The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-12-13


1--WE can't see what they are till to.
morrow"
After it was dark-and night came
early a. Christmas time-the children
sat together talking about the coming
Of Santa Claus and how nice 1t was Of
him to let them see him. Johnny said
that he was sure he would get the
prize, ZOOS he was going to stay awake
all night"
'Pshawr' said Mamie. 1.-THE sand
man will get you before you've been in
bed ten minutes. don't believe Santa
will come in the night at all. believe
he'll come just like any other person
You can all watch the chimney: I'm
going to watch the front door"
Twill he drive up with his sleigh
and reindeer?" asked Billy.
"Not II he comes in the daytime" re.
piled Mamie. He'd have all the chill
dren in town about him. including the
ragamufins."
"Isn't Christmas for ragamufins?"
asked Johnnie.
At this Mrs. Elliott broke into the
dialogue, assuring her little ones that
Christmas should be as much for poor
a. for rich children. but often poor
children had very few gifts. for their
parents were too poor to buy presents
for them.
But there's Santa Claus" said Billy.
"Why doesn't he give 'em presentsT'
This was a poser for the mother,
who parted 1t by saying that the child
who only thought Of himself at Christ
mas time didn't deserve any presents.
After supper the children were put
to bed. Johnny made a noble effort to
fight of slumber. He refused to get
into bed. fearing that he would 60 to
sleep. And so he did. but when his
mother lifted him into bed he opened
his eyes very wide and asked:
HAS the sandman been aroundf'
He was asleep again a. soon ~ his
head struck the pillow.
The children insisted that the stock.
ings be hung upstairs and that they
sleep In the room where tho fireplace
was SO that they could all watch for
Santa to come down. Mamie did not
try to keep awake. She was old enough
to have an linking as to who Santa
Claus really was. end she had vague
suspicion - to this especial visit and
why they were to see him.
Johnny was the flrst to waken In the
morning, and he looked straight At the
chimney piece. The stockings looked
lank and lean. disappointment con-
I knuH~A vrlth sntaaFn c%Ncv, tha< liant a
had not yet come. He looked at Billy
beside him and saw that he was fast
asleep. Mamie. too, was wrapped in
slumber. Surely hs would get the
prize. All he had to do was to wait
and watch. and he hoped that Santa
would come before tho others awak-
ened.
Presently he heard the doorknoh
turned softly, the door was partly
opened and q face with . happy smile
on It and anticipation on every feature
peeped in. It was not Santa Claus
that II, the old man with frosty hall
and beard and . stomach shat shooi
when he laughed Ike . bowlful Of jcl
ly"-but Johnny's papa. who had como
homo the night before.
Johnny gavs . CRY Of delight thai
woke the other children and, Jumping
out Of bed. sprang into HE father
arms.
Mr.. Elliott heA largo basket In on.
hand, and after hs had kissed al hi
children be said:
! Johnny has won the prize. Here Il
-" And hs produced Q new silver dol
lar. This year have taken SAINTS
Claus place. ! wrote him not to come
Bee the stockinss; they are empty"
With that b. ct Ais basket q tn
! door. and he and Nrs. Elliott began d
take oat one package aftsr anothel
read the name marked On Il and toss I
! to The child 70 whom II belonged.
was q happy scene. the father an
} mother distr1buting the presents, d
children eagerly opening one packac
, after another. When the last had Bee
given and opened Billy looked up ct hi
father and asked:
why didn't 700 let Santa Clau
? come too?"
"Well. Billy. the fact u wanted B
b Santa Claus myself one year. jus
to see how 1t felt to make little chill
, dren happy. don't see why papas an
mammas shouldn't give their childrel
, their presents on Christmas morning
just as well as Santa Claus"
, II like It better" said Johnnie
Santa Claus comes 80 early In tn
. morning that the children don't sc
) him. and that's not half the fun q
!, when papa and mamma give the pres
ents themselves"
81 don't see any use of Santa Claus,
said Mamie, when we have papa an
mamma. Anyway. don't believ
there's any such person as
A look from her mother cut shor
Mamie's statement Of unbelief, tn
lady preferring that the younger chi
dren should find out the innocent d.
ception themselves when they gre,
older.
Whether It was that papa was SAINT
C1ono mr. hat h1 hnv fap a.,