The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-11-17

blazing with fun took on a misty twin
kle. and something like a shadow
crossed the old mans face, making it
seem strangely grave. but it was gone
as quickly as il had come. and he was
his merry self once more
1T must haze been most 'normous
long while aga when you were n
baby the child said. inspecting him
shyly.
at was. me darlint. It was the he
ginnin' av toime-fer me-"
"Somehow 1 never thought of you
as a baby at ALL" she went on. plainly
distressed. 'Oh, what ever did the
little children do then for Santa
Claus? There was never any other,
was there?'
"Niver wan, swate eyes. I'm the
original. simon pure Santa Claus an
no mishtake. Troth, they had to get
on the best they cud widout me. An
a sorry tonne they had av it, wan an
ALL Thin 1 came, an the wurrld was
a different place iver afther-so me
mither towld me-"
The child breathed a sigh Of relief.
I shouldn't have liked to be horned be-
fore you came. I'm half past six, you
know. Who filed your stockingY she
demanded the next moment as the new
idea occurred to her.
"Divil n wan l had to hang up whin
1 was a spalpeen. Twas barefutted
an bare legged l whit"
"But Christmas"-the little maids
lip trembled-"what did you do at
ChristmasY'
"'Twas like amy plain, ordinary
iv-ry day to me, agra, an no differ, ex-
cept that wanst in jest so often me
mither hid a plum in the bit cake she
was afther maxim fer me an I'd the
Joy av searchin' it out mesilf, same as
ye'd seek out a naydle in a hayrick.
An tonnes it was fat an tonnes ag'in
twas like the shadder av itsilf. But,
glory be, niver missed it, An twas
so good, fat or lane, that 1 used to
drame I'd give iv'ry child in the wurrld
a cake all shtuffed wild plums whin
growed up
THAT was what put it into your
head to be Santa Claus"
The man cast a sidelong glance at
his companions eager face.
"S'pose so,'' he muttered.
"But the star knew all along, and
| that's why it danced and couldn't keep
STILL She stole her hand into the
curve of his arm and gave it soft lit
tie squeeze. "Tell me bout that first
time" she coaxed.
what first toime?'
when you went Santa Causing.
Were you very long growing up?"
"'Twas a terrible long spell from
the b'y's ind an a terrible short wan
from the mans, all av which you'll I'M
dershtand whin your hair is me own
color But twas over an done wild
sooner or late, an there 1 was a man
| grown, though the heart av me has
always been like a child's because av
| the shtar''-
"And cause you belong to u.s."
"'Tis a Solymon king av Sheba We
are, alanna. Well, | wint about me
work, an 1 toiled up an down the
wurrld, but the goin' was joyful like,
count av the fun 1 left in me wake.
an iv'rywheres folks seemed powerful
| glad to see me-"
| 81 tried TO keep awake last Christ
mas eve" she broke in shrilly, latter
| muvver hanged up my stocking, but
the sandman would come. I'd been
awake so long that when he crept in
in his long gray cloak and with his bag
on his back thought it was truly you
| and my heart went thumpety thump.
But he shook out the sand..sprinkle,
| sprinkle, sprinkle. Tonight of all
nights you must sleep he said. And
1 cried No and closed my eyes quick
| SOS the sand couldn't get in, and when
opened them the next minute it was
| quite morning-not yellow morning
you know, but just the baby light that
comes first. Then very soft, SOS not