The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-01-08

voice was encouraging. :" told him about you in nv
letter wish had told him you'd never had a doll
a real one"
HUH Whatd want OF dolli" shifted Maggie
" Haven't always had Terry2 Haven't I got you?"
Magge's words and tone may have been brusoue
but her eyes mothery and Bobs little hand was
stretched out to touch her gown as she passed him
But by this time, the Santa Claus who flied Bob's
dreams by day and night with such unaoyed Joy had
become horror to Maggie and Terry; each night
they discussed their fears
He'll never come" sobbed Maggie "and ooor
Bobll be SO disappointed"
But what do Maggie1" questioned Terry
" If the snow wasn't deep, Meters might come and
bring some candy, and could tell Bob that Santa
Claus had brought that but he can't and il Meters
can't get up. you know, nothing And there isn't
another bowl anyway, Even if Santa Claus could get
here he couldn't find the bowl"
The children could not comfort each other and they
knew only too we'll that they could get no help from
the men who had stayed at Hogan's. If Mrs Mon
Afghan had only been there, Maggie thought she might
have helped, but as it there was nothing abso-
iutely nothing.
To make things even worse, Christmas Eve
heavy snowstorm set in great white fakes falling
softly down, huge white pling higher and
higher around tree stumps and deserted novels
II Harris don't move out to-day he'll be showed
under tonight
This was the comforting speech that Maggie heard
fall from her fathers lips in the morning. showed
underl Then Santa Claus could find Bob at all
And of course, Harris wouldn't move. All day long
he shoyeled the away from his cabin else sat-
gloomy and morose, paying no heed to his own child
to the other little boy and girl
Just before nightiall the children struggled home,
and after their supper crcpt bed They could not
sleep for thinking OF Bob and his coming grief and dis
appointment. The cold grew more and more intense,
and at ten o'clock the shone round and
white, revealing glittering frozen world.
Terry tried to console himself with his dice. If
the six comes up" he said, " he won't come" And
the fatcful six had come.
at isn't the bowl" by this time Terry was strug-
Cling with his tears; he was only little boy and
fond Of his pathetic playmate don't want IT, but
Bob wouldn't ever take it il did give it to him.
want Santa Claus to get him one. He'll never be
happy again II Santa Claus don't come Just know
he won't"
flow, for here was Terry sobbing, and she could not
comfort him. for she knew too, that it Santa Claus
that Bob wanted quite as much as he did the bowl
And then. surely it the dear old saint himself who
sent her thought.
Terry" She whispered, would you really be will
or course | would. you stupid didn't tell you
sol"
Then" and Maggie's voice was mysterious and
low, Wen take it to him now"
In the moonlight the boys blue eyes looked like
glass marbles. Now5" he questioned.
Yes. now.
Maggie already up, moving stealthiy about the
room ping all the clothes She could hnd,
and Terry followed her example. They tied COM
forters their heads and mufied themselves in
blankets
Have you got t?" she whispered, and he held up
the beloved possession.
and again, but Maggie vouchsafcd no answer. Out
into the night she led the way and the two little
wadded figures sded along over the frozen surface of
the snow.
&" He'll never know in the crystal frost her words
clatered against each other he'll never know, and
he'll be sure it was Santa Claus because and she
grasped Terrys hand harder, because we'll drop It
down the chimney.
Terry stood still in the snow.
" Climb on the roof and drop it down the chimney
Yes" aSsented Maggie. you know the snow is all
banked up between the slide and the chimney, We
and drop it down. Then it'll fall on the ashes It
can't burn and Bobll the first thing IN the morn
ing; -,
q mouse than any human sound.
d" II only we had some bells, he cried Bob might
think 1t was the reindeer"
Then Maggie reached the climax OF her delight Out
from under her muling garments she drew the camps
dinner bell that She had seized on her passage through
He said they tinklcd and don't think this tinkles"
she said, but if he's not very wide awake nc won't
know"
She shook the iron clapper around in its brazen cup.
producing sound that not the most imaginative
child could have transformed into sleighbcl But 1t
satisfied Terry 1t satisfied Maggie and entered into
Bobs light sumbers enough 10 make him smile and
murmur drowSiy;
Santa Claus? Yes mamma"
Up to the very chimney top they climbed and Terry
loosed his hold his treasure They heard it strike
heavily the ashes in the hearth For Just second
they waited Would Bob's hear his beloved Santa
Claus7 Would the clumsy little feet in their snow
shoes sound like twnIling reindeer hoois1
Silently they slipped down from the roof. and be-
fore long they fast asleep in their cold little bed
The next morning. with thought for break
fast they hurried the Harris cabin In through the
door they tumbled, and there lay Bob the stone NOR
tar casped in his arms. ~
Merry Christmas! Merry Chr'tms,l" he shouted;
and in tones tremuous with JOY. added; " You seer
You see? l knew, just knew that it would come.
It's little smaller than yours, Terry thi; with T.,
kindly discriminating glance from Terry to the bowl.
but its just good, and you'll never have TO bring
yours over again
And then something curious happened The moIosc'
silent father put his hand Terrys head and said;
God bless you'll uc. liz, ga
all That's what mamma used to say.
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