Putnam patriot., 1914-12-25

''What Are You Wearing Those Boards
 for, MT. Santa claus?. the one behind keeps me from get ting rheumatism in my back. They are a great protection against the weather
 You've got letters printed there said the boy, peering around in front of his companion. What do they spell2 You know I haven't learned to read yet
 Merry Christmas to Everybody" said Santa Claus. T have the words printed there so that everybody can see them: and if l miss wishing any body a merry Christmas. he'll know I meant 1t just the same"
 They walked on now in silence, for Little Billee was beginning to feel al most too tired to talk, and Santa Claus seemed to be thinking of something else. Finally, however, the little fel- low spoke.
 q guess I'd like to go home now, Mir Santa Claus" he said. I'm tired, and I'm afraid my mamma will be wondering where I've gone to-
 That's so, my ltle man." said Santa Claus, stopping short in his walk up and down the block. Your mother will be worried, for fact; and your father, tool know how I'd feel if my little boy got losted and hadn't come home at dinner time, l don't believe you know where you live, though-now, honest. Come' 'Fess up. Bilee, you don't know where you live. do you9"
 Why. yes. do," sail Little Billee. Its in the big gray stone house with the iron fence ir front of il, near the park"
 soh, that's easy enough" laughed Santa Claus nervously. Anybody could say he lived in gray stone house with 6 fence around it. near the park; but you don't know what street it's on, nor the number, either I'll bet fourteen wooden giraffes against a monkey on a stick"
 "No, I don't" said Little Billee frankly, but l know the number of our ortympbile Its-.N. Y.' Finer laughed Santa Claus. Then he reflected for moment, .eyeing the child anxfously.
 q don't believe you even know your papa's name" he said.
 Yes, do,' said Little Billee indig- nantly. His name is Mir. Harrison and he owns bank"
 "Splendidt Made of tin. I suppose, with nice little hole at the top to drop pennies into?" said Santa Claus
 "No, it ain't, efther," retorted Lit tie Billee- ~Itfs made of stone and has more than million windows in it. I went down there with my mamma to papa's office the other day, so l guess I ought to know
 Well, I should say so" said Santa Claus. Nobody better. By the way. Billee, what does your mamma call your papa? -BiIlee,' like goug" he added
 "Oh. no. indeed" returned Little Billee. She calls hira papa, except once in a while when he's going away. and then she says, 1Good-b by. Tom
 Fine again." said Santa Claus, blowing upon his fingers, for. now that the sun had completely disap- peared over in the west. if was get ting very cold. Thomas Harrison. banker" he muttered to himseii. ~Wbat, with the telephone book and the city directory, I guess we can ma our way home with Little Billee-"
 He led the little fellow into a pub lie telephone station, where he eager ly scanned the names in the book. Al last last it was foamd-"Thomas liar rison. seven-six- -fve-four Plaza" And then, in the seclusion Of the teie- phone tooth. Santa Claus sent the eladdest of all Christmas messages over the wire to two distracted par ents:
 T have found your boy wandering |, the street. He is safe. and VIII bring him home right away
 Fifteen minutes later, there might have been seen the strange spectacie of a foetsore Santa Claus leading sleepy little boy up Fifth avenue to cross strees. which shall be nameless- The boy Tainly endeasored to per suade his companion to come ill ana meet mamma.
 .sNo. 2ilIee." the old man replied sodlv CT must hurry back. You see kiddie. this is my busy day
 But it was not to be as Santa Claus wtlled. for Little Billee's papa ana bts mamma. a.ad his brothers and SIS ,ers and the butler and the house maids were waiting at the front door when they arrived
 Led by Little Billee's persistent ia- ,hsr Santa Claus vert Into the house