The bee., 1916-12-08


ed forty years; surely the end cannot
be far distant" he murmured as he
softly closed the gate.
There came a jlngilng Of sleigh bells
IA sleigh drove MP, he entered and
was whlrled away over the snow.
In a tiny little hovel on the edge Of
the city Eve little curly-headed chill
dren, dressed in old and ragged but
clean clothes were grouped around a
small IRE trying to keep warm. Their
mother was sewing for a living, her
husband having died several years ago.
leaving the children to her to provide
for, and being a woman Of good educa-
tion, ahe was trying to rear her chill
dren az best she might. She was hav-
ing . desperate struggle and day By
day she saw with despair the hght
growing harder and harder.
Mother. when is Santa Claus com
ingf" inquired little Billy.
For . while mother didn't seem TO
want to say anything. A large tear
fell silently on her WORK. With q
hasty movement almost angrily. she
brushed Il aside.
perhaps he WoA't come at all !" she
replied with a little catch In her voice.
~N-O-o-o-oI" came q chorus Of un-
believing voices from the fre
~He IL eomingf'
Suddenly there came n jingiing Of
bells and a sleigh drew mp in front Of
the home.
"whoop I" yelled Johnny. "Come on
kids-santa Clausi Ny eyei"
In an instant the FIRE was deserted
and i've little heads were peerinE eag-
erly out Of the door.
~Gee willikinsi Look at the toysi-
WELL WELL" said Sanity In q loud
voice, pretending not to see the little
ones. II hope the children are all
In bed tonight, for II they are not, !
will not come again."
Five curly heads vanished In a sec
ond, and when the old gentleman en-
tered the room all were tucked snug.
ly in bed-that Is all but Billy, who
in his excitement and hurry pulled al
the cover up over his head and lefi
his feet and body uncovered.
Santa Claus laughed and dumped the
contents Of his pack near the hearth
There were drums, dolls. tin soldiers
books, candy, nuts and fireworks.
Just at this moment BISy's toe
rubbed up a splinter, and G.ere came
q subdued grunt from the bed which
changed to a fitful, sleepy kind OF
cough as the cold fellow turned
around. The snores redoubled in vol.
ume. Old Sanity handed mother o
sealed envelope and departed before
abe could sufficiently recover from heI
confusion and surprise to thank him
II was addressed to her, so she broke
the seal. The sum and substance Of II
was, that the house and property OF
Fanchion and something like fve hun
dred dollars were to be hers upon the
death Of Perry Fanchion.
So at last; the identity Of the mys
terious Santa Claus and the friend Of
the poor and unfortunate was dis
closed.
Her home was only one of the many
to which he had been that night. To
morrow they would honor him. They
would come one and all to thank him
to praise him, to bless him-perhaps
to beg for more as the case might be
The sleigh stopped at the FanchioL
homestead and old Santa Claus paiC
the driver and entered the house.
Perry was weary and as he walked
down the dark, gloomy hall he almos
dropped with fatigue. Fatigue Of thu
body, WEAKNESS Of the soul, the sore
ness Of broken heart, all consplreG
against himi Wearily he slid out OF
the disguise. His eyes wandered with
a pitiful expression over the empty
dark room. None came to welcome
him. No one to love or care for him
She had gone on before. Perhaps She
was waiting for him up there now. HI
didn't know. The blood-chilling face
grinned and the cruel claws gripped
He drew one Of the heavy old chairs
up before the dying embers and cast
down, bowing his head far over into
the crate. Closer he huddled. Wha'
was this dreadful chill that seemed tc
be taking possession of his body3 His
great s0Trow preyed upon him.
"Oh, GodI" he murmured; 81 car
stand 1t no longer"
Something gentle and soft strokec
his hair his hair that was white as
snow. Two arms encircled him Low
ingly.
He looked up, at first unbellevlngly
and then a wonderful smile Lit up his
face.
smelly I" he exclaimed, joyously. IA
last you have come for me. l knew yor
would thank Thee o ="
His voice trailed away in the dis
tance.
The fire died out and the faces nc
longer grined. but seemed to smile
in the darkness. Far on, Just as the
dawn was breaking the chimes rang
out their message. Was It fancy OF
did a soul far out in space echo:
"Glory to God in the highest and
on earth peace, good will toward men,"