Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1921-12-28
Story of the
Christmas Stocking


them now. No one ever
heard of such Il thing as
IA hanging up stocking for
Christmas gifts. And II
children had thought Of such Il thing
they would have said, "Wiiit ii foolish
: idea! A stocking wouldn't hold half
the things we want" So the children
throughout the world placed crooks,
! big brass basins, and copper kettles
on the hearth on Christmas eve and
, left notes In them telling Santa to
fill them to the brim. Each year the
children left larger vessels to be filled,
children left larger vessels to be filed.
Up In the great white north Santa's
reindeer no longer pranced and paved,
impatient to be off on Christmas eve,
rs they once had done. They hung
their heads and tired look came
into their big brown eyes, for they re-
mcmbered how heavy the loads had
grown and how many more trips they
were forced to make year by year.
st. Nicholas no longer rested now
through the summer months, as he
once had done. but laborcd erory
day throughout the year, and often he
built toys late into the night, for Il
great many gifts had to be made TO
fiji the baskets that the greedy children
left. The twinkle left his merry eyes,
and he no longer sang about his work,
for he was sad and thought of the
time that would yome when he could
no longer build enough presents to so
around
Late one December day st. Nicholas
stepped from his workshop into tho
deep SNOW. Facing the SOUTH he
stretched out his tired arms and
called: "IIcar, oh hear, children of the
earth, my loved ones. can you not see
YOU are becoming selfish and that your
greedy demands are too great task.
even for st. Nicholas, king Of the
Christmas Spirit7 Can't you see, my
children. that you are killing the spirit
Of ChrStmaS?
His chin sank upon his chest and
tears gliStened In his kindly eyes. A
soft white snowflake fluttered down
and nestled against his cheek, and q
tiny voice whispered into his ear
"Snnta. will help YOU"
"Who are you?" asked st. Nicholas
II am snow fairy" answered the
tiny voice. "As my sisters and I have
danced about the air we have often
, swirled about your sleigh on Christ
mas eve, and have seen the great
loads you have always carried and
how tired you have looked"
"What, O what. shall I dU?" asked
Santa.
"Just 30 about your work rs usual,
answered the fairy. II and all my
! sisters will help YOU"
"Oh, thank yOu-thank yOu," cried
st. Nicholas. And the fairy iloatcd out
among the other Snowflakcs
AS the children went about the
snOwfiakes whlrled around them. and
1t seemed as II they heard the chant.
ing Of tiny voices. and as the snow
flakes nestled against their ears they
seemed to sing: Just stocking
hang a stocking up on Christmas eve
"Just n stocking-.Iust stocking.'
rang through the hearts Of the children
on Christmas eve. And 10 place OF
leaving the great vessels as they once
HoN uoiS IhSy Jhot huhS up liCi
stockings.
Some children We're too selfish to
hear the song Of the snowfake9 and
left the great baskets as they ,lgays
had done. But when they saw the
great joy the unsclhsh children had
In their gifts and how contented and
! happy they were these selfish ones
were ashamed, and they, too, began
to hang up only their stockings wher,
| Christmas eve came round.
When st. Nicholas found stockings
| In place OF the great baskets and
barrels the twinkle came again Into
his laughing eyes, 3 his cheeks grew
rod. and he sang as he drove through
tn" merry sea Of snOwhnkcs.
With just stockings to hll St
| Nicholas had time to rest, and he
grew strong and we'll. and the spirit
Of Christmas lived. SO this Is why
nowadays we hang up our stockings
on Christmas eve. All this we are
told by writer. who learned It from,
| Christmas fairy