Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-12-25

may watch it and the stars may
cry out if any come to steal"
He swung the Christmas tree
from his shoulder and planted it
in the ground, noting with salts
faction that its long thin fingers
seemed to reach almost to the
moon.
Now I will decorate it and then
hang a stocking"
He began winding around the
red festoons and the threadlike
lines of white popcorn. Here he
hung bell and there a glistening
jewel. @
The Jolly, Red-faccd Man.
AS he was finishing there was
swish through the air. a pulling
of lines. the grinding of a hundred
hoofs in quick stop. A sled
swung to to the earth beside him
and a jolly red-faced man, wrapped
in turs. climbed from the seat.
Here" said the little man,
what are you doings Are you
putting up Christmas tree? Don't
you know that l am Santa Claus?
Christmas is my season and it is
l to whom is entrusted the task OF
bringing Christmas trees and hang
ing them with presents. Who are
you and what do you WANT"
The stranger turned. and it was
apparent in the moonlight that he
was very old. His face was
wrinkled and worn; his beard was
long and untrimmed. But his eyes
were bright.
The Patron Spirit.
"I?" he answered, ~ belong
here. am the Duke of Albuquer-
que and this city was named for
me. During my life. l had never
seen it. But in my after life, l
have come often here. I have
wandered through the streets. !
have looked into the faces of peo-
pie. have watched men come
and go-sometimes they come pale
and weak and go away with rosy
cheeks and strong bodies. l have
loved this town. Tonight I am
making it my first Christmas pres
ent."
But have brought it presents"
protested Santa. 'See. here are
host. l. was to plant them on
tree"
You may use my tree" said the
duke. "It Is decorated and ready
and | have only one present to
hang"
"Only one PRESENT." asked Santa
CLANS NVNhat lie IL ob
ITO your work" said the other.
"You have far to 60 and have
only this one place to visit. I will
watch you"
What Santa Brought.
So Santa Claus unwrapped his
pack and started hanging his pres
ents for the city of Albuquerque
on the tree.
Here, first of all, am going to
hang on the tree the completed
Rio Grande park. / am going to
hang it high on the tree so that
these people will have to climb
hard for 1t. But they will reach it
and I shall be glad. Parks are the
lungs of the city-and Albuquerque
needs parks.
And here are half million doll
lars worth of new school buildings.
Look at that one on the farthest
branch. See, it has open windows
and plenty of fresh air. 1t is my
choicest school gift and I am plac-
ing it where it will be hardest to
secure. al
"And here is a new half-million
dollar hotel Perhaps you have
seen tourists drive away from AL
buquerque because they could not
find a place to stay?"
The duke nodded. at is very
true
Filmy, But Real.
This is a filmy gift, hard to
see, but it is very beautiful" said
Santa. ut is community health.
During the year, Albuquerque will
have energetic health officers and
will be guarded from disease. Her
children will be we'll and strong.
Her adults will retain their good
health. See. you can scarcely
notice it,, but when I place it-so
--see how it shines on all the other
presents"
So. he talked as he spread his
presents on the tree. There was o
long stretch of glistening pave
ment sufficient to reach the uni
versity; there were new stores and
new homes, there were churches.
When he had finished, he turned
to his companion.
"Come, duke" he said. 81 have
finished. ! must see your present