The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1918-12-28
IS THERE A SANTA CLAUS:

1t is Christmas day. Children are
playing down stairs, joyfully dancing
around a beautifully trimmed tree,
laden with dolls, books, toys and
loving gifts of many kinds. All are
very happy, particularly little Jane,
who is loud and enthusiastic in her
praise of Santa Claus. "Ah, what'y
givin' u.s." shouts Jimmy, the skeptic
of the household there amt no
Santa Claus. Quit kiddin' yourself
about such stuff. I've got over it.
Our fathers and mothers is Santa
Claus. l guess I know
There is too a Santa Claus" little
Jane Indignantly retorted. Mamma
and papa and Uncle Bill and every
body says there's one, but you. They
ought to know Jimmy held his
ground unyieldingly and Jane dis
puted him with the strong and simple
faith that only child possesses.
Mother is too busy preparing the
Christmas dinner to settle the con-
troversy. Father will not be home
till noon, and so they run excitedly
to Uncle Bill, busily writing in his
study, to whom the dispute is sub
mitted.
Uncle BILL Jane began, Jimmy
says there amt no Santa Claus. You
know that there is, don't you Uncle
Bill?" Eyes my child" reverently
replied the uncle as he lifted the
little girl on his knee and threw his
arm around little Jimmy, II know
there is Santa Claus, and he was in
this happy home last night when you
were fast asleep. He is here now.
He is everywhere. l believe in him
as sincerely as believe in Cod, and
1 do believe in God.
Some day when you are a little
Older" continued Uncle Bill, "you
will understand what I mean. You
will know Santa Claus much better
than you do now, and you will know
God too. Time will prove to you that
Santa Claus visits every home on
earth where love abounds, and some
times ne goes to homes where there
IS no love, but is sent there by the
love of others. He comes down chin
neys, through doors and windows.
enters human hearts and opens them
so wide that everything good in them
flows out like water in a great flood"
turning to Jimmy, Uncle Bill
said: when was your age, I too
doubted as you do. couldn't under-
stand how great, big man could
come down such small opening as
there is in a chimney, and I doubted
Tor many years thereafter, for could
think only of the symbol of Santa
Claus as I saw him in story hooks
and pictures. But as l grew older
Ind learned more of the world. and
o1 men, and of things, I learned more
OF God, and of Christ, and since
nave learned about the real God
nave learned about his messenger of
love, the real Santa Claus, who visits
US every Christmas. Jimmy. when
you get the right idea of Christmas
you will also get the right idea of
santa Claus, and then you will never
doubt him again"
Now didn't tell you there was a.
Santa Claus" shouted little victor
rlous Jane to the puzzled boy. I
guess Uncle Bill knows, Uncle Bill
knows everything" With a heart
Full of glee and an air of complete
satisfaction she rushed from the
ROOM two little feet glided nimblv
down the stairs, and in another mn.
ment Jane was singing her doll to
Sleep while Jimmy, deep in serious
thought, returned to his books. his
skepticism badly shaken. Uncle Bill
Wheeled in his chair to complete his
story; no, to write a new one with
this incident as his theme.
Oh that we could preserve the
simple faith of the child and combine
1t with 'the broader vision and ripe
expe fence Of grownups. the en- none:
you'd doubt that there is a Santa
Claus. Z. @... # 5.s3.., II zzs~~' =,