The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-12-08

| After it was Oakland night came
early ~ Christmas time-the children
sat together talking about the coming
of Santa Claus and how nice it 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. 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,"
evil he drive up with his sleigh
and reindeer?" asked Billy.
Not if he comes in the daytime re-
piled Mamie. He'd have all the chill
dren in town about him. including the
ragamuff1ns."
"Isn't Christmas for ragamuffins?
asked Johnnie.
At this Mrs Elliott broke into the
dialogue, assuring her little ores that
Christmas should be as much for poor
as 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 rresentsT'
This was a poser for the mother.
who parted it 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 off slumber He refused to get
into bed, fearing that he would go 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 aroundY
He was asleep again as soon as his
head struck the pillow.
The children insisted that the stock
ings be hung upstairs and that they
sleep In the room where the 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 inkling as to who Santa
Claus really was, end she had vague
suspicion as to this especial visit and
why they were to see him.
Johnny was the first to waken in the
morning, and he looked straight at the
chimney piece. The stockings looked
lank and lean. Disappointment con-
tended with satisfaction that Santa
had not yet come. He looked at Billy
beside him and saw that he was fast
asleep. Mamie, too, was wrapped in
slumber. Surely he would get the
prize. All he had to do was to wait
and watch, and he hoped that Santa
would come before the others awak-
| ened.
Presently he heard the doorknob
turned softly, the door was partly
opened and face with happy smile
on 1t and anticipation on every feature
peeped in. 1t was not Santa Claus
that Is, the old man with frosty hair
and beard and stomach that shook
when he laughed like a bowlful of jel-
ly'-but Johnny's papa, who had come
/ home the night before.
Johnny gave a cry Of delight that
woke the other children and. jumping
out of bed. sprang into his fathers
arms.
Mr.. Elliott held large basket in one
hand, and after he had kissed all his
children he said:
Johnny has won the prize. Here it
is" And he produced a new silver dol.
lar. This year l have taken Santa
! Claus place. l wrote him not to come.
See the stockings; they are empty"
With that he set his basket on the
floor, and he and Mrs. Elliott began to
take out one package after another
read the name marked on it and toss it
to the child to whom it belonged. II
was happy scene, the father and
mother distributing the presents, the
cnllufen eagerly opening one package
after another. When the last had been
given and opened Billy looked up at his
father and asked:
"Why didn't you let Santa. Clans
come too?"
| well. Billy, the fact is | wanted TO
be Santa Claus myself one wear. inst
to see how it felt to make little chill
dren happy. don't see why papas and
mammas shouldn't give their children
their presents on Christmas morning
just as well as Santa Claus"
| Il like 1t better" said Johnnie
Santa Claus comes so early in the
morning that the children don't see
him, and that's not half the fun as
when papa and mamma give the pres
entS themselves"
Il don't see any use of Santa Clans"
said Mamie, ''when we have papa and
mamma. Anyway. l don't believe
there's any such person as
A look from her mother cut short
Mamie's statement of unbelief. the
lady preferring that the younger chill.
dren should find out the innocent do.
ception themselves when they grew
older.
whether 1t was that papa was Santa
Claus or that he came home for Christ.
mas the children agreed that that was
the finest Christmas they ever had
After breakfast some neighborinp chill.
dren came in with gifts and received
gifts themselves. Then Mr.. Elliott got
out the car. Mrs. Elliott and the cb,,.