The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1916-12-14

st. Agnes.
But that great factor in the events
of a mans career, fate. willed other
wise, for only few days before the
wedding was to take place the BRIDE
tO-be was stricken with a fatal illness
and less than a week later was laid
away in the village graveyard.
After the funeral Perry Fanchion !
shut himself up, almost alone, in the
great house. Time moved on and peo-
pie forgot One by one his friends
left him, until at last he stood alone,
stranger in a stranger world
About this time the poorer people, |
the destitute of the city, became aware |
of the fact that they had a friend, |
very good mysterious friend, mys-
ferrous because, try as they might (and
did, they never could discover his
identity.
One time when a severe landlord
was about to turn Il poor family out
of the home they lived in, because
they were not able to pay the rent,
that family found the required amount
and a short note asking them to ac-
cept the money as a gift, by the fire.
place. Several times incidents like
this occurred among the unfortunate
but as to where these mysterious pres
ents came from, or by whom present
ed, none could ever tell. But the chill
dren suspected Santa Claus of having
a hand in the matter.
Tonight as Perry sat by the fire he
was very sad and very, very lonesome.
The town clock struck ten. Perry
arose, donned huge fur coat to
play his little act bravely. A worn,
tired smile played around his usually
grim mouth as he thought of the scenes
Of JOY and poverty he would witness
this night He crossed the town with
rapid, nervous strides and entered
little family burying ground. He was
gone for thirty minutes and when he
returned his face showed traces Of
deep emotion.
Goodnight, sweetheart, / have wait
ed forty years; surely the end cannot
be far distant" he murmured as he
softly closed the gate.
> There came jingling of sleigh bells
"a sleigh drove up, he entered and
was whirled away over the snow.
In a tiny little howell on the edge of
the city five little curly-headed chill
dren, dressed in old and ragged but
clean clothes were grouped around a
small fire 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 woman of good educa-
ton, she was trying to rear her chill
dren as best she might. She was hay-
ing a desperate struggle and day by
= day she saw with despair the fght
d growing harder and harder.
Mother, when is Santa Claus com
{ ing?" inquired little Billy.
For a while mother didn't seem t
- want to say anything. A large tea
fell silently on her work. With
= hasty movement, almost angrily, sh
e brushed it aside.
2. perhaps he won't come at all !" sh
- replied with a little catch in her voice
"N-o-o-o-ol" came a chorus of I'm
: believing voices from the fire.
HE is comingl"
Suddenly there came a jingling o
$ bells and sleigh drew up in front o
" the home.
"Whoop" yelled Johnny. Come o.
kids-Santa Claus My eyer
In an instant the fire was deserte
5. and five little heads were peering Gag
erly out of the door.
Gee Wilkins Look at the toys
r. "Well, WELL" said Sanity in a lou
- voice, pretending not to see the littl
I ones. Il hope the children are a
I in bed tonight, for if they are not,
A will not come again"
u Five curly heads vanished in Sc,
VI ond, and when the old gentleman Ell
tered the room all were tucked snui
ly in bed-that is all but Billy VIII
in his excitement and hurry pulled a
the cover up over his head and LEI
his feet and body uncovered.
= Santa Claus laughed and dumped I'll
u contents of his pack near the heart
" There were drums, dolls. tin soldier
books, candy, nuts and fireworks.
- Just at this moment Billy's t.
~ rubbed up a splinter, and there can
subdued grunt from the bed whiC
- changed to a fitful, sleepy kind
cough as the "old fellow" turnt
~ around. The shores redoubled in VIC
y ume. Old Sanity handed mother
ne sealed envelope and departed befol
she could sufficiently recover from h
ou confusion and surprise to thank hiI
90 1t was addressed to her, so she brol
he the seal. The.sum and substance of
- was, that the house and property
nc Fanchion and something like five hu
at -
ng