Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-11-28

the living room, so large that man :
body could go through II. Mrs. Sever.
ance insisted that the stockings should
be hung up over this fireplace, since II
was by far the easiest chimney fot
Santa Claus to come through. Besides.
he could easily get into 1t from the
roof. The children approved of helping
him in his kindly work, but they all
wanted TO sleep in the living room, be-
cause they said they might catch n
glimpse OF him as he came down. 81
1t was agreed that cot or two he
moved into the room and bed he
made on the lounge. so that the whole
family might sleep in the living room
and watch for Santa TO come down the
chimney.
When the children were all tucked In
they kept nm a chat for some time.
Tommy said that he was going 10 keep
awake all night so that he would he
sure that he wouldn't miss seeing Santa
come down. He kept his resolution by
going to sleep five minutes after he
made 1t. Then the others one by one
dropped off About 10 O'clock their
mother came in and. after making sure
they were properly covered. took her
place on the lounge.
Just about daylight on Christmas
morning. when every child was sleep
ing soundly. Mrs. Severance shook
Tommy. and when he opened his eyes
she said:
Tommy I hear n sound in the FIRE
place. think Santa Claus has come"
Tommy sat up. as wide awake rs he
had ever been i'm his life. Piercing
through the uncertain light. he saw
Santa Claus filing the stockings from
a great bag. Then Louise awoke. and
then Ben. and presently every child
was sitting up looking at the strange
sight.
SANTA" cried Tommy. please give
me a jumping jack
Out came n jumping jack from the
bag and was thrust into Tommy's
stocking. The children all began to ask
for the toys they wished. and in nearly
every case the request was granted.
When Santa Claus had filed all the
stockings and emptied his bag as well
he took off n toque he wore on his
head and Invested himself of his long
fur coat and pulled OF a white beard
and stood before them. a middle aged
gentleman
81 do believe it's papa" exclaimed
Louise.
You're right. dear child" said the
impersonator of Santa Claus. "Your
papa has come home TO spend Christ
mas with you all, and he Is never going
away again. either
He embraced them all: then they
got up in their nighties or pajamas.
some OF them putting on dressing
gowns, and took down their stockings,
and never was such a hubbub known
in the Severance home before.
The morning was cold and crisp. and
n fire was laid on the hearth, and the
children enjoyed their toys, though the
older ones were so delighted at having
their long absent father with them that
they took little thought as to what he
had brought them.
That was the happiest Christmas the
Severance family ever spent. Both the
father and the mother seemed over
joyed about something. though the
children could not tell what IL was.
Aunt Sarah insisted on taking care of
the Christmas dinner so that Mrs. Sew
erance COULD be with her husband.
Louise. who was very handy, helped
her aunt. Louise set the table. put on
the cranberry sauce for the turkey. and
the celery and n piece OF bread at ev-
cry plate. Then she finished by placing
a vase In the center filed with flowers
When all were seated at table Mr..
Severance said grace. mentioning some
nestimable blessing that had been be-
jtowed upon the family. louise. when
The raised her head, looked at her
mother and saw her eyes wet with
ears. But such things rarely make
much impression on children, and this
nestimable blessing, whatever It
night be, was soon forgotten in the
Inner.
In the afternoon the children went
kating on the pond, their father yield
ng to their solicitations TO 90 with
hem. The ice cracked little under
hem, so he did not go on TO 1t. but
TODD on the shore watching them.
Iaving skated for awhile, Ben. who
ad received new sled. took off bis
kates. and he and Louise spent the
est Of the afternoon coasting. The
hildren were all pretty tired before
edtime and were not sorry 10 he
Icked In by mamma and kissed all
round by papa. and before O'Clock
very one OF them was sound asleep.
Louise slept with her Aunt Sarah
he child was old enough TO wish 70
now something Of her fathers home
oming and asked her aunt to ten her.
unit Sarah, thinking it as well to sat
fly her. said that before her father
'ent away a bad woman had made
'ouble between him and her mother.
/. had been all explained away just
efore Christmas. and the fathers re
i'm had been set for Christmas. II
nd also been arranged that the father
lould come home Christmas eve and
AXE his appearance TO the children as
anita Claus on Christmas morning