The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-04-24
ADELINE'S GREAT FAITH
ey SUSANNA PALMER.

~ VSVNUVsVs UVSUUeU0D
When Adeline was nine the Pumes
began wondering among themselves
whether she still believed IN Santa
Claus. Adeline had written her usual
letter to Santa and stuffed Il up the
chimney Is usual and It had to be
extracted with the accompaniment Of
much SCOT and emotion BY her father.
"Thunderation!" Pune had said. try.
ing to brush the SCOT from bio face
and smearing It on tho collar. This
u the end Of such foolishness! What
an awfll reach that child has! That
letter was almost up on the chimney
coping. She can't believe IN such fool
ishneSS-"
1.-THE ideal" said Mn. PUNE. indig'
nantly. Il think It Is perfectly sweet
that Adeline still believes in Santa
Claus! What is . little SCOT on your
collar compared with nurturing the
imagination Of your child! You haven't
any heart, Henry Puffle! I'm pos
itively ashamed Of you!"
"Weu, its me the SCOT 10 on. you'll
notice!" said Pune grimly and I'M
dramatically. "That makes some diff.
fssencsi oh. well. II the hid still
thinks Santa Claus exists ~ might %
we'll let her keep on thinking. She'll
outgrow Il fast enough!
They labeled nearly Oh Aloline's
elfts From Santa Claus" and she 70
caived them with the sane wide eyed
wonder which had attended her Christ
masses from babyhooA
r got this from Santa the Pu@se
heard her telling The little gln next
door . she exhibited her new DOH.
"Thers!" said Mn. Pune accusing
y. And you would have blishted
that innocent faithl Il = peFfsctly
beautiful"
Il was the same when Adeline was
ten. She babbled raerrily about what
she wanted Santa Claus 70 bring her.
Resting her limpid eyes upon her
wondering parent. she would beseech'
ingly ask Puzzle whether he though:
II sha wrote Z very careful ncte to
Santa. no would do such . wonderful
thing as bring her a gold bracelet. III
I wrote It vur.ry carefully, daddy3 she
repeated In her birdlike tones.
And Pufle's heart melting ct the
tender trust Of his child. he told AIDE
line that he thought Santa would b
unable to resist her appeal.
"Only." Pufie added. with memories
Of the year previous. 1T ID not neces'
sary. dearie. to chuck your letter quite
so high up the chimney"
"Why, daddy!" Adeline protested IN
round eyed amaxement. 1T II 80 much
easier for him to get It II It ID high up!
He has to reach clear down the chin
ney. you know!"
ITO be sure" Pune stammered.
II don't see," he afte-ward remark
ed to his wife, why she hasn't dis
covered that Santa Claus 10 . take.
Some Of the other children must know.
The little imps are only too glad to
give It away when they are disillusiou'
ed. They must have told her!"
you don't understand. Adeline!"
protested Mrs. Puftie. "You don't real
ize at all what sweet, trusting nature
that child has! It would never enter
her head to suspect! I just want to
cry when think how terrible she will
feel when she does find out hope It
will be q long. long time yeti"
swell, I don't see how It can be. %
long a. she has eyes and ears and
some brains." growled Puf1e.
Pune was smitten dumb With
amasement when at II Adeline. -
holiday time approached. began to
chirp In her sweet, childish way what
Santa was going to bring her.
"He brought my bracelet last year."
she said to her parents. Don't you
shInk neil or1ne me . little oIlvoe
watch this timef He would u he
knew how I wanted Il Santa haD ~.
q disappointed ne. nevsri"
"Heory." said Mrs. Pafao . nttls
later. wipins hsr eyes. we muse GET
Adellne that watch! I wouldn't ~
appoint her faith tor worldsl"
She's too young for . watch" q.
jecter Puffe feebly.
But think OF her trustl" n.
preached Mrs.. Pufne. TT 10 beauti.
full"
Il was the day after Christmas that
the puffes, having raised . WINDOW
to cool on the house. heard outdoors,
just beneath the window, . converse
ton between Adeline and the little
girl next door.
DO you believe In Santa Claus!"
asked the little girl.
Adeline laughed . superior and
amused laugh. Santa CLAUSE" she re-
peated. Goodness me, no! I knew