The Washington herald., 1914-12-12
DAILY SHORT STORY.
BIG BROTHERS MISTAKE.
By JOHN DARLING.
Copyright. lslI.j

Copyright I9li)
| But there is a Santa Claus" insist
| foot vigorously.
Il know there is-daddy said So"
supplemented his brother. Jimmy. five
years old An mother. too"
Muvver knows" added Tiny de-
monstratively. His curls. which re-
semoied nothing so much as peanuts
glued to his head. fairly bristled
The big brother John turned on his
heeL Aw. come on! You're nothin'
but kids, or you wouldn't believe such
fairy tales" John was eight.
The two younger brothers looked
after him in silence. They had always
believed in John. and this was a blow
TO their faith-in John.
Johns a nut" Jimmy concluded. in
elegantly. and dismissed the matter
from his mind.
He's a mupfh," repeated Tiny. nod
ding vociferously, and returning TO his
digging.
But as the day wore on and the
children's hour rolled around the two
little minds returned to the subject
or santa Claus They had been think
ing OF him and talking of him and
waiting for him for days-ever since
the shops began to show rosy. round
images of him in the windows. And
their big brother had said there was
no Santa Claus. II wasn't true, but
why had John said il?
Aunty Doris" Jimmy asked, when
their mothers pretty sister had Cuddled
them down in her lap on the rug be
fore the smoldering hickory logs lust
before bedtime. where does santa
Claus live?''
oh, away up in the sky near the
north pole" romanced Doris Wheaton
In e touds by e little tar" asked
Tiny. who was all but asleep. His fat,
rosy cheeks were as warm as toast
against Doris hand.
Yes. Tiny. by the little star" re-
piled Doris. And ii won't be 1ong
now till he comes sliding down the
skyline. coasting from one cloud 10
another till he gets to daddy's and
mothers housetop." Doris went on.
knew d it," Jimmy muttered |
You what, Jimmy
knew he was up there" John said
there wasn't any Santa CIaus.y
He did say it: he did" repeated Tiny |
sleepiy my
Doris bit her lips and tears rushed /
TO her eyes. These babies"' her hear,
cried These babies! Not so soon. nor
so SOON -''
Doris loved children. She fairly adoreo
her two baby nephews and she wanted
them to miss not a single one Of Iifa,-
pretty childhood days. She Iovad 70
make Christmas a golden spot in Their
little horizons. Later-there would be
some way to explain about the myth
But not now-they were such babies,
Feeling that the idea had not taken
root in their minds, she did not men
ton IL again. but kept on telling them !
OF how Santa Claus would come dow,
the chimney and fill their stockings. and
Of how happy every one would be to-
gether.
After they were in bed Doris began
to think OF the suspicion that had NO.
tered into their minds. She knew John
would speak Of it again. and she de-
termined to make this Christmas ons
OF absolute belief in Santa Claus for
Doris had one persistent admirer who
was always trying to get the boys to
call him Uncle Dave" much to the
Of the family.
IF you want to be a real Uncle Dave
10 Tiny and Jimmy" she told him one
night soon after Jimmy's remark about
santa Claus, Just help me to confirm
The boys belief in Santa Claus this
year.
ANYTHING to gain that relationship to
hem" cried Dave Annis jubilantly.
What shall l dor
Go up in an airship dressed as Santa
Claus and come down just at dusk and
and on the housetop." replied Doris hair
n earnest
Dave whistled 1T could be DONE he
aid slowly.
No, I'm joking. Dave. 1 wouldn',
rave you risk your life that way. Bur
10 think of something feasibIe-do."
Dave was silent for a few moments !
Then he set up straight and determine
ion bristled from his gestures. Leave
to me. Doris. leave il to me! For
urther instructions as to what you are
o do with the kiddies ask me on tn.
4th Of December at o'clock in the aft
rnoOn That's ALL
And he would say no more in spite OF
headings from Doris. But understand
ng that he meant to make the chiIdren's
'ision Of Santa Claus come true. Doris
iept on telling them Of his coming un-
II the very day arrived.
An tonight Santa Claus comes Aunty
)Oris?' asked Jimmy toward evening.
Doris nodded and hugged the two boys
lOsely in her own joy. Yes, tonight,
nd maybe he'll come scouting around
he sky early in the evening to see If