The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1911-12-14
Hilda's
Christmas Gift
By LIZZIE ". GOODWIN
Copyright BY American Press Asso-
elatlcn. isl1

N|AANAAA
uated in the United States. where =
number OF orphans and half orphans
are received. some children being
taken from parents who are unable
TO provide for them. The buildings
are located IN attractive grounds and
near the margin OF one OF Americas
most beautiful lakes.
Christmas was coming on. and the
children at the orphanageewere invit-
ed to write letters to Santa Claus.
mentioning such gifts as they would
like to receive on the approaching an
niversary The boys asked for sleds.
skates, bats. balls and such other ard.
cles as pertain to youngsters OF their
age. The girls would have dolls, doll
houses, toy pianos. kitchen sets ana
other girl toys
Hllda was nine years old. and hee
affections had strengthened an her
years increased They were stronger
than her love for playthings. Most
children at that age doubt II there b
such person as Santa Claus, but the
children Of the orphanage. not min
Cling with the world. retain the limo
eence Of their babyhood and their be-
lief in the white bearded old gentleman
who brings the Christmas gifts Hi
da was as innocent as the rest. She
did not expect that Santa Claus would
bring the children everything they ash
ed for, but she did believe that he
would read their letters and do what
he could for all OF them
Hilda's letter was very different
from all the rest Instead Of asking
for toys to play with or some orna-
ment to decorate her person HIda
wrote to Santa Claus:
/ wish for my Christmas present this
year to see my mamma
The letter was sent with the rest to
Santa Claus. Who transmitted them
is one OF those mysteries that Is as In
explicable as Santa Claus himself.
Nevertheless he received every letter
and set himself to work to gather Ia
the things the children asked for. But
Hflda's letter puzzled him He could
cram a doll in a stocking or hang Il
on a Christmas tree. but he could do
neither OF these with Hflda's mother.
Besides, Hilda's mother lived some
distance away. and It would cost a
good deal OF money to bring her from
her home to the orphanage. II Santa
Claus could bring her In his sleigh
drawn by the eight tiny reindeer
the case would be simple enough. but
there was only room for the toys in
the sleigh. and human beings are not
used to riding up brick walls. over
roofs and down again on the other |
side. No wonder Santa Claus waE
puzzled II looked as II Hilda's pres
ent could not be given her. That |
would be too bad. because she had
asked for nothing else. and II she
could not see her mother she would
get no Christmas gift
Hilda, innocent child that she was,
didn't trouble her little head about all |
this. She didn't realize that she had
given Santa Claus a knotty problem |
to solve She had simply asked for
what she wanted. just as she would
ask for something in her prayers BE-
fore going to bed.
Wen, Christmas eve came at last
The children OF the orphanage always
receive their presents on the night be-
fore Christmas. and Santa Claus
brings the gifts in person. On Christ
mas eve the children gathered in the
schoolroom and while waiting for San
ia Claus sang a Christmas carol. They
had scarcely finished when there were
a jingle Of sleighbeIIs without. a ring
at the doorbell and a kicking Of snow
on Kriss Kringle's boots.
Every child rushed to the door at
once. II was opened, and old Santa
Claus. with a bag Of gifts on his
shoulders. came in, bringing a cold
pun Of wind with him. The children
followed him back into the schoolroom.
where a large Christmas tree stood.
Illuminated with electric lights and
covered with spangIes and toys. There
are so many children at the orphanags
that Santa Claus couldn't bring all the
toys for them with him and had sent
the larger ones before.
He tossed a jumping jack to one,
doll 10 another. a mechanical cab to a
third. the matrons and other grown
persons assisting in the distribution.
Poor little Hilda did not see her
mother in the room and sorrowfully
made up her mind that Santa Claus
could not give her her present. All
the girls and boys received their gifts
but Hilda.
When Il was all over Hilda went up
stairs to do some duty-for being one
Of the older girls she was assigned
duties-and while she was at work
she heard voices downstairs calling:
where's Hilda? HiIda Burton. come
hereg:
Hflda went downstairs, and there
stood santa Claus waiting for her.
Are you Hilda?v be asked
YES"
Il have a present for you that Is too
big to be put on the Christmas tree,
an nnugf Give IL TO Won now"