The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-24
THE FACTS AS WE SEE THEM
EVERY DAY IN BIRMINGHAM
BY MRS. }. ID. REID

/ pickering flame of an open CRATE was thu
only light, for who does not sometimes
love to sit in the shadows of the burning
Goals and Think
| There was a slight rattle at the door,
so gentle that one was apt to think 1t
was only a breeze coming to remind us of
the chill without. Again there was a rap.
rap and the voice within cried out, Gone
! in" Still no answer. Rising from the
meditation this childless woman cracked
| the closed door to hear the timd voice OF
| a child "Does Santa Claus live here?' she
asked mo, dear. was the reply, Santa
| Claus passes us by. He visits next door
and next but our child is in heaven, ana
| good old Santa Claus is too sad when he
reaches this door to enter, even though
| he brings the sweetest message to an
aching heart. oh" she said, I'm heaven?
| wish | was there, too!
why do you wish to go, too? Is there
no mother love awaiting you? Do not
your stockings hang by some areside?'
| oh what's the use. | live with
| Granny. and she is too poor to know San
ia Claus. He doesn't even pass our WAY,
| and there are Mary and Sue there. too.
| Granny is a good all woman. She has
taken us In her home even though she
had nothing to give but kindness. She
breaks her bite of bread in two and gives
us each a share. But that amt much |
I
I'd tell him Granny lived down there and
she is good, and please to come by and
leave her something to eat and some coal,
that she would not SILVER so"
Tell, me dear. where Granny lives,
I may tell him where to go" Pointing
way down yonder where the houses is
all fallen down, where there are heaps of
ashes. and lots of tin cans, lives our
Granny She went through all the piles
the wagons left today and do you know,
she didn't find one bite of bread, so she
is very weak tonight and / just thought
Santa Claus would like TO know. | hope
! did no harm In looking for him here,
but this place looked so good to me,
looked like Santa Claus house. and just
knocked on the door,"
MY child. come in, and let's see II We
cannot find some bread for Granny; some
thing to do until Santa Claus comes"
The lights were turned on. This beautl-
full home had everything but the lisping
words from the child in heaven, but God
had filed her place. There stood her mis-
sion to be the real Santa Claus in Gran
nys house, to lift the burden from her
bending frame. and make the Christmas
the realization of the child dream.
She filled a basket with good things to
eat unpacked the trunk of treasured gar
ments, fitted them to the childish form.
drew the hood close to her throat, and
placed few cents for coal in her hand.
ana stockings TO nanS, Tor Granny, Mary
and Sue. and don't forget this one is for
you"
The happy child could not speed enough
with her bounty. She almost flew TO
Granny. and as she united her hood, I'M
buttoned her new possessed cloak, she
almost breathlessly said: Il didn't find
Santa Claus house. but I found good
woman and she said God was taking
care of her child and she was glad / got
there, and she'd take care Of me-" and
then she clasped her hands tightly around
Granny's throat and said, You, too. ard
Mary and Sue
The basket of good things were welcome
indeed,
The poor old woman was heart sick and
weak.
The children were hungry and sorely in
need,
And their voices of gladness were too
full to speak.
The late burning embers sung them
warmly 10 bed
With no fear of tomorrow entering their
head.
While Granny sat wondering of what it
would be,
And how to live through it she could
scarcely see.