The Monte Vista journal., 1919-12-13

Oaa lust eow. leu return - ~ s's'ss~
day ~hsa he's be~om~ rich and "a
mous. Just iook here. 1ulis-and y"u
ton tr~d ALI the moa'h h'~stre'"s
stun tha, Mn's brought you from ~"
farm, itoms-.hurn.i. unc"ior.d hut
ter soiis those ar~' Aud here's
'hv-- stuffed sisir"und turkeys that
we're sohbi- so.biIus around the
,srps hot man, da,. sro. Hey, little
i,.h Dyou sec these pots ~ lrin.
nj -ric'-i watermelon pickles, And
." 80 ~. Christmas presents
all Wrapped shd tied ready fos the
'ree. hut not 10 b" opened hy wnsb'siy
until Christmas morning. Nrr~'s-
Why. mother You've s", nnc parcel
name on II =
Mother Morris dnhb~d NJ her eyes
with her handkerchief.
please. don't laugh ~ me ~hii'
dr~n." she said sadly. ''lts my Dshs
Christina. as much ss u ts that TOT
any the rest Of us. and = ] ~ss
hoping that maybe we'd find him here
IN tbr CITY now INST NcN~ eo"s ""s'
ourselves"
II ~ns pn'hcticniiy absurd. that
hNrrrn little hope of the bcr~avrsi old
mother. but none " them even let
her see them smile ~ II.
The afternoon before Christmas
Jmiis persuaded her husband TO take
little Robbie downtown 80 that h"
could no, surprise her trimming the
tree. Rroth.v lin and the old folks
went along.
Little Bobbir naturally was most
cf all Interested In the toy depart.
mcn's and hardly could be- made leave
hold some Of the piaythlnsx he most
fancied.
"Oh see. dnddie! A horsie that
rock.. with = man~ and bride and
everything '.... And oh. grandma
lookit' iookIt' There's = real live
SANTA Claus talking to those other
little boys and girls -
II wa. indeed The big store had
hired y rather shabby looking young
man that week. who for SlS WAS sup
posed to sit at the door Of an imita
tIon snow house and solcmnly encour'
nge visiting youngsters to tell him
their fondcst wants IN the line of pres
-nts. Little Robbie was impatiently
waiting In line. holding fast with one
| chubby nst to his fathers hand, In no
| time. Mother and father Norris. and
big brother Jim wutched and waited
smiiingiy for them on the edge VI
th.. crowd
"Weli. my little man. what Il your
nnmer' asked the Srsrlet.coated snd
long wh'te-whiskered Santa Claus In
q tired. husky voice when Robbie's
turn finally came.
I'm Bobbie Wallace. dear Mr.. Santa
Claus. and live at aAIOl Byrns street"
the boy chirruped nt him. ronnd-eyed
and devoutly believing In the Identity
of Santa. My mammals name is Julia
Wallace aud I've got = little baby
sister now. too"
The .whiskcrcd Santa pattcd
his head In perfunctory weariness.
-And what do you most want me to
put In your stocking this Christmas
Eve. IsObbiel" he asked with . side
long glance Vt the tolerantly smiling
father.
"We-eli." drawled Robbie uncer-
tainly. there are lots and lots Of
things I want awful. awful much.
Mister Santa Claus. but ! heard my
mamma say this morning that it's
ever so much nicer to wish for things
for those that love you than for your
self. So L.. guess. l ought to ask you
to keep my poor old grandma Morris.
who's got white hair now. from wor-
rying and crying any more over her
boy Dan. You see. Mister Santa. my
uncle Dan run away from home .
long. long time ago. before was born.
and my grandma keeps saying she
can't rest until she sees him again.
She's visiting my papa aud mamma
at home now. and saw = present she
has all wrapped up and labeled for
uncle Dan II yOu1l be good enough to
ind him and bring him out to our
house tonight Won't you do that.
please. mister Santar'
With choking cry the white
whiskered one stumbled to his feet,