Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1911-12-16

lie heard some one say WHATS
that?" and raped again. Then he
said In n sonorous voice:
"I'm kriss Krlnglc. Your chimney
IS stopped. and | couldn't get down TO
bring your gifts. II you will let me In
at your door you shall have them"
Pretty soon a child's voice cried out:
''In few minutes MIR. Santa Claus
just as soon as mamma and Jennie are
dressed
When the toilets were made there
came rap from the other side, and
child's voice said. "All right. Mr.. San
ty; you may come In now"
Then Joe. gathering up the turkey
and the other eatables and the toys
and all rugged out as Santa Claus, his
mask having a very red nose and
white beard. and wearing n fur coat.
went into the hall and found the next
door standing open, with mamma and
Jennie and Billy and Lucy all looking
with eyes wide open to see what was
going TO happen.
AS Joe entered lie handed bouquet
laying the turkey and the other eata-
bles on table. he began to hand toys
to Billy and Lucy alternately. He
gave n jumping jack TO Billy and
doll 20 Lucy. then ball to Billy and
q set of dishes TO Lucy. And never In
his life did he enjoy anything so much
rs watching the big eyes of the young
sters. eager TO see what was coming
next. lie kept 1t up till his stock was
exhausted. then. turning, said:
"Goodby. This Is my last visit. Be
sure to have your chimney fixed be-
fore next Christmas"
"Won't you breakfast with us, Santa
CLAUSE" said mamma.
"Not this morning. II Is too late.
must take my reindeers back to where
can give them their breakfast. Be
sides. the children are awaking. and
don't like TO have them see me-"
"But surely you will dine with us"
urged Jennie.
"No But there is young man who
rooms next door TO you. He is good
friend of mine. and when l found
conld not get down your chimney he
let me in at his window. He has no
one to spend Christmas with and no
where to dine except at restaurant
alone. ! will give my invitation to
him."
THAT will do very well. We shall,
be happy to see your friend at .
O'clock" said Jennie.
Joe bowed himself out and went
back to his room. where he placed his
ear against the partition in order to
better hear the comments on what he
had done.
"Oh. mammal" exclaimed Billy. "why
didn't you make him stay to breakfast.
don't believe any children ever had
Sanity TO breakfast in the whole world"
You'll find the young mar next
door" said Jennie. "just as nice. He
is perfectly lovely"
'Iiow do you know:' asked Lucy.
GLOW do know? Why, didn't he
take Santa Claus in Mt his window? If
II hadn't been for him Sanity couldn't
have got in here nj ALL
81 never thought of that"
Joe wasn't interested in anything else
after he heard Jennie say that he was
perfectly lovely" He took off his
Santa Claus rig. put on his own clothes
and went out to breakfast. chuckling
the success of his exploit.
II tell YOU" he exclaimed Ia him
self. that was mighty cheeky thing
to do. but II turned out scorcher.
Any one who says haven't sand don't
know me-
Though Joe was alone till dinner
time. he wasn't lonely at all. Ii was
q bright. crisp morning. and he took n
walk into the country breathing in the
ozone and feeling very proud of him
self nj what he had done. and all the
while he was mentally repeating what
he had heard Jennie say OF him-that
he was perfectly lovely"
At ! o'clock he began TO fix himself
up for the dinner aud tried on seven
different cravats before he found one
that shifted him. The only time that
seemed long during the whole day was
the ten minutes just before the dinner
hour He looked at his watch seven
times
At o'clock To the second he knocked
nj the next door. and when il was
opened by Jennie. her face beaming.
he said that his friend Santa Claus had
transmitted TO him an invitation to
dinner. He told them he roomed next
door and his name was Joseph Tookcr.
Mamma received him graciously and
the children climbed up on him and
asked him 10 tell them all about his
friend Santa Claus. since he must
know just how Santa lived. where he
got his toys and how he could visit so
many children all in one night.
The turkey 10. had sent was done
to turn. and the celery and the Gran
berry sauce and the other things were