The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-12-12
Harry,
the Postnan
How He Delivered a
Child's Letter to
Santa Claus
b. RUTH GRAHAM


Christmas and bring US some nice
pnesentsp
The mother turned away TO hide her
tears from her little girl aud did not
reply for some time. Then she said:
mo, dear. Papa will not be home
for Christmas She did not add, Papa
will never come home" 1t would have
been unnecessary, for by the time an
other Christmas came round his chill
dren. who were very young, would
have forgotten their father
well. then" said Bob, a boy of five,
Il suppose I'll have TO write letter to
Santa Claus and tell him to bring me
| twice as many toys, because my papa
isn't going TO bring me any at al"
Hin" said his sister Lucy. I'D
| like 10 know how you're going 10 do
that since you can't write"
"Mamma'll do il for me"
Lucy, you'd better do II for hin"
said the mother
So Lucy went for some writing mate
rails and brought them 10 the dining
room table, for, writing being no easy
matter with her. she required plenty or
room, and after much labor, including
| the eTasure OF blots and a number OF
errors, completed the following letter:
Dere Santa Claus-My papa went to sea
| on his ship the Penguin, a long time ago
| and can't come home fur Christmas. So
won't get any presents from him this
yere. So / want you TO bring 'em all.
Bring me a drum, d trumpet, box or
paints, jewsharp, some games and box
Of ninepins Your loving
BOB MARKHAM.
p. S.-Dont forget the drum.
The letter having been finished, the
children waited the arrival OF Harry,
the postman, who had delivered let
tiers at the house before the children
were born and who always had some
thing To say To them whenever he
handed them letter-for Bob delight
ed to receive the maitland as soon as
be came along Bob, handing him his
missive, said:
Harry, l want you TO be sure to
send II to Santa Claus. Will your"
II certainly WILL" replied Harry. "1'll
put 1t with the other letters for Santa
Claus. There are ten bags full for
him, all from little children"
And Harry tramped on, making
rounds day after day regularly, and
sometimes 1t seemed endless as the
Journeys of the earth around the sun.
But ne didn't put Bob's letter with the
other letters to Santa Claus, he put
II In his pocket, intending to find out
what the boy especially wanted for
Christmas and supply 1t himself. He
was very fond of the child and had
been the recipient of many gifts from
his parents.
81 wish" unused the postman, that
I could take his mother letter say
ing that Captain Markham would be
home for Christmas. Bad business.
the loss of his ship! l wouldn't like
to be master Of a vessel to see when
she is sinking, the crew saving them
selves and having to go down under
the black water myself. Ugh! They
can talk about bounding over the bill
lows all they like. It's a different
thing when the pillows bound over
you"
So unused the postman at the loss or
| the Penguin, which he knew all about
| and OF which Lucy and Bob had never
been told. Those Of the crew who had
| saved themselves reported that their
| captain had refused to leave his post
and they had come away In the boats
| without him. Some of them said that
| 80 bA ch ri
| out of the water and her bow plunge
| down under a wave, after which she
| was never seen q gain. Others declared
| that at that very moment the fog be-
came thicker and shut her of from
| view.
| The Penguin had struck an ice
berg and had never been seen again.
Since four months had elapsed with
no news of her no one doubted that
she had gone to the bottom.
1t was with heavy heart that Mrs
Markham made her preparations for q
| Christmas which was to take place
without her husband. Since their mar
rage Captain Markham had not missed
single Christmas at home, being In
| cOUmhnu OF Il COASTER WHICH u1due
short trips, which enabled him to part
ly control his time. His widow would
have preferred to pass the day without
noticing it, but felt that 1t was due to
her children to throw off as much OF
Der sorrow as possible, that they might
enjoy the little peoples fayorite ami
yersary
One morning Harry, the postman, was
arranging his mail for delivery when
bis eyes fell upon a letter that made
them stand out In his head. That hand
writing he had seen on many a letter
before, but he had never delivered any
or them postmsrked from so distant q
port, for the letter had been mailed
from South Africa. 1t was addressed
to Mrs. Robert G.. Markham and In her
husbands handwriting.
Suddenly the other men In the gen
eral delivery room saw Harry dance
about On the floor.
What's up" he was asked.
'Nothin', only there's likely to be a
big Christmas gift to one of the partie,
on my route"
Harry hurried through sorting the
balance Of his letters and began hi,
round. II seemed longer than usual be