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

The Elliott Family's
Christmas
Santa Claus Did Not Come ,
Down the Chimney
BY ELINOR MARSH ,
By ELINOR MARSH

The Elliott children were beginning
to talk about Christmas, to make out
the lists Of things they wanted and
otherwise prepare for the joyful ami
versary. when Mr.. Elliott came home
from business one evening and an
nounced to his wife that he was oblig-
ed to 60 on Journey that would keep
him away for several months.
The first the children knew Of this
move was seeing their mother pack
their fathers trunk.
where Is papa going1' asked Ma.
mic, the Oldest child.
He Is going on . Journey" was the
reply.
He isn't going to be away for Christ
mas. is he?"
II fear he will be away for the holi-
days"
"Oh, mammal
There was q terrible disappointment
in the child's voice. Mr.. Elliott was q
very aftectionate and kindly father.
and Christmas without his presence
would hardly seem Christmas at all to
his family. The news spread among
them, and 1t gave every one Of them q
shock.
IF papa can't be with u.s." said one.
| II don't care for Christmas"
II wish Christmas could be put OF
till he comes back" said another.
Mrs. Elliott was too disappointed her.
i n sv{vA Hhnv~a vxHs,nh nnvnfnpA 0Hn
continued her packing. and when all
was ready she and the children babe
the husband and father q sad adieu.
Then the mother endeavored to light
"a the load 20 far % possible for her
little ones. but her heart was not in
her work, and Il was not effective
Christmas day was near at hand.
agss for the Elliott family for ten
days. ArA Elliott had examined the
addrssDes. noted where and whom the
packages came from and then stored
them In some place where the children
could not get them, for they knew the
packages contained Christmas presents,
and every child was burning to open
them and sec whom they were for and
all about them. But the mother would
give no indication whatever concern
ing the gifts. telling her little ones that
they must wait till Christmas.
One morning the postman called
but, much to the children's disop-
pointment, brought not q single pack.
age. He delivered one letter.
When Mrs. Elliott opened and read 1t
she kissed every child. assuring them
that the letter was worth all the pres
snts that had come Q hundred tmel
over.
what the letter was about. Johnnie
aged six, said he believed It was from
santa Claus In answer 70 letter hl
had sent asking tor . rocking hoTs>
for Christina Mamie. aged eight
said she believed II wasn't abou
| Christmas at al. but somsthias else
When they had al had their turn q
guessing the mother told them that Z
was really from Santa Claus. peomis
ing that this Christmas. II ~ childrsr
( would b. good, they should - hin
and he would bring sacA one Of then
something pretty.
Thea hey all wanted 70 know o
what tine Of day Santa Claus wouk
come.
~Of course he'll como IN ths niddl>
q the night" said Johnny. Tn 20
Ing to keep awake and listen Tor tn
sleigh bells"
He wouldn't come then" said Billy
aged four. He says we'rs to 80 him
How could We SEE him In the middle d
the night?"
ii They tried to and out from the moth
Or Just when Santa Claus would come
but she would not tell them, sayini
that they must be on the watch and
promising that the one who saw hin
FIRST would receive q silver dollar for I
prize. With that the children declared
they would remain awake all Christ
mas eve and watch the chimney. Blu
Mamie, aged eight, said that she didn'
believe Santa would come down tn,
chimney at all. If he did that b,
would be covered with SCOT, and the,
couldn't hug him without being be
smeared themselves.
| Mamma" asked Billy, isn't paps
coming home for Christmasr'
THAT depends upon whether he get
through his business"
whats business"
Business Is that which produces tn
money to feed and clothe you children
and send you to school and buy toy
and things for you"
Mamie declared that she would rath
er have papa at home for Christina.
il than all the gifts Santa Claus coult
carry to all the children In the Who'll,
world.
1t seemed . long while before Christ
mas. though II was but two days from
the time Mrs. Elliott received her let
: ter. The children In the meanwhile,
were on the tiptoe Of excitement. A
one time there was the odor Of no
mince pie In the house; then the wsgor