The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-12-21

Little Sue was only twelve yeara
old, but still she had the ~esponsibiii-
ties of a woman. Her father was only
truckdriver In large city. and she
was his housekeeper. 1t was true
that the apartments were not SO very
large, consisting of only two rooms in
crowded nat: still. it was a very
hard task for such tiny little girl.
Her faher called her his little house,
+hsAe per. '------------
There was another task for Sue be-
sides keeping house and cooking. for
she had a little sister, fat little ball
Of humanity: her name was Alma
rette, but Sue always called her
Baby" II anyone had to go with
out anything 1t was mover Baby"
nor Daddy" but always Sue. Thus
Sue kept busy all the time.
1t was the day before Christmas,
and Sue could think of no plan to get
anything for Baby. for Daddy had
been out OF work. and the wages for
that week had to pay the back rent.
and get a few groceries for the COM
Ing week. and that would leave moth
ing for Christmas
she put Baby In the bedroom,
while she was In the kitchen prepar-
ing supper, Baby was ak years old.
and she would soon go to school. and
SO she must try to write her a u Cs
from an old torn book. Sue kept
trying 10 think of some plan to get
something for Baby, and she forgot
about her little charge. who sat so
patiently copying her letters on the
margin of the book.
Finally Baby's attention was at
tracted by two small children. who
were talking outside. One was telling
tho other of a beautiful lady who was
giving q Christmas tree to poor little
children. and who said TINT II you
would give her note to Santa Claus.
she would give 1t to him. and no
would come to see you. As soon az
Baby understood who they were talk
ing about, she straigtway resolved
helped her to ecribble note to Santa
Claus, and she climbed up and got
1t of of tho mantle. and followed the
two children, wherever they went, FOR
they also had decided TO visit the
lady.
After many narrow escapes they
finally came to q large mansion. The
front door stood open, and the In
truders walked In. There was a
beautiful lady sitting by the fire.
Baby gave her the note. and this 10
what she read:
deer santie Claws:
pleze bring me q dol, a litel dolbedd.
and sum candle and appels. X u
have any shoes pleze bring me q
pear for myne leaks.
lovingly.
When the lady had finished read.
ing 1t there were tears In her eyes,
and she asked who was Baby" and
she picked her up and kissed her.
She told them that Santa would
surely come and bring them
all they had asked for. She said II
they would show her where they
lived she would take them home in
her carriage; and so they started on
their way home with no other guide
than the largest OF these children.
In the meantime Sue had discovered
that Baby was gone. and although
she searched everywhere diligently.
she could not find her. She and her
father had gone out to LOOK for Baby.
and while she was gone the lady ar
rived. She took the number OF the
house, and left tho little gicls. When
Sue came back she was so over1oyed
at seeing Baby that she did not scoid
her at all: and the only explanation
that Baby would give was that shs
had been somewhere"
That night Baby insisted upon
hanging up her stocking. and with .
sad heart Sue consented. thinking OF
the poor child's disappointment when
she would awake in the morning and
find an empty stocking.
Late that night. as Sue sat crying
by the fire. a tremendous knock
sounded on tho door, and when she
went there she saw q great big box.
Now the lady had learned from Baby
that she had a bigger sister, and what
that older sister would nced. and so
when Sue opened the box she found
a nice dress FOR her, a GOAT ana shoes:
there were candies. apples, cakes.
oranges and lots Of good things to
eat; and there was q doll for Baby.
a doll-bed, doll-carriage and ever SO
many nice toys.
Then Sue Just sat down and cried.
not from sorrow, but from joy this
time. And 10 in the mprnins- whe.,
Baby awokc. Santa Claus hta beesa
there, and 40 there was = lsryay
Christmas a1ser III.