cried; who come,
there?"
The soldiers sprang for their guns
and stood across the trail, wall o.
glittering steel Climbing down a hill
bordering the trail was an old-liks
man with a long. white beard and fui
cap He was tremendously overload
ed with parcels of all descriptions.
Susie saw him and uttering glaJ
cry ran to him and stood between
Santa Claus and the leveled bayonets
you shan't shoot HIM" she shouo
ed; you shan't shoot Santa Claus
He amt got nothin' to do with your
war: he's comm to see us"
/ The soldiers grounded arms and
laughed until they couldn't laugh any
more. Susie stood very much per
picked. not knowing whether to 5t
angry or to join in the laugh. Blu
Just then there was an ominous SCUM,
of horses hoofs on the rocky trail
> It was an unusual thing: there was n
| Joke this time. The soldiers straigh
ened up, ready for action. San5
Claus dropped his parcels and reache
d. for his revolver. but in a moment tn
rider was among them 1t was hig
officer in the Federal army, and h
glared about in angry surprise.
What means all this buffoonery
T. he growled, his keen eyes BORN
J.. through Santa Claus
is The little girls had shrunk to on
q side, and were clasping each othe
q about the waist Then Santa Clau.
n. entirely unabashed, told the story
Il emitting nothing. He said the fathe
<. of the little girls was in the ConfeC
q crate army, and they and their mothe
= were alone in the mountains; that tn
g winter had come on them unpreparet
IA and he ordered the quarternaster {
q get together some things To tide theI
N over Christmas; If there was anybod
to blame il was the sergeant Of tn
m post, and he was ready for the col
sequences.
- The gold-braided officer looked in
"a the fearless eyes Of the sergeant, Il
AZ men standing respectfully about hill
no and then at the half-clad little CIR
and their blue hands and lips.
10 IT'S all right boys" he said, hns
mr. lily, entirely all right; ! got couI
-. of little chaps Of my own back in t
hills OF Kentucky. and hope the go
or Lord will raise up friends for Z