The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1912-12-17

the first time the square boards that
Santa Claus was wearing.
What are you wearing those
boards for. M. Santa Claus" he
asked.
II the lad had looked closely enough,
he would have seen very unhappy
look come into the old mans face;
but there was nothing Of II in his
answer.
"Oh, those are my new.fangled
back and chest protectors, my lad
he replied Sometimes we have BIT
ter winds blowing at Christmas. and
have to be ready for item. II would
MT do for Santa Claus to come down
with the sneezes at Christmas time,
you know-no. stree! This board In
front keeps the wind oi my chest, and
the one behind keep, me from get
ting rheumatism In ray back. They
are a great protection against the
weather.
you've got letters printed there"
said the boy, peerins around In front
OF his companion. What do they
spell7 You know ] haven't learned
to read yet"
Merry Christmas to Everybody p"
said Santa Claus. II have the words
printed there so that everybody can
see them; and II miss wishing any
body a merry Christmas, he'll know
| meant II Just the same"
They walked on now In silence, for
Little Billee was beginning to feel al
most too tired to talk, and Santa Claus
seemed to be thinking OF something
else. Finally, however, the little fel-
low spoke.
II guess I'd like to go home now.
Mr.. Santa Claus" Le said I'm tired,
and I'm afraid M mamma will be
wondering where rye gone TO-"
That's so, my little man." said
Santa Claus, stopping short in his
walk up and down the block. Your
mother will be worried, for a fact;
and your father. tool know how
I'd feel II my little boy got losted and
hadn't come home at dinner time.
don't believe you know where you
live, though-now, honest! Come!
'Fess up, Billee, you don't know
where you live, do you?"
"Why, yes, ! do" said Little Dillee
TITS in the big gray stone house with
the iron fence in front OF It, near the
park"
"Oh, that's easy enough" laughed
Santa Claus nervously. Anybody
could say he lived in gray stone
house with a fence around II, near
the park; but you don't know what
street it's on, nor the number, either
I'll bet fourteen wooden giraffes
against a monkey ON a stick"
NO, | don't" said Little Billee
frankly; but ! know the number OF
our ortymobile. lt's-'N. Y"
"Fine!" laughed Santa Claus. Then
he reflected for a moment, eyeing the
child anxiously,
81 don't believe you even know
your papa's name" he said.
"Yes, | do" said Little Billee lndig
nantly. "His name is Mr., Harrison.
and he owns bank"
Splendid! Made of tin, I suppose,
with nice little hole at the top to
drop pennies into7" said Santa Claus
mo, II amt, either!" retorted Lit
tie Billee. ITS made OF stone, and
has more than a million windows in
II. | went down there with my mamma
TO papas Office the other day, 80
guess | ought TO know"
well, ] should say so,' said Santa
Claus. Nobody better. BY the way
Billee, what does your mamma call
your papa? Billee,' like your" he
added.
"Oh, no indeed" returned Little
Billee. "She calls him papa, except
once in q while when he's going away
and then she says, 'Good.by, Tom
Fine again!" said Santa Claus
blowing upon his fingers, for, now
that the sun had completely disap
peared over In the west, II was get
ting very cold. Thomas Harrison
banker" he muttered to himself
what. with the telephone book and
the city directory, guess we can find
our way home with Little Billee."
He led the little fellow into a pub
lie telephone station, where he eager
ly scanned the names in the book. Az
last last II was found--''Thomas Har
rison, even-six.fve.four Plaza" And
then, in the seclusion OF the tele
phone booth, Santa Claus sent the
gladdest Of all Christmas messages
over the wire to two distracted par
ents:
81 have found your boy wandering
In the street. He Is safe, and ] vii