The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1911-12-15

even mouse;
The stockings were hung by the
chimney with care
In hopes that Saint Nicholas sOOr
would be Their.
The children were nestled all snug
in their beds,
While visions of sugar plums danced
in their heads"
Always and always in the history
of the Weinberg family everyone had
believed in a Saint Nicholas who
came down the chimney on Christ
mas eve and filled the stockings
hung by the fireplace with toys. They
had always taught their children tC
believe in a Santa Claus, and to be on
the lookout for him Christmas eve
But in the last generation, the young
er people had rather grown away
from the idea or had forgotten it in
the busy whirl.
Tommy and Teddy, the two young
hopefuls of the youngest Weinberg
son, stoutly denounced Santa Claus
and all his kin. Their fathers time
had been taken up in his business a
great deal and he had probably for
gotten to hand down the old Christ
mas legend to them. The twins had
heard their grandfather tell tales Of
bygone Christmas, when he sat w
waiting and watching for Kriss Krin
gle, and how he had at last been re
warded by a glimpse Of the old fel
low; but the boys, with that superior
ity of knowledge which comes with
boyhood, were not greatly inclined tt
believe their grandfather's stories
They had begged their mother agar
and again to tell them the beautiful
story of the bright Bethlehem stal
which shone that Christmas Eve sc
long ago and which led the shepherds
and the wise men to the lowly mangel
where the Babe lay.
But somehow the boys had con
ceived a queer idea of Santa Claus
They knew very well that he did not
come down from the cold Northlan6
in sleigh drawn by tiny RENDERS
that he did not slide down the chin
Reys with pack of toys on his back
and fill the stockings with toys and
Christmas goodies. They knew that
it was no use arguing the matter
with them, for they were fully con
vinced that they were right. And
right there was where they were
wrong and this story is written to
warn others who are treading the
wrong track
Four weeks before Christmas
Tommy and Teddy studied the win
dows of the big stores down town
One day. fat. jolly old Kriss Kringle
appeared in one of the windows. He
was in the act of climbing in a chin
ney, and his pack his clothes, and
the chimney were covered with snow
Tommy and Teddy and two of their
schoolmates were studying the pic
ture.
81 don't believe there is such a
thing as a Santa Claus!" Tommy
suddenly exclaimed "Who ever heard
of such a person."
Teddy agreed with his brother. The
other two boys were much surprised
well, whoever heard of such
gooses as you two boys" mot a
Santa Claus! Why, you're crazy
why. of course there's Santa
Claus-always has been, and always
will be. You just watch Christmas
eve and see if he don't come down
the chimney"
But the Weinberg boys would not
be convinced.
After much deliberation and con
sideraIion Of the toys in the shoI
windows. Tommy and Teddy decided
which ones they would like to have
Then they wrote a letter-nOt tt
Saint Nicholas-bless you, Do!-bu
to Mr.. Weinberg, their father. He was
the only Santa Claus they recognized
for they firmly believed that SAINT;
Claus was only their father or moth
err, or any one who gave them things
for Christmas. In their letter, tn,
boys set forth just what they wanted
for Christmas. Then they considered
their part done and calmly awaited
! Christmas eve, when their fathe
would perform his part.
The twins were somewhat trouble,
by what their companions had said ;
few days before. The question o
Saint Nicholas as to whether he was
or was not, had not been presented t.
them in quite that way before. The!
consulted their mother about it, bu
she would give them no satisfaction
only telling them to wait and see TO
/ themselves.
On Christmas Eve. Tommy AM
Teddy were filled with excitement
! They had determined to sit up AM
see if there really was a Santa Clau
who would come down the chimney
1t still seemed incredible to them
but they were boys who never like
to be left in doubt.
Santa Claus elf there is one) ha
to go all over the world tonight,
explained mother, with mysteriou
smile, "and lie may be late in gettin,
here-that is. if he comes. So 20,
had better get some sleep while yol
can"
The boys refused to go to bed
They bunked down on the rug by tn,
fire place. so as to be sure the.
wouldn't miss anything. Gazing at thu
glowing embers OF the dying fire