Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1914-12-17

and I'm AFRAID my mamma viii 81
wondering where I've gone to-"
That's so. my little man. saif
Santa Claus. stopping short in hi.
walk up and down the block. YOU
mother will be worried. for a fact
and your father. tool know how
Id feel II my little boy got losted ant
hadn't come home at dinner time.
don't believe you know where yos
live, though-now. honest! Come
Fess up. Billee. you don't know
where you live. do yo::'
Why. yes. I do" said Little Billee
IT'S In the big gray stone house will
the iron fence in front OF II. near thu
park"
"0h. that's easy enough" laughe,
Santa Claus nervously. "Anybod,
could say he lived In a gray ston,
house with a fence around II. nea
the park; but you don't know wha
street it's on, nor the number, eithe
I'll bet fourteen wooden CRATES
against n monkey on a stick"
mo. don't" said Little Billes
frankly: but I know the number o
our ortymobile. It's-'N. y"
-Flne," laughed Santa Claus. Thei
he reflected for a moment. cycling tn.
child anxiously.
Il don't believe you even know
your papa's NAME he said.
ssyaa A, ..l1 fttf. nnI., trxt-
nantly. His name is Mr. Harrison.
and he owns a bank"
Splendid, Made OF tin. I suppose,
with a nice little hole at the top to
drop pennies into" said Santa Claus.
No. It amt. eitheri- retorted Lit
tie Billee. ITS made Of stone, and
has more than a million windows in
Il. I went down there with my mamma
10 papa's Office the other day. so I
guess | ought TO know"
We'll. / should say So said Santa
Claus. Nobody better. BY the way.
Dillee. what does your mamma call
Four papa. 'Billee.' like your he
added.
oh, no. indeed" returned Little
Billee She calls him papa. except
once in a while when he's going away.
and then she says. Good-by. Tom
Fine again" said Santa Claus,
upon his fingers. for. nov
that the sun had completely disap.
peared over In the west. II was get
ting very cold Thomas Harrison
banker" he muttered to himself
What. with the telephone book and
the city directory. I guess ne can nns
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 II was found--Thomas Hsr'
rison. seven@ix-nve-four Plaza And
then. in the seclusicn Of the tele-
phone booth. Santa Claus sent the
siaddest Of all Christmas messages
over the wire TO two distracted par.
ents:
I have found your boy wandering
In the street. He IL safe. and I viii
bring him home right away
Fifteen minutes later. there NIGH
have been seen the strange spectacle
OF q footsore Santa Claus leading I
sleepy little boy up Fifth avenue to I
cross street. which shall be nameiess
The boy vainly endeavored to per
suade his companion to come IN ans
meet mamma"
No. Bfllee.- the old man replie'
sadly. Il must hurry baex- You see
kiddie. this Ii my busy day
But Il vas not TO oe a. Santa Ciau
wiiied. for Little BfIlee's papa. an
his mamma, and his brothers and sii
tiers. and the butler and the hous'
maids were waiting at the 'front.' doc
when they arrived
Leo by Little BiIiee's persistent q
Their. Santa Claus went into the hous
Nov that the boy could see him In Ii
full glare OF many electric lights, b
furs did not seem the most gorgeor
things in the world When the IA
ping front of his red jacket few ope
the child was surprised to see no
ragged was the thin gray coat II CO
erred: and as for the good old saint
comfortable stomach-strange to sa
IL was not,
II wish you all a merry Chris
mas" faitered Santa Claus; but
really must be going. sir"
Nonsense cried Mr.. Harriso
Not until you have got rid OF tn
chill. and"
Il can't stay. sir said Santa. IT
lose my job IL do"
Well. what II you do? I'll ri,
you a better one" said the banker.
Il can't can't" faltered the ma
-Ef-Pve got a Little Biilee Of m
own al home waitin' for me. sir. II
hadn't" he added fercely. do ye
suppose I'd be doin' thisy" He poin
ed at the painted boards. and shu
dered
Il guess Santa Claus Is tired. papa
said Little BiIlee. smuggling up clos
ly to the old fellow and taking hoI
OF his hand sympathetically. He
been walkin' . lot today"
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book out last week when l cleane