Graham guardian., 1913-12-19

set IA Il ~ SKY. and at the same
time a graaI round disk, the full
moon. ross n the east. Aunt Sarah
read to the ailren the familiar poem
''The Night Before Christmas" then
| they all went ont to look at the beau
tiful night
why, it's just as il is in the poem"
said one of the children. "The moon
is shining 'on the breast of the new
fallen snow"
80 it is" said Tommy. 81 wish
Santa Claus would come o'ong in his
sleigh with his reindeers. 'cn. Donder.
on. Blitzen: on. Dancer and Prancer.
and the rest Of 'em."
There was an immense fireplace In
the living room, so large that a mans
body could 90 through it. Mrs. Sever.
ance insisted that the stockings should
be hung up over this fireplace, since 1t
was by far the easiest chimney for
Santa Claus to come through. Besides,
he could easily get into il 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 a
! glimpse of him as he came down. So
, II was agreed that a cot or two be
moved into the room and a bed be
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 up a chat for some time
Tommy said that he was going to keep
awake all night so that he would be
sure that he wouldn't miss seeing Santa
come down. He kept his resolution by
going to sleep five minutes after be
made it, Tnen the others one by one
dropped of 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. hear a sound in the fire.
place. think Santa Claus has come"
Tommy sat up. Nas wide awake as he
had ever been In his life Piercing
through the uncertain light. be saw
Santa Claus filling the stockings from
q 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 jumpinx 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 rs well
he took Off toque he wore on his
head and diyested himself of his long
fur coat and pulled of a white beard
and stood before them. middle aged
| gentleman.
81 do believe it's papaw 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 hubbub known
in the Severance home before.
The morning was cold and crisp. and
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 vas 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 it 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 piece of bread at ev-
cry plate. Then she finished by placing
I a vase I'm the center filed with flowers.
When all were seated at table Mr.,
! Severance said grace. mentioning some
/ inestimable blessing that had been be-
slowed upon the family, Louise. when
she raised her head. looked at her
mother and saw her eyes wet with
tears. But such things rarely make
much impression on children, and this
inestimable blessing. whatever 1t
might he. was soon forgotten In the
dinner
In the afternoon the children went
skating on the pond. their father yield
ing to their solicitations to go with
them The ice cracked little under
them. so he did not go on to it, but
stood on the shore watching them.
Having skatcd for awhile. Ben. who
had received a new sled, took OF his
skates. and he and Louise spent the
rest of the afternoon coasting. The
children were all pretty tired before
bedtime and were not sorry to be
tucked in by mamma and kissed all
around by papa, and before 8 O'Clock
every one Of them was sound asleep.
Louise slept with her Aunt Sarah.
The child was old enough to wish to
know something of her fathers home