Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-12-03

presentsT
The mother turned away to hide her
tears from her little girl and did not
reply for some time. Then she said:
mo, dear. Papa viii not be home
for Christmas" She did not add. Papa
win 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.
"wen, then" said Bob, a boy OF i've,
81 suppose I'll have 70 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 st ALL"
Him." said his sister lucy. I'D
Ike to know how you're going to do
that since you can't write"
"Mamma1l do 1t for me-"
Lucy, you'd better do It for him."
said the mother.
So Lucy went for some writing mate
rails and brought them to the dining
room table, for, writing being NO easy
matter with her, she required plenty Of
room, and after much labor, including
the erasure Of blots and a number OF
errors, completed the following letter:
Dere Santa Claus-My papa went to sea
on his ship, the Penguin. long time ago
and can't come home fur Christmas. So /
won't get any presents from him this
yere. So I want you to bring en- all.
Bring me a drum, q trumpet, box OF
paints. jewsharp, some games ana bcx
OF ninepins. 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
tiers at the house before the children
were born and who always had some
thing to say to them whenever he
handed them a letter-for Bob delight
ed to receive the maitland as soon as
he came along Bob, handing him his
missive, said:
Harry, I want you to be sure to
send it to Santa Claus. Will your
81 certainly WILL" replied Harry. 'Tll
put it 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
it 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
D 1 could take his mother a letter say
: ing that Captain Markham would be
5 home for Christmas. Bad business,
e the loss of his ship! 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 of
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
n captain had refused to leave his post
and they had come away in the boats
|. without him. Some of them said that
u they saw the stern of the ship rise
out of the 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 and shut her off from
view.
S 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 a
Christmas which was to take place
without her husband. Since their mar
riage Captain Markham had not missed
a 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 it, but felt that II was due tC
!. her children to throw OF 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 mail for delivery wher
his eyes fell upon a letter that made
them stand out in his head. That hand
r writing he had seen on many a lettei
A before, but he had never delivered any
Of them postmarked from 80 distant 9
port, for the letter had been mailed
=, from South Africa. 1t was addressed
. to Mrs. Robert G. Markham and n hel
husbands handwriting.
Suddenly the other men in the gen
n eral delivery room saw Harry dance
N about on the floor.
"A whats up?' he was asked
"Nothin', only there's likely to be {
big Christmas gift 10 one of the partie.
q on my route"
Harry hurried through sorting th'
balance of bis letters and began hii
a. round. It seemed longer than usual be
fore he reached Mrs. Markham's. WheI
he did the, lady came to the door, and
Harry handed her the letter. From