The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1913-12-19
Seeing Santa
Claus
a Christmas Story
For Children
By MARY Z. LUNDCREN
By MAR Z. LUNDcREN
1913. by American Press
Association.

1T WAS a few days before Christ
mas. and King Winter was pre-
pairing the roads for Santa Claus
long drive. The snOw1akeS were
tumbling over one another to do his
bidding. and Jack Frost shouted to
Donald. who was lattening his nose
against the wind0wpane, that he
would better stay In the house II he
did not wish to get his ears pinched.
Donald was half past four" and
Aunt Made, sitting before the fire.
-'half past forty" Early In the for
exclusive mutual admiration society.
The little boy climbed upon the arm
OF the lady's huge easy chair. and the
two sat cozily In front of the heater.
gazing thOughtfully into the glowing
Goals that showed through the encir-
cling isinglass and made the only light
In the CON
lis Santa Claus our papas and mann
mas. Aunt Nader"
The Santa Claus saw certainly
wasn't. Donnie"
did you ever see Santa Claus:
Honest. did your"
Lets make it a story. Once upon
a time. long. long. ago, when was
a little girl, we were poor. SO poor
that Brother Fred tyour papa. Donnie,
and | never got much for Christmas.
We couldn't understand why Santa
Claus did not give the poor a lot and
the rich just a little to even things up.
Mother said it was to give the rich
q chance to be good to the poor
and the poor a chance to grow
good by suffering patiently. and then
both would be worthy to celebrate
Christ's birthday. Fred's patched suit
hardly kept out the cold. and this
Christmas ! ain talking about ! bad
such q queer little ache way down In
my heart that some way couldn't get
cured. l told Fred. but he said we
must pretend to be eve 50 much
pleased with whatever we got. even II
It should be only u stick Of candy. be-
cause mamma would feel 90 sorry. and
she didn't have nice things either. but
had to work all day long and late
at night sewing for the railroad boys"
"Poor grandma! Let's give her some
ching nice this Christmas. She can
have all my pennies"
"Nammas don't mind % much not
having things II their boys and girls
are good. but I am afraid Fred and /
worried her sometimes and made her
much trouble. Anyway. that Christ
mas eve ! slept with mamma. and !
remember We had hardly enough COW
.oring to keep us warm"
s'poor Aunt Made! Did you get cold
and wake up and zee Santa Claus
4henr'
II think some kind OF noise awoke
me. It was Z beautiful night. The
moonbeams that crept between the
curtains rat close to the shadows. a.
lentiy watching. just like the shepherds
the f3rst Christmas eve. You remember
the story, dear? It was 90 still that |
almost expected to hear the angels
sing. Then. Of course. I began to think
Of Santa Claus. l wanted and wanted
to zee him. but l was dreadfully afraid
would. Ny heart was going pittypat
when-what do you suppose Donnie?-
really saw something move In the
corner!"
And It was Santa CLAUSE"
ut looked like a man. and could
see by the bobbing OF his read that he
was coming toward me. ! thought Of
Santa Claus. and I thought Of robbers.
and I did not know what to think"
what did you do. Aunt Nader
bob. bob. went his head. and he
seemed to be coming closer and closer.
was 20 scared ! ' thought Of
mamma at all. or whether she would
1T hurt. supposing It wasn't Santa
Claus, but slipped under the covers.
Wy 0oWh 20 the foot OF the bed"
shut my eyes. put my 0ugers In
~ ears and trembled myself to sleep.
~ ~ next thing I knew something
lonvy hounced upon The BID. aDo thess
r ~ C1sktnoe 0senlng Al ~