The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1914-12-08


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, peerlng around in front
Of his companion, What do they
spell? You know I haven't learned
to read yet"
"Merry Christmas to Everybody"
said Santa Claus 81 have the words
printed there SO that everybody can
see them; and II ] miss wishing any
body a merry Christmas, he'll know
[ meant it 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 fell
low spoke.
T guess I'd like to go home now.
Mr.. 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 little man." said
Santa Claus. stopping short in his
walk up and down the block Your
mother will be worried. for a fact:
and your father, tool know how
I'd feel If my little boy got losted and
hadn't come home at dinner time. I
don't believe you know where you
live, though-now, honest! Come!
'Fess up, Billee, you don't know
where you live, do you?"
"why, yes, I do" said Little Blllee.
cts in the big gray stone house with
the iron fence in front of It, near the
park"
"oh, that's easy enough" laughed
Santa Claus nervous1y. Anybody
could say he lived in gray stone
house with fence around 1t, near
the park: but you don't know what
street it's on, nor the number, either
I'll bet fourteen wooden CRATES
against monkey on stick"
mo, I DON'T" said Little Blllee
frankly; "but know the number OF
our ortymobile. Its-'N. T."
"Fine!" laughed Santa Claus. Then
he reflected for moment, cycling the
child anxiously.
II don't believe you even know
your papa's NAME" he said.
Eyes, 1 do" said Little Billee indig-
nantly. ellis name is Mr.. Harrison.
and he owns a bank"
splendid! Made OF tin, suppose,
with a nice little hole at tho top to
drop pennies into" said Santa Claus.
mo, it alnt, elther!" retorted LIT
tie Billee. TITS made of stone, and
has more than a million windows in
It. went down there with my mamma
to papa's ONCE the other day, 60 I
guess 1 ought to know"
We'll, I should say So" said Santa
Claus. Nobody better. By the way,
Billee, what does your mamma call
your papa? 'Billee,' like you?" 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"
Zine again!" said Santa Claus.
blowing upon his fingers. for. now
that the sun had completely disan
peared over in the west, 1t was get.
ting very cold. Thomas Harrison,
banker" he muttered to himself.
What, with the telephone book and
the city directory. l guess we can find
our way home with Little Billee."
He led the little fellow into Q pub
lie telephone station: where he eager,
~ scanned the names In the book. Al
last last it was found homasE HaE:
trison, seven.Bix. four Plaxan And
then, III the seclasion of tho tele.i
phone booth, santa Claus cont The
Eiaddsst OF ms Christmas messageB
oyer tho Nfre to two distracted palS
enta:
4 bare tspad your box ands