The daily Alaskan., 1912-12-20
Harry, the Postnnan How He Delivered a Childs Letter to
 Santa Claus
By RUTH GRAHAM

Cs-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-e-s-s-s V
 Mamma, will papa come home foi Christmas and bring us some nice presents?'
 The mother turned away Co hide her tears from her little girl and did not reply for some time. Then she said:
 "No. dear. Papa will not be home for Christmas" She did not add, Papa will never come home" It would hays been unnecessary, for by the time an other Christmas came round his chil dren, who were very young, Wouio have forgotten their father.
 "wen, then" said Bob, boy of i've q 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 all.'
 "Hm," said his sister Lucy. "Id like to know how you're going to dc that since you can't write,'
 "NIammall do it for me-
 "I.ucy, you'd better do it for him. said the mother
 So Lucy went for some writing mate riais and brought them to the dining room table for writing being no easy matter with her. she required plenty oi room, and after much labor including the erasurc of blots and a number Of errors, completed the following letter:
 Dere santa Claus-Niy papa went to sea on his ship. the Penguin, long time ago and can't come home fur Christmas. 30 won't get any presents from him this we're. So I want you Co bring 'em all Bring me drum, a trumpet, a box or paints, a iewsharp, some games and box of nlneplus. Your loving
 BOB MARKHAM
 P. S.-Don't forget the drum.
 The letter having been finished, the children waited the arrival of Harry, the postman, who had delivered let ters 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 mail-and as soon as he came along Bob, handing him his mlssive, said:
 Harry, I want you tQ be sure to send 1t to Santa Claus. Will you|
 "I certainly will, replied Harry. "l'h 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 he didn't put Bob's letter with the other letters to Santa Claus; he put 1t in his pocket, intending to find out what the boy especially wanted for Christmas and supply It himself. He was very fond of the child and had been the recipient of many gifts from bis parents.
 "I wish" unused the pOstman, that could take his mother letter say. Ing that Captain Markham would be home for Christmas. Bad business, the loss of his ship! wouldn't Ike to be master of 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 of the Penguin, which be 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 hls post and they had come away In the boats without him. Some of them said that they saw the stern of the ship rise out of Che water and her bow plunge down under a wave. after which she was never seen again, others declared that at that very moment the fog be- came thicker md shut her oG from view.
 The Penguin had struck an lee 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.
 It was with a heavy heart that Mrs Markham made her preparations for a Christmas which was to take place without her husband. Since their mar. riage Captain Markham had not missed single Christmas at home, being In command of a coaster which made short trips, which enabled him to part. ly control his time. His widow would have preferred to pass the day without noticing 1t, but felt that it was due to her children to throw or as much Of her sorrow as possible, that they might enjoy the little peoples favOrite ami versary.
 One morning Harry, the postman, was arranging his mall for delivery when his eyes fell upon a letter that made