The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1913-12-19
Seeing Santa
Claus
a Christmas Story
For Children
By MARY Z. LUNDCREN
Copyright. 1918. by American Press
Association.
By MARY Z. LUNDGREN
Copyright. 1913. by American Press
Association.

mas, II king winter was pre-
pairing the roads for Santa Claus
long drive. The snowlakes were
tumbling over one another to do his
bidding. and Jack Frost shouted to
Donald. who was %fiattening his nose
against the windowpane, that he
would better stay in the house il 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
mer's career the two had formed an
exclusive mutual admiration society.
The little boy climbed upon the arm
OF the Iady'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 room.
lis Santa Claus our papas and NAM
mas. Aunt Madie."
1.-The Santa Claus ! saw certainly
wasn't. Donnie"
Ibid you ever see Santa Claus:
Honest. did your
Lets make it n story. Once upon
a time. long. long. ago, when ! was
a little girl. we were poor. SO poor
that Brother Fred ,your 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 ever things Up.
Mother said it was to give he 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 | had
such a queer little ache way down In
my heart that some way couldn't get
cured. told Fred. but he said we
must pretend to be ever 80 much
pleased with whatever we got. even II
it should be only u stick Of candy. be-
cause mamma would feel 80 sorry. and
ashe didn't have nice things either. but
had t. work all day long and late
at night sewing for the railroad boys"
"Poor grandma! Let's give her mt
thing nice this Christmas. She can
have all my pennies"
"Mammas don't mind 90 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 l
remember we had hardly enough GOV
ering to keep us warm"
Poor Aunt Made! Did you get cold
and wake up and see Santa Claus
them
II think some kind Of noise awoke
me. 1t was a beautiful night. The
moonbeams that crept between the
curtains sat close to the shadows. a.
ientiy watching. just like the shepherds
the first Christmas Y You remember
the story. dear? 1t was so still that l
almost expected to hear the angels
sing. Then. Of course. I began to think
of Santa Claus. I wanted and wanted
to see him, but | was dreadfully afraid
would. My 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
e by the bobbing OF his fsad that he
was coming toward me. ! thought Of
Santa Claus. and | thought Of robbers.
and I did not know what to think"
"TWhat did you do. Aunt Madie?"
bob. bob. went his head. and he
seemed to be coming closer and closer.
] was so scared I never thought Of
mamma at all. or whether she would
get hurt. supposing It wasn't Santa
Claus, but slipped under the covers.
way down to the foot Of the bed"
II shut my eyes. put my 6mgers In
my ears and trembled myself to sleep.
Tor the next, thing I knew something
heavy bounced upon the bed. and thsss
s Mae Ohs19tnoe 0eEnfng A. ~