Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-12-03
The Argus Daily Story
Harry, the Postman-By Ruth Graham
copyrighted. 1sis. py Associated Literary Bureau

This led to a bit Of conversation be-
tween the lady and Harry. in which a
scheme for the delectation of the chill.
dren was arranged. for now that the
dead had been restored to life Mrs.
Markham was eager TO make as much
as.possible Of the coming Christmas.
Captain Markham reached his home
on Christmas eve. While detained on
the way he had provided Christmas
gifts for his family. but when he drove
up to his home, leaving them in the
cab, he sprang into the arms of his .
wife and Rugged his children, forget
ting all about the gifts till he saw the
cabman Juggling them into the house. .
The children were In ecstasies that
their father had come home for Christ
mas, and Bob's first remark, character .
tstic Of childhood, was: y
Now I write that letter to Santa
Claus I'll git two lots Of presents"
That was q merry Christmas eve in
deed. Mrs Markham told Lucy for
the first time that her father had been
wrecked and had been given up for
dead; that he had gone down with his
ship, come up and got on to portion
Of the deck Of his vessel which had
burst of when she sank. From there |
he had been taken In a starving condi-
ton by a passing ship and was too far
gone to give an account OF himself for
at Cape Town, South Africa, and had
written the letter which had been re-
ceived as soon as he was able to do SO.
| AS for Bob, he was too young to IN
derstand the matter.
On Christmas morning, when the
stockings were taken down, Bob was
! much disappointed at not receiving any
of the gifts for which he had written
Santa Claus.
81 tell you what you do. Bob" said
his father. write or ask Lucy to;
write another letter TO Santa Claus
! reminding him that he has left OUT
Just the things you wanted and you'dI
| like to have him get them for you at
once. Harry makes one delivery to-
day and will be here about noon. Give
him your letter and tell him to seq
that Santa Claus gets 1t right away"
Bob failed to get Lucy down to any
such task, she being too busy enJoyingI
her presents, SO Captain Markham
wrote the letter, and when Harry came
round with a new lot OF Christmas
packages Bob handed him the letter.
Captain Markham smiled knowingly
at the postman, and the postman wink
ed at Captain Markham.
Shortly before the children went to
bed there was a ring at the bell, and
Bob was hidden to answer the sum-
mons. There in the doorway stood
Santa Claus himself, covered with
snow.
as there a little boy here named
Bob?' he asked.
Eyes. I'm Bob"
"Well, came to say that received
your letters, but since l am all over
the world at the same time / knew
that your father was In South Africa
and would be home In time to get you
the toys you asked for. So didn't
bring them. got your second letter
this afternoon and have brought you
your drum and your trumpet and all
the other things you asked for"
ooh, gollyl Amt that finer cried
Bob gleefully.
"Come in. Santa Claus" cried Captain
Markham from the living room.
Santa Claus entered, divesting him
self Of the toys he had brought, in
Guiding a dolls house for Lucy, which
he said he had left over and which
delightedNLucy very much.
Have you any children, Santa
Claus?" asked Captain Markham.
"Of course, have a lot of children.
How would know what children wish
for Christmas If 1 didn't have any of
my ownT
"Weil, 1 thought you might answer
Bob's letter in person, so / have pro-
vided some gifts for your boys and
girls"
Mrs. Markham produced a number
of packages, which she handed to San
ia Claus, and Captain Markham, reach
ing down into his pocket, produced q
bill
"You can't afford" said the captain.
"to spend all your time taking gifts
to children on Christmas for nothing"
Santa Claus never takes pay from
any one"
well, then, give 1t to Harry. the
postman, who sent you the letters
THAT WILL" said Santa, and, wish.
ing all a good night and many merry
Christmases in the future. he went out
into the falling snow.
OF course that Christmas is remem-
bered in the Markham family as the
great Christmas OF their lives. The
children told all their friends who had
written letters to Santa Claus, some OF
whom had received what they asked
for, that they had received an especial
visit from the old gentleman for the
purpose OF bringing their presents.
And when Harry came along the next
day Bob gave him a full account OF
how Santa Claus had replied to his
second letter. Harry listened appar
entity much interested, then passed on,
telling Bob that he was the only post.
man who knew just where to find
> Santa Claus and children would do
> well to intInst their letters to him.
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