The Washington times., 1910-12-14
Ragged, But Smiling and
Happy, Boy Visits
Times Office.
By SELENE ARMSTRONG,
The St. Nicholas Girl

He was Just a ragged little fellow, with
a happy. smiling face. The remnant OF
Tam o'Shanter cap, which had once
been white, and warm, and soft. but
was now q doubtful gray in color, sat
Jauntily on his Head His little coat,
patched and repatched, would have re-
minded you OF the coat Of many coIors
which the lad Joseph wore in the Bible
story. II all the pieces had not been
leveled TO a neutral brown BY the dir.
and dust acquired by his older brother
from which the jacket had been handed
down.
The trousers and shoes which he wore
were grotesquely large, SO that he walk
ed in an odd and shambling manner
quite absurd to see And in one hand
ne held the half loaf OF cold bread,
which was his breakfast. while the
fingers OF the other hand clutched
batch OF soiIed letters
Mister, can I speak 10 that girl
what sees santa Claus every day7'' he
inquired, politely, At the door Of The
Times office
And when the St Nicholas Girls desk
was pointed out TO him. he made his
way TO her between rows OF desks in
the City Room Of The Times. quite IN
conscious that every man IN the office
smile OF amusement
VIII You See Santa Claus?
rAint you goin' TO see santa Claus
today2" he asked the St Nicholas
Girl md upon being assured that
Santa Claus com IS 70 The Times Office
every day 10 talk over his plans for
filing the chill 1ren's stockings on
Christmas Eve, the smile on the boys
---g@ - g.
delight
That's what I tells the little chill
dren that lives in our alley" he said
proudly You see, I tell EN- I know.
cause 7 printed q letter 70 you las
Christmas, and you did tell Santa Claus.
for he brought me what I asked him
for Don't you remember ne? I've
knOwed you a whole year
Then there followed a deIUge OF ques-
tons, Tor he had come not only on
mission OF philan -hrOpy, as was learned
later, but Of Investigation
Where did Santa Claus sleep every
night2 What did his reindeer eat2
What were their names7 Was it really
true that Santa had a messenger named
the snow Baby. who helped him get I
all the TOYS together Was the St
Nicholas Girl kin 10 Santa CLAUSE
You see. he explained. 7 have 10 /
lnd out because / promised Jimmie I
Moran, and LuO Cucolo, and Mamie /
and all the other children what lives in 4
our alley 20 find out. and tell en- They
say they didn't believe what I tOle EN- I,
about q 81 Nicholas Girl tell in Santa 4
Claus to look out for boys and girls 4
that he didn't come ito see las Christ /
mas, or any Christmas before"
Leaves Letters for Delivery.
Then he laid On the St Nicholas Girls
desk the batch Of soiled letters which
he was delivering in person, both be
callse postage stamps cost cents
apiece, and because he was unfamiliar
with and distTustful OF the postal delfv- ]
cry methods Of the United States Gov
eminent The letters were from the
children in HIS alley There was a pale
blue envelope. some pink envelopes, AMI
letters merely folded. and addressed in
irregular, printed characters to Mr. &
Sdntie Clause" But they fulfilled their
mission, for they told the Christmas
wishes Of Jimmie Moran, and Luo
CucOlo, and Mamie, and a dozen other
boys and girls who are the neighbors OF
the little boy with the happy, smiling
face.
I tOle en- I'd bring YOU the letters. I
and I'd learn ali about Santa Claus, and I
tell en-" he said, taking z reluctant I
leave An they are going 10 exDect