Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1911-12-16
.
|WasStopped
And Santa Claus Came In
at the Door
By F. A. Mitchell
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911.
BY F. a. Mitchell
by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911.

mas day, 8 o'clock In the afternoon and
so near Christmas eve as to be appall-
ing to Joe Tooker, before whom was
the prospect Of spending Christmas
alone. Joe occupied rooms In a tene-
ment building. and next door on the
same floor lived a widow with three
children. the oldest being a very pretty
girl Of nineteen. Joe had caught sew
eral glimpses Of the girl and many an
evening when IN his room alone had
wished that lie might go in next door
and sit with the FAINT, but he had no
one TO Introduce him. The partition
that separated him from their apart.
ments was thin, and now and again
when the family were in the room ad-
Joining his he could catch bits of their
dialogue.
He judged from these that they were
people who had seen better days. Their
speech was modulated after the man
ner Of well bred people. The mother
was at times fretful, as was 10 be ex-
pected of one growing old and battling
with adversely at the same time. Joe
would hear some complaint from the
mother, always TO be followed by a
comforting word from the daughter,
and In n very sweet voice. Then one
Of the children would be disgruntled,
to be soothed by the sister.
'"rhat girl Is an angel" said Joe to
himself.
As ! was saying. 1t was about an
hour before Christmas eve when Joe
entered his lonely room and sat down
to read an evening paper before going
out to get his dinner ut a restaurant.
His folks lived too far away for him
to go TO them for Christmas or for them
to come to him. He knew few people
In the place and none so intimately as
to secure an invitation for even n
Christmas dinner. The consequence
was that he dreaded Christmas eve and
Christmas day and Christmas night.
He wished he could go to sleep and re-
main asleep until the morning after
Christmas. While he was thinking OF
his lonely lot he heard n voice ON the
other side of the partition, the voice OF
a complaining child.
why can't we have a turkey tomor.
TOW, mammal"
Turkeys are very expensive this
season, dearie. We can't afford one.
We're going TO have nice hamburger
steak Instead. You know how fond
you are of that"
Il don't want hamburger steak on
Christmas. want turkey. We're not
going TO have any Christmas at all this
year. Jennie says we mustn't expect
any toys. even in our stockings. for
Santa Claus has sent note that he is
going TO pass us over. I'm going TO
hang up my stocking anyway. and IL
he doesn't put anything in it I'll write
him letter telling him how mean
think he is
so will L. came another little voice.
Then the speakers went into another
room.
An idea popped into Joe lockers
head. II was the biggest. most origi.
nal, most daring idea that Ale modest
fellow had ever conceived He sat,
stunned by 1t, for some time. revolving
III his mind various features concern
ing IL: then. suddenly getting up from
his chair. he hustled on his overcoat
and hat. rushed out. slammed the door
behind him and ran downstairs two
steps at a time.
The first place Joe stopped ut was n
meat market where he bought tur-
key and celery and cranberries and
oysters for the dressing and other
things good 10 eat. Then he went to
toy shop and gathered In such trifes
as children prize. He dare not trust
10 having them sent home. the hour
being late. and took everything he
bought with him. But he was big and
strong and could have carried three
times as much. Lastly. he looked in a
directory for the address OF costumer
and finally found one. Going to the
place, he told the proprietor to fit him
out at once as Santa Claus.
Returning 10 his room, he deposited
his purchases and went out again to
get his dinner. About 0 o'clock he
went back. taking more toys and two
bouquets of flowers with him and
spent the evening arranging for put
ting this wonderful idea OF his into
practice. lie had heard at various
times enough through the partition TO
know the names Of those on the other
side, so he marked the toys. some
BILLY" and some Lucy" On one OF
the bouquets he tied card on which
he wrote. ITO Mamma From Santa
Claus" and on the other. ITO Jennie
From Santa Claus"
That wasn't lonely Christmas eve
for Joe Tooker at all. though he was
alone. He was fixing up the gifts and
trying on his Santa Claus suit all the
while. But II must be admitted that
every now and again he caught his