Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-12-19

There came a jingling Of sleigh bells
"a sleigh drove up, he entered and
was whirled away over the snow.
In 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 hav.
ing a desperate struggle and day by
day she saw with despair the fight
growing harder and harder,
Mother, when Is Santa Claus COM
ing?" inquired little Billy.
For q 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 it aside.
"Perhaps he won't come at all !" she
replied with little catch in her voice.
"N-o-o-o-o!" came a chorus Of IN
believing voices from the fire.
"He is coming!"
Suddenly there came a jingling Of
bells and a sleigh drew up in front Of
the home.
"Whoop!" yelled Johnny. "Come on
kids-Santa Claus! My eyew
In an instant the fire was deserted
and five little heads were peering Gag
| erly out Of the door.
"Gee Wilkins! Look at the toys y
"Well, WE'LL" said Sanity in a loud
voice, pretending not to see the little
ones. II hope the children are all
in bed tonight, for if they are not, I
will not come again"
Five curly heads vanished in 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 all
the cover up over his head and left
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 Billy's toe
rubbed up splinter, and there came
subdued grunt from the bed which
changed to a fitful, sleepy kind Of
cough as the "old fellow" turned
around. The shores redoubled in VOL
ume. Old Sanity handed mother 8
sealed envelope and departed before
she could sufficiently recover from her
confusion and surprise to thank him.
It was addressed to her, so she broke
the seal. The sum and substance Of 1t
was, that the house and property of
Fanchion and something like five hun
dred dollars were to be hers upon the
death of Perry Fanchion.
So at last the identity Of the mys-
ferrous 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 Fanchion
homestead and old Santa Claus paid
the driver and entered the house.
Perry was weary and as he walked
down the dark, gloomy hall he almost
dropped with fatigue. Fatigue of the
body, WEAKNESS of the soul, the sore
ness of broken heart, all conspired
against him! YEARLY 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. He
didn't know. The blood-chilling faces
grinned and the cruel claws gripped.
He drew one of the heavy old chairs
up before the dying embers and cast
down, bowling his head far over into
the crate. Closer he huddled. What
was this dreadful chill that seemed to
be taking possession of his body? His
great sorrow preyed upon him.
"Oh, God!" he murmured; Il can
stand it no longer"
Something gentle and soft stroked
his hair his hair that was white as
snow. Two arms encircled him low
ingly.
He looked up, at first unbelievingly,
and then a wonderful smile lit up his
face.
"Nelly" he exclaimed, joyously. AT
last you have come for me. l. knew you
would! I thank Thee o -"
His voice trailed away in the dis
lance.
The fire died out and the faces no
longer grined, but seemed to smile
in the darkness. Far off, just as the
dawn was breaking, the chimes rang
out their message. Was it fancy or
did soul farsout in space echo:
"Glory to God in the highest and
on earth peace, good will toward men"
Perry was at restl