Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1915-12-23

BILE to him that he was an orphan,
now, for somehow the old folks SEEM
ed so near to him tonight.
Then he remembered Helen Roscoe,
and the days when children together,
they had sung that carol at the
Christmas celebration at the Sunday
school. Later, when he, student
away at college, had returned home
for the Christmas holidays, Helen and
he had sung it on Christmas eve, in
the old Roscoe home. More memoir
les came thick and fast. He thought
of the years when he was striving to
make career for himself. For a
time he had neglected the old home
he had known nothing save his ambi-
tion.
He thought that Helen would un-
derstand that he was laboring for her,
and that, that alone, was the cause of
his neglect. Finally with his reputa-
tion established, he had returned to
the old home, only to find that old
Thomas Roscoe, had become heavily
involved in debt, had been obliged to
sell the old home and had moved into
the city so the neighbors said. Helen
they added. was at this time the af-
fianced wife of Robert Ruggles, and
that by this time she had no doubt
been married several years.
Soon after this his parents had died
III.
metropolis with a stern look deeply
worn into his handsome countenance
and with the determination to make
ambition his all. He had seen the
ambition realized. He had the repu-
tation of being one of the best prac-
titioners at the state bar. Nor had he
accomplished this by unfair methods;
for all who knew him; knew him as
just and upright man.
The entrance of the nurse at nine
o'clock broke the spell and brought
him to his feet. He gazed at the wo-
man, at the golden-brown hair, the
even aristocratic features. Could he
be mistaken in the identity. He start
ed forward.
"What are you doing here, Helen"
"Tom, oh, Tom, is it really you.
Who is that little chap, thtught he
was a street waif. What brought you
here"
"Homesickness," he answered.
"What do you mean," she asked.
81 mean / desire to care for some
one, someone to make happy, as near
ly everyone has a chance to do at
Christmas time. And then he told
lrsw the Christmas shoppers had op-
pressed him, and how even the little
chap had annoyed him until his better
self arose in him and he wanted to
be the youngsters Santa Claus. He
stopped abruptly. Then he laughed
the hollow mockery of laugh.
eve will not talk of it more" she
said quietly. "You have not asked me
where I have been all these years"
81 know. l heard. You married
"No, did not marry, do not think
l shall ever marry" She saw him
lean forward with quick start.
81 thought-why, / heard-Bob-"
stammered Hollister incoheretnly.
81 liked him." she went on frankly.
"You never came home to see us that
entire year, and when father failed
and we moved away, and he went at
the same time-well, the neighbors
thought-you know"
"But what brought you here" in
quired Hollister.
"After father failed. 1 studied
nursing. Then when he died, and
mother also, soon after, / came here
/ love children and so you see the
work is pleasant"
The little chap stirred restlessly in
his sleep. Hollister moved to Helen's
side at the bedside. "I'm going to
care for him, Helen he quietly said.
"You see the holly. That was to
serve as a sign, he said, so that Santa
would recognize him. He really
wantd me to be his Santa Claus.
Helen, do you think I'll suffice for a
Santa Claus. l am kindhmhmmmm
Santa Claus. Am 1 kind enough.
"Oh,yes," the girl responded, "no
one in the whole world could be kind
to him as you-you."
The sentence rang in his ears. In
it the man thought he could detect a
wealth of love for him. He took both
her hands in his, and looked down in
to her eyes, and what he saw there,
remained forever a burning part Of
his life.
Unnoticed by the two, the little
chap on the bed, awoke and was now
gazing bewilderingly at the cheerful
room and at the man whom he had
selected as his Santa Claus. cts
really old Santa, sure enough, only
l didn't think he was so young"
thought the forlorn little waif, and
then he exclaimed aloud, "Gee, it
must be Mr.. and Mrs. Santa Claus
Hollister started then as he grasp
ed the meaning of the exclamation
H still held the girls hands. "Shall
~ ha ua1aY xro,. or1 NJ o-l