WJJ iJ II llll l V 1 I mSmisffli
, . : . 1 , i
5
t-
4 '
1 .,''
to tli rood
Santa CTaUs
I
fT ni Aunt Martha who promised
Edith and Edward that oh would
take thorn to Santa Claus on
Saturday afternoon If thejr would
be food, vary food children.
Little 'Idlth's eyes popped wlds
pen. She could scarcely believe her
tin. But than. Aunt Martha waa a
Tory wonderful person; and, really
Aunt Martha could do anything aha
wished lo.
But Edward, It seemed. u not
oulte ao Impressed. Indeed, ha ami led
rather knowingly.
"Can we reelly-truly see him. Aunt
Martha r Edith asked.
"Tea Indeed." her Aunt replied.
"IUe;M In front of you. Just aa plaint?
aa you can see me now I"
"Um-m-m-m-mm!" aald Edith to
herself or something that sounded
like that; at all events It meant that
he was surprised and Impressed.
" But Edward Just smiled again. Ed
ward, you see, was beginning to think
that hs knew "a nawful lot." as Edith
expressed It In fact, Edward had
said several times that be didn't be
lieve there Is any Banta Claua
Justhlnk of It! No Santa Claus!
My. wasn't he taking "a nawful" risk I
Jest suppose old Santa had been Hat
nine down the chimney and had
heard him I
"Aren't you Interested In seeing
Santa, Edward." asked Aunt Martha.
The youngster dug his toe Into the
carpet and looked down at the floor
He wasn't quit brave enough, you
see, to tell Aunt Martha that he didn't
believe in Banta Claus which fact,
light then and there, should have
Shown him that he was mistaken.
"Don't you believe I can show you
Banta ClausT" asked Aunt Martha.
Edward hung hli head and made
no reply.
"Very well, air," said Aunt, "we'll
ee on Wednesday."
Though It seemed to little Edith
that It never would come, Wednesday
afternoon at last did roll 'round. And
how gaily thsy set forth from the
house.
"I am not sure." Aunt Martha ex
plained, "but I believe Santa will have
a little present for each child who
beHeres In him." And she looked
pointedly at Edward. That young
man looked at her a moment and then
glanced away. He wasn't exactly com
fortable, you see.
On and on they rode In the street
car, way downtown, until Anally Aunt
Martha pressed the button and the
car stopped. A short walk and they
were at the big Department Store
where Edith and Edward loved to go
with Mamma and Aunt Martha when
they were doing their shopping.
And what a crowd there was at the
entrances! It seemed that every boy
and girl In the entire city was piling
In to see Santa Claua But everyone
was Jolly and happy; so that what
crowding and pushing there was didn't
hurt. In fact, Edward In particular
enjoyed It. After a long watt and
them! Now I'm not sura, but I dare
say If we could get to the top of this
building we'd find them on the roof."
Edward waa Impressed; he certain
ly couldn't deny the fact that there,
right before his ayes, was Santa Claua.
then a swift ascent, they left the ale- , bag and alL
valor at the Boor where old Banta I Presently a man climbed up on the
was "at home to his little friends." j platform and announced that Santa
And there he waa, too, at the end j would shake hands with each child
of the big room on a platform! Just land give each of them a little remem-
I b ranee. And he Instructed them how
i te form la line so they could file past
him.
What excitement there was I And
what squeals or delight echoed and
re-echoed through the room! Quick
ly the line waa formed and Sanjta,
smiling and Jolly, reached down and
shook the tiny hands stretched oat
to him and placed In them little
Jumptng-Jacks and rubber balls and
wooden soldiers and other Inexpensive
toys.
It seemed to tbs Impatient Edith
tli at their turn would never come.
Aunt Martha was In front, and Edith
directly behind her; and then came
Edward.
Slowly the Una moved forward. Per
aa Edith and Edward had
their picture books long white beard,
twinkling, merry eyes, little round
"tummy" and the cunnlngeo ef rod
suits trimmed with white fur.
Over In ope corner wan a hug
Christmas tree, all trimmed and glow
ing with candles. And near It Santa
had placed bla bis bag. At ths other
end of the platform was a chimney,
made of wood and painted to look
nke a real chimney.
Every now and then old Santn
would take an armful of toys out of
his bag, waddle over and climb up to
the top of the chimney and then down
It ehowlng precisely how he would
do It when Christmas Rve came and
OurPuzzle
Corner
be was attending to baslnoaa And I
And lie 81 took Fdward's Band.
every time, Just before he disappeared haps all the presents would be gone
down the chimney, be would look sS
the hundreds of little children In front
of him and laugh silently until he
shook all over. The children of course
laughed with him (or they Just
couldn't help It!
Where's his sleigh and hla rein
deers T" aaked the doubting Edward.
Aunt Martha smiled. "Why you
know perfectly well. Edward, that
Banta couldn't bring hla reindeers Into
this room. The steam heat might kill
bfor their turn camel Toor Edith
was so anxious on that point!
A while longer, and then Aunt Mar
tha stepped up, shook hands with
Santa Claus and mid something
to him at which he threw back his
head and laughed right out loud.
"Thta la Edith. Santa," said Aunt
Martha, Introducing them, "and this
la Edward."
Did Banta took Edith's hand and
patted It affectionately. Then he leaned
MT CHRISTMAS-TREE.
T
Off
morn
ing when I
w a k s, and
sleep-dust from
my eyes I shake, I
eee a sight that
make ma start and
causes thumplnrs In my
heart: A Chrlstmaa tree
oh, pretty eight with can
dles, bells and bails alight.
With horns and dolls and sugar
plums, and skates and trains and
beating drums. And oh. It la a won
der tree, with heaps of things for
me to seel Rare gifts hang upon
the side, which tinseled fairies
cannot hide. A soldier doll, a
doll houee, too, and strings
of gold come to my
v I w, and
as I look I
m t o
hear sweet Christ
mas music soft and clear
A Merry Christmas It seems to say,
A merry, happy, holy Day I
down and whispered In a marry vole.
"I received your letter I know what
you want for Christmas!"
Edith was so delighted and so over
come that, though there wore a thou
sand questions aha wantsd to ask, har
tongue Just stuck tight
of har mouth
Then, quickly, Santa turned to Ed
ward. "A-hal So thta Is young- Ed
ward!" be said. "Well, well, so you're
surprised to see me, are you, young
man ? Hum-m-m-m, maybe after ail
I will bring you that olectrto steam
engine and cars you've been wanting
for Christmas, but you don't really
deserve them, you know!"
And he shook Edward's hand,
handed him a toy soldier and turned
to the next child In Una.
Poor Edward! He waa so surprised
that ha all but tainted 1 And with
reason, too. Why. Santa Claus must
have known that be was beginning'
not to believe there waa any Santa
Claus! And how In tho world could
Santa have known that he wantad an
slectrto steam engine and cars for
Christmas unless he waa Santa, pos
sessed with tho mysterious ability to
find out Just auch thlnga as that!
Edward looked at Aunt Martha
anxiously as they wended their way
out of the store.
"D d-do you think ho he will for
get I said there wasn't any Banta
ClausT" hs asked.
Aunt Martha looked dawn at him
sadly. "No one can tall. Edward,"
shs aald slowly. "But, remembor. he
said that maybe after all hs would.
Now weU, I think tha best thing to
do la to believe that ho will, and per
haps that will help him decide that
he will!"
THE CHSHSTfclAeS -WEE
1 Aj -fki U Olw.-wva tW.trrritlr!
"TtC to oca' reirto oo dear.
koOl (Jet 4x ChnstmaaA
' ?ttK7 Vfem hl'ihk f-riile "field
tn paw eqoiyer tteid-
ree
r?? J n.
A Real Christmas Gift
RS. Gould smiled as aha
wrapped her furs around hor
and telephoned for bey au
tomobile). She turned to har
cousin who was going to accompany
her down town and said: "I think
It's a good Idea to get one's Christmas
shopping all dona several weeks In ad
vanes. Tou get much better attention
In the shops, and you maka It easier
for the poor tired ealesxlrls."
But." asked the cousin, "do you
know what you want so far ahead of
ths holiday?"
"Tea, here's my list. Look at It
hlle I button my gloves."
"Handkerchiefs, dresses, waists.
gloves, veil whew, for whom are all
these things T" '
'My maids," answered Mrs. Gould.
'A horn, three dolls, a drum, pair
of skates surely the maids can't use
these T" asked tho cousin.
'The toys are for my washer-wom
an's children and their little friends.
I always give them presents, since Ood
hasn't blessed ma with children of my
own. Come, the car If at tho door."
Outside a shof window in the
busiest street of the city stood little
Lna Swift. Around her shoulders
she wore a tattered lhawl, and har
hands were snuggled-under it to pre
vent them from freezing. She stood
with her face pressed close to tha
glass.
"My." She said half aloud, "ain't It
cold for the end of November, and
oh, ain't that a beautiful doll. I won
der whether Santa will think of mo
this year!"
Lena shivered with cold, and big
tears came to her eyes aa she want on
musing. "He ain't never come since
mother died. Aunt Hoale says sho has
man coming up to Lena and tapping
hor shoulder with his club. Lena ran
off half fearfully, half reluctantly, and
at that moment spied a large Santa
Claua who stood on tho opposite cor
ner ringing a bell and asking the paa-
sera-by to drop a coin In the bowl for
At tike foot of ber bed atood a gorgeous duisUnaa tree.
no money for nonsense and such, and
she eays there ain't no Santa Claus
nohow."
"Move on little one," said a pollce-
THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS.
If the following are written one bo
tow another, their tiling letters, be
ginning at ths upper left hand corner
and ending at the lowert left hand
corner, will spell the spirit of Christ
snastlde: 1. Largs or grand.
Not squsre.
A number of animals In a body.
Mercantile traffic.
To Imitate.
Traditions or fictitious narra-
All Around the Christmas Tree
i.
4.
I.
.
Uvea
T.
I.
t.
Odd or peculiar.
A girl's name.
A body-of water.
A TREK ORXAMENT.
If the following are written one be
low another, their central letters will
spsll ths name of a Christmas tree or
samsnt: 1. A verb.
I. A sharp Instrument.
t. A girl's name.
4. To put Into practice.
5. A drink.
. Sick.
Aver.
MPIKIT Of CHRISTMAS: Ouod
Pkew. 1, Qrfat; I, Round; t. Dtvve;
t. Trade; i, Mimic; . JfyiAs; 1,
DWrer; I, Leo; . River.
A TREK ORSAZIKST: Tinsel. 1.
.' X. iia; S, Ana; 4, l'e; S, fra;
t. III.
0
HIS Is the story of four little i be any prettier than mine. It will
hlldren v. ho wvre not satisfied ! be Juat as beautiful, but not any any
with having one Christmas tree I beautiful-erl"
piece but well, if you read oa Helen was about to Insist that hers
you will see how many treee they did
dance around.
Dance around T Yes Indeed, quite
as though It were a Maypole. For,
you sen, that waa a very Important
part of their plan. There were Helen
and Elate, who were the dearest of
friends and playmates; and then Ar
thur, who lived next door to Helen
and uh my yes. we mustn't forget
him little Jamie, who lived at the
end of the block and always wanted
to play with children older - than he
was.
One d".y, a H!t: w title before Christ
mas, they were all seated In Elsie's
nursery playing.
"Oh. I'm colrg to havs Juat ths
beautiful est Christmas tree you ever
saw!" said Helen. "My Mamma says
so, and I guess she knows what Santa
Claus will bring me!"
Elsie (ooked at her a moment siul
started to speak what she waa think
ing; but she remembered In time tha
Helen was her guest and that on,
must not be rude to a guest. So. she
changed her mind and said quite gent
ly, "I know It will be, Helen; and I'm
so glad. But but I'm sure It wont
would be when Arthur Interrupted:
"Mine Is going to have a mill at the
bottom and a house end tree and
roads and a pond with ducks on It
and and and lots of snow all
around."
Both little gtrls looked Impressed.
little one Isn't much. Tou ought to
want a big one. Big ones Is lots bet
ter, aren't they, Arthur?"
Arthur assured her that they are.
But Jamie wasn't In the least em
barrassed. "A 'lttle one, a 'lttle one!"
he repeated proudly, over and over
again.
Then Elsie had the Idea that made
It such a happy Christmas for all four
of them. "Oh!" she cried. "Ob, I
KtXXDKRR PrZZUK.
' '
Tier la Ssntn Ailing oaae) stocking, He has left hla reladear Use
rf. n- it you can flad ana of them by cuttlsc out aa4 fitting toother the
Jotacd steads and Dausoed Arowng n.
"And." Arthar wont on. "It's coins
to have a fence nil araaad It. tool"
Now both Helen aad Elsie knew
thai theer tree wonldat bo fixed In
that way; at least their " irvT
hadat as yet told these they would.
But per base their M.masi hadat
found oat.
Ten. aeeng to ask say Masasaa U
kaewl I know!"
"What? WhatT" cries Helen and
Arthur together. , - .
Ou Christinas morning tots as all
around and see each that's trees!
And aad wU dance around them
aad have Juat tha bast set Untol"
Tha other Instantly hailed the plan
wtth about at delight JBroa UttH
ask Santa Ciaoa to Cat mine) that way." f Jim to. though he didn't axaotly a-
uoiea spoke nn,, . Jddrataad what they
Ma ms' hub Tttle K lamas reel" La teal added hla small shouta ta tha
cried UtfJa'aaU. whey had Just - chorus without waltta to tad out-tha
what they vara
talking hbewC'- Than he added, ta
tbew of area rtdv aa. a
Utto ana!- - -v - ,
Sea artrta hiaahod. and ao did Ar.
Uxor, -War. sTaaata,- aaK Bala.
Lwa, oa Christmas siertJac.' after
tea at
thsrn had admired kid ew
troe aad had opened all his wonderful
praamtr aad showod them tor nftr
aad km grabbed na ai
kissed and bugged, the visiting began.
That la, Helen went for Elsie and
Arthur Joined thorn.
Poor little Jamie couldn't make his
Papa and Mamma understand in
deed ha didn't quite understand him
self ao be bad to Just wait In his
own nursery. But be waan't unhappy.
Goodness me, no I How could ha be
when he was surrounded with auch
wonderful presents, and tha cutest lit
tle Christmas treo set In a tub painted
green and then frosted ail over with
stuff that sparkled like snow.
Also which was certainly nlca of
themHelen and Elsie and Arthur
went to Jamie's house first. And they
admired bis treo and told bun how
beautiful It was. Thsn ail four of
them Joined hands and danced around
It, while Jamie's Papa and Mamma
stood looking on and laughing and
oh, It was so much fun!
After a wbUa Helen told them ef
the plan and thay said Jamie could
go If they would be very careful and
aot let anything happen to him. They
promised; so Jamie waa bundled up
in his snug little ooat and cap and
they sot out for their Christmas fun.
Thsy danced around Helen's tree,
and Elsie's and Arthur's. And then
Elsie happened to think of the other
little boys and girls thsy knew who
lived nearby. So she suggested that
they also visit thorn. No sooner said
thsn done that Is, than begun, for
there were ever so many of tbelr play
mates near. And In each house tha
child who lived there Joined them for
the remainder of their visits.
And, why, blass us, by tha Urns thay
reached the last house they looked
like a small army, so many had Joined
their rank a And they wore able to
form a complete circle about the
Christmas trees. There were the toys
aad gifts to be looked at, too. In each
house, and nearly every child had an
exciting story to tell of having heard
old Santa Claus come down ths chim
ney In the night, or tha Jingle of
sleigh bells, at least
' Perhaps you are planning te do this
very thins with your little playmates
this Christmas. Or maybe you did
so last Christmas. But If not, try It
this year and see for yourself what
heaps aad 'heaps of fun It la.
awoke next morning aad
found herself in a soft whits bod In a
room so beautiful that har first
thought waa "I must be dead and this
sure to Heaven." A white-capped
nurse bent over bar.
Sho tried to glance about, but tha
pain shot through her head and made
her clone her eyea
Then Lena experienced something
tbst she had not felt since her mother
had died a caressing touch and a
kiss.
Lena had beea badly hart and It
took several weeks for her to get even
well enough to sit up In bed. Christ
mas morning dawned cold and dear,
and the child was allowed to see what
Santa had brought her.
At tha foot of her bed stood a gor
geous Christmas tree, such aa she had
often aeon In the great toy-shops, but
never In the wildest flights of he
fancy dreamed of possessing. On tha
floor beside the tree. In a tiny little
wicker chair, sat the big doll with
the "shutting eyes" that she had seea
J In the shop window. Then the beau
i Uful lady came over to her bed and.
putting her arms around Lena, said I
"Don't you think Santa Claus haa beea
good to youf
"Are they all for me? What would
Aunt Rosso say? She thinks there
ain't no Santa Claua"
"Tour Aunt Roots knows you are
with me and ahe says It's alright. Tea,
they are all for you. There are no
other children hero This is the find
time the real Santa Claus has visited
me. and this Is ths happiest Christmas
I have had since I was a child, my.
self."
"What did Santa bring- your asked
Lena, returning Mrs. Oould's em
a Christmas dinner that would be
given on the twenty-fifth of December
at the Way -far era" Lodge.
The child made a daah across the
street to tell Banta what she wanted
him to put In her stocking, when shs I brace.
received a terrific blow from behind, j The happy woman took a mirror
Then It seemed as though she were . from the table and held It In front ol
falling falling down down. Then the .child. Lena looked Into It and
a parr of strong arms lifted her end saw a face so clean and white that
she heard a soft voice which seemed she scarcely recognised It, framed by
to come from a great distance say t mass of brown curls, and a pair of
"Smith, Is she much hurt? Poor little ' large blue eyes that returned her gas
puss." The answer was lost to her be- wondertngly.
cause the pain In her head was so "It's me," she mid.
bad. She felt soft furs wrapt around "Tea; It's you. Santa Claus hag
her and then shs felt herself carried brought me you, and Aunt Rosle said
swiftly along. jl may keep you."
ISISTOEsfED
GAKRlTT
NEVKIRK
Cosyripftf, 191 5, Oerrrtl year kirk. Pesaoeaa, CaL
THE BOWMAN AND THE LION.
(olaltes) to Jtassddsr Praia
A HUNTER who could draw a He drew bit bow, ta arrow went
bow
And shoot a feeihered arrow.
To bit the target every time.
Within a circle Mrrow;
Went bsjtdag out igeys be bilt .
' Upoa a cerula awraiag:
And all the aainuli raa of. '
As sooa tbey bad waiming,
Straight to tb mark, and then, (
The Boa gave a bowl of pais, . j
Aad apod boa to bis dea, (
,Tber Jjiaf dowa U befted a f . V ;
"Wbo beppened sear about, p
To coast at oaca. tor Heavea'i said
Aad pull tba arrow oat.
Save eat, wbe five g cbaBeag bold.
Tba boa. brave aad strong.
'Com aar roared behead we tball jf &
,'. l Whoaa meat mui oeioag.
To taeet tba ttsoW of the shaft
I have ao wish, said be; -
5 waat snsaw ma ryowsaaa Dtr
RepSed the Bowtmaa.ri wifl eead -.JWbedw with aadent ttms, "
.My Messenger to thees - - i - CV gtaes af a atoiera best.
TV.H7Wrwtvt bt rwpef?Hr wb itiber from Ve&taue
JVbea ye cacsator aaoT 5 the one to be dreaded stort.
I
23-.