The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1930-12-25

kA- workshop. The first terrible
G%NEZI thing he did was to lap the
kT&@ paint from a dolls face.
e. Santa had put great deal
of care into making that doll
for she was to go to little girl who
was ill in the hospital.
Christmas eve came and all the rein
deer were harnessed and waiting for
Santa.
"Have you all of your bags, dear?"
asked Mrs. Santa.
'Yes, we have everything and are
on our way to wish the world a very
Merry Christmas" answered jolly old
Santa.
Hump said Bitten to himself,
''and hump again."
The red paint had had bad effect
upon his disposition. Off they sped
and up, up, up they sailed through
the air. Bitten was going along beau
tifully when he suddenly wondered
what Vixen would do if he, Bitten,
should bite his tail.
mot very hard" thought Bitten to
himself. "Just enough to make him
jump"
And as they hurried along that win
ter's night, Bitten reached out his
funny warm nose and bit ViXen's tail
hard. Vixen jumped, then he kicked
iDonder, who in turn kicked the sleigh,
upsetting it. Over it went and down
1t went, Santa, toys and all. For
tunately they all landed in a soft
snowbank. Santa picked his snowy
self up, put the toys back in the
sleigh and off they started once again.
The first house they came to was
lovely old farm house. Santa and
the reindeer made beautiful landing
.on the roof.
"Now while I am gone see that you
behaved" said Santa and down the
chimney he went. AS soon as he was
out Of sight, Bitten started trouble
again.
"Dum-dum diddle-dum- dun! See
what I can dol" he snorted, and he
crossed his front legs, stamped his
hind ones and sat down kerplunk on
the roof.
i 'Here, here" shouted Santa, as he
came up the chimney. "What is the
meaning of all this noise? 1t sounded
like an earthquake. thought every
moment that the roof would cave in.
If you can't stand still on the tops of
the houses shall most certainly leave
you on the ground"
Santa knew that this would be a
dreadful punishment to them all as
they were very proud Of being able to
stand on the tops Of houses.
The next house had slanting roof
with peak at the top and when
Santa had gone down the chimney
that mischievous Bitten promptly sat
down again, kerplunk, snorting his
favorite song, dum-dum-diddle- de-dum.
The first thing he knew he had started
to slide and he couldn't get up quickly
enough to prevent sliding all the way
to the ground. Over the roof he went,
dragging the sleigh and his seven
brothers with him. Out of the chin
ney came Santa and leaned over the
peak of the roof to call them.
"I'm just about tired of your nom
sense tonight" said he. "Now you
will stay on the ground"
And when in the country, they
stopped at another farm house; that is
just where Santa left them.
"Sniff-sniff, sniff-sniffw A spicy
smell reached the nose Of Bitten.
Inch by inch he moved over to the
window and stuck his head right in.
He proceeded to devour everything in
sight. He ate so rapidly that the
other deer could only stare and Won
der. Pies, cakes, tarts, jelly and jam
all went down with lightning speed.
When he had finished he licked his
lips, turned around and. pushed back
to the place Santa had left them.
When Santa came cut, there they were
as quiet as mice.
"Well, now, that's fine" called
Santa in a CHEEKY voice. "See how
much better things are when you be-
have"
Now we all know that it isn't the
best thing in the world to run after
we have eaten a great many sweets.
Bitten soon learned this and began
feeling very i'll indeed. But feeling
i'll only made his disposition worse
In the distance he could see city
and above this city he saw a tall
steeple. AS they raced along near the
steeple Bitten pushed his brothers
over so that when they passed they
were so close you could not have put
your finger between the steeple and
the sleigh. Bitten glanced at Vixen
and saw that his hair was standing
right up straight