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THB LAGRANGE REPORTER ■ FRIDAY MORNING I #ai #anta GUaua anii Slittl? Hill?? By John Kendrick Bangs Author of “A Howe-Boat on the Sty*." "The Idiot." etc. n »E was only a Uttlo bit of I of a chap, and bo. when I for the first time in his _ I life he came Into close contact with the endless current of human things, It was as hard for him to "stay put" as for some wayward little atom of flotsam and Jetsam to keep from toss ing about in the surging tides of the ■M. His mother had left him there in the big toy shop, with instructions not to move until she came back, while she went off to do some mys terious errand. She thought, no doubt, that with so many beautiful things on every side to delight his eye and hold his attention, strict obedience to her commands would not ■be hard. But, alas, the good lady ireckoned not upon the magnetic (power of attraction of all those lovely objects in detail. When a phonograph at the other l «od of the shop began to rattle off melodious tunes and funny Jokes, in spite of the Instruction Little Blllee (had received, off he pattered as fast ■a his little legs would carry him to Investigate. After that, forgetful of everything else, finding himself «aught in the constantly moving stream of Christmas shoppers, he was (borne along in the resistless current ivntll he found himself at last out up on the street—alone, free, and Inde- ipendent It was great fun, at first. By and (by, however, the afternoon waned, and (little Blllee began to grow tired. He Ithought of bis mamma, and tried to |find the shop where he had promised I to remain quiet until her return. Up I and down the street he wandered until I his little legs grew weary; but there 'was no sign of the shop, nor of the (beloved face ho was seeking. Once again, and yet once again lafter that, did the little fellow tra verse that crowded highway, his (tears getting harder and harder to (keep back, and then—Joy of Joys— (whom should he see walking slowly 'along the sidewalk but Santa Claus ihlmself! The saint was strangely decorated with two queer-looking boards, with big red letters on them, (hung over his back and chest. With a glad cry of happiness. Little tBillie ran to meet the old fellow, and put his hand gently into that of the saint He thought it very strange that Santa Claus’s hand should be so red and cold and rough, and so chapped; but he was not in any mood to be critical. I Santa Claus, of course, would rec ognise him at once, and would know Just how to take him back to his His Mother Had Left Him There In the Toy-8hop. mamma at home—wherever that might be. Little Blllee had never thought to Inquire Just where home was. All he knew was that it was a big gray stone house on a long street some where, with a tall iron railing in front of it not far from the park. “Howdldoo, Mr. Santa Claus T" said Little Blllee, as the other’s hand un consciously tightened over his own. “Why, howdldoo, kiddie?” replied the old fellow, glancing down at his new-found friend, with surprise gleam ing from his deep-set eyes. “Where idid you drop from?” i “Oh, I’m out,” said Little Blllee (bravely. “My mama left me a little (while ago while she went off about something, and I guess I got losted. ■But it’s all right now. I'm found again, ain't I?” “Oh, yes, lndeedy, you’re found all r ght, kiddle,” Santa Claus agreed. “And pretty soon you'll take me home again, won’t you?” said the child. "Surest thing you know!” an swered Santa Claus, looking down up on the bright but tired little face with a comforting smile. "Where do you live?” “As If you didn’t know that!” cried Little Blllee, giggling. “Ha, ha!” laughed Santa Claus. “Can’t fool you, can I? It would be funny if, after keeping an eye on you all these years since you was a baby, I didn’t know where you lived, eh?” "Awful funny,” agreed Little Blllee. Just then Little Billee noticed for the first time the square boards that Santa Claus was wearing. "What are you wearing those boards for, Mr. Santa Claus?" he asked. If the lad had looked closely enough, he would have seen a very unhappy look come into the old man's face; but there was nothing of it in his answer. "Oh, those are my new-fangled back and chest protectors, my lad,” he replied. "Sometimes we have bit ter winds blowing at Christmas, and I have to be ready for them. It would n't do for Santa Claus to come down with the sneezes at Christmas time, you know—no, siree! This board In front keeps the wind off my chest and “What Are You Wearing Those Boards for, Mr. Santa Claus{” the one behind keeps me from get ting rheumatism In my back. They are a great protection against the weather" * "You’ve got letters printed there,” said the boy, peering around In front of his companion. “What do they spell? You know I haven't learned to read yet” ‘“Merry Christmas to Everybody!’" said Santa Claus. “I have the words printed there so that everybody can see them; and if I miss wishing any body a merry Christmas, he’ll know I meant it just the same.” They walked on now In silence, for Little Blllee was beginning to feel al most too tired to talk, and Santa Claus seemed to be thinking of something else. Finally, however, the little fel low spoke. ”1 guess Fd like to go home now, Mr. Santa Claus,” he said. "I’m tired, and I’m afraid my mamma will be wondering where I’ve gone to.” “That’s so, my lltfe man,” said Santa Claus, stopping short in his walk up and down the block. "Your mother will be worried, for a fact; and your father, too—I know how I’d feel if my little buy got losted and hadn’t come home at dinner time. I don’t believe you know where you live, though—now, honest! Come! ’Fess up, Blllee, you don’t know where you live, do you?" "Why, yes, I do," said Little Blllee. "It’s in the big gray Btono house with the Iron fence in front of it, near the park." "Oh, that’s easy enough!" laughed Santa Claus nervously. "Anybody could say he lived in a gray stone house with a fence around it near the park; but you don’t know what street it’s on, nor the number, either I’ll bet fourteen wooden giraffes against a monkey on a stick!” "No. I don’t.” said Little Blllee frankly; "but I know the number of our ortymoblle. It’s—’N. Y.’ ’’ “Fine!” laughed Santa Claus. Then he reflected for a moment, eyeing the child anxiously. “I don’t believe you even know your papa's name," he said. "Yes, I do," Bald Little Blllee indig nantly. "His name is Mr. Harrison, and he owns a bank." "Splendid! Made of tin, I suppose, with a nice little hole at the top to drop pennies Into?” said Santa Claus. “No, It ain’t, either!” retorted Lit tle Blllee. “It's made of stone, and has more than a million windows in It. I went down there with my mamma to papa's office the other day, so I guess I ought to know.” “Well, I should say so,” said Santa Claus. "Nobody better. By the way, Blllee, what does your mamma call your papa? ‘Blllee,’ like yov?” be added. "Oh, no, Indeed,” returned Little Blllee. "She calls him papa, except once in a while when he’s going away, and then she says, ‘Good-by, Tom.’ ” "Fine again!" said Santa Claus, blowing upon his fingers, for, now that the sun had completely disap peared over in the weBt, it was get ting very cold. “Thomas Harrison, banker,” he muttered to himself. “What, with the telephone book and the city directory, I guess we can find our way home with Little Blllee.” He led the little fellow into a pub lic telephone station, where he eager ly scanned the names in the book. At last last it was found—"Thomas Har rison, seven-six-flve-four Plaza.” And then, in the seclusion of the tele phone booth. Santa Claus sent tho gladdest of all Christmas messages over the wire to two distracted par- onts: “I have found your boy wandering In the street. He Is safe, and I will bring him home right away.” Fifteen minutes later, there might have been seen the strange spectacle of a footsore Santa Claus leading a sleepy little boy up Fifth avenue to a cross street, which shall be nameless. The boy vainly endeavored to per suade his companion to “come in and meet mamma.” “No, Blllee,” the old man replied sadly, “I must hurry back. You see, kiddle, this is my busy day.” But it was not to be as Santa Claus willed, for little Blllee’s papa, and his mamma; and his brothers and sis ters, and the butler and the house maids were waiting at tho front door when they arrived. Led by Little Blllee’s persistent far ther, Santa Claus went Into the house. Now that the boy could see him in the full glare of many electric lights, his furs did not seem the most gorgeous things in the world. When the flap ping front of bis red Jacket flew open, the child was surprised to see how ragged was the thin gray coat it cov ered; and as for the good old saint’s comfortable stomach—strange to say, it was notl ”1—1 wish you all a merry Christ mas,” faltered Santa Claus; “but I really must be going, sir—” “Nonsense!” cried Mr. Harrison. “Not until you have got rid of this chill, and—'’ “I can't stay, sir,” said Santa. 'I’ll lose my lob 111 do.” “Well, what If yon do? I’ll give you & better one,” said the banker. “I can’t—I can’t!” faltered the man. "I—I—I’ve got a Little Blllee of my own at home waitin’ tor me, sir. If I hadn’t” he added fiercely, "do you suppose I’d bo doin’ this?" He point ed at the painted boards, and shud dered. "I guess Santa Claus 1b tired, papa,” said Little Blllee, snuggling up close- ly to the old fellow and taking hold of his hand sympathetically. “He's been walkin’ a lot today.” "Yes, my son," said Mr. Harrison gravely. “These are very busy times tor Santa Claus, and I guess that, as he sttll has a hard night ahead of him, James had better ring up Henry and tell him to bring the car around right away, bo that we may take him back—to his little boy. We'll have to lend him a fur coat, to keep the wind off, too, for it is a bitter night.” “Oh," said Little Blllee, "I haven't told you about these boards he wears. He has ’em to keep the wind off, and they're fine, papal” Little Blllee pointed to the two sign-boards which Santa Claus had leaned against the wall. "He says he usob 'em on cold nights,” the lad went on. “They have writing on ’em, too. Do you know what it says?” “Yes," said Mr. Harrison, glancing at the boardB. “It says 'If You Want a Good Christmas Dinner for a Quar ter, Go to Smithson's Cate.’ ” Little Blllee roared with laughter. “Papa’s trying to fool me. Just as you did when you pretended not to know where I lived, Santa Claus," he said, looking up into the old fellow’s face, his own countenance brimming over with mirth. "You mustn’t think he can’t read, though,” the lad added hastily. "He’s only Joking." “Oh, no, indeed, I shouldn’t have thought that” replied Santa Claus, smiling through his tearB. •'I’ve been joking, have I?” said Lit tie Blllee’s papa. “Well, then, Mr. Bllllam, suppose you inform me what it says.** “ ‘Merry Christinas to Everybody said Little Blllee proudly- T couldn’t read it myself, but he told me what it said. He has it printed there so that If he misses saying it to anybody, they'll know he means it Just the same.” "By Jove, Mr. Santa Clans,” cried Little Blllee’s papa, grasping the old man warmly by the hand, “I owe you ten million apologies 1 I haven’t be lieved in you for many a long year; but now, sir, I take It all back. You do extBt and, by the great horn spoon, you are the real thing!” tomouae, and, bidding everybody goon night, Santa Claus and Little Blllee’s papa wont out of tho hoijse together. ChrlstmaB morning dnwned, and Lit tle Blllee awoke from wonderful dreams of rich gifts, and of extraordi nary adventures with his new-round friend, to find the reality quite as splendid as the dream things. As for Santa Claus, Little Blllee has not seen him again; but down at his I father’s bank there is a new messenger, named John, who has a voice so like Santa Claus’ voice that whenever Lit tle Blllee goes down there In the mo tor to ride home at night with his papa, he runs Into tho bank and has a long talk with him. Just for the pleasure of pretending that It Ih Santa Claus he is talking to. 29,089 Bales of Cotton Ginned Little Blllee had the satisfaction of acting as host to Santa Claus at a good, luscious dinner, which Santa Claus must have enjoyed very much. After dinner Henry came with the au- William J. Harris, director of the census, has announced the preliminary report of cotton grinned by counties in Georgia for the crop of 1914 prior to December 1st. For purposes of com parison the figures for the samo period of tho 1913 crop are given. 1 Quantities are in running bales, counting round as half bales, and linters are not included. Tho report shows ginnings in Troup county prior to December 1 as 29,089 bales, compared with 21,- 974 for the same period of 1913. This is a gain of 7,115 bales, and shows that prior to December 1 Troup coun ty had already grinned 4,037 bales more than the total crop of 1919,, which was 25,052 bales. It is prob able that the yield in Troup county will be the largest on record, exceed ing the bumper crop of 1911 when 33,- 864 bales were produced. The total ginning for the state to December 1 was 2,286,104 bales, com pared with 2,006,109 in 1913. A A YULETIDE THOUGHT. Wouldest thou learn thy Lord's meaning in this thing? Learn It well. Love was his meaning. Who showed it thee? Love. Whut showed he thee? Love. Wherefore showed it he7 For love. Hold thee therein and thou shult learn and know more in the same. But thou sbalt never know nor learn therein other thing without end.—Ju liana of Norwich. His Gift Give him a box of TAMPA - CUBA— they are the kind that he always asks for. Call in and see our line, put up in handsome XMAS BOXES. We have others too, you are sure to find what you want. Boxes from $1 to $6 If you give him Tampa-Cuba Cigars he will have a pleas ant thought for you every time he takes a puff. PHARMACY Phones 262-263 i ij A Splendid Line of all the Leading Makes of Cigars in Xmas Boxes Box Paper for Holiday Trade. Elegant As sortment Cut Glass, Jacob’s Candies, Made Last Night. The City Drug Co. 'A thirst is a great' blessing if you can get Chero-Cola. Drink it from the bottle- through a straw. Always uniform. Perfectly delicious. i Ibn/Ntc _ hero-Cola You are cordially invited to visit our store, not onee only, but time and again throughout the Holiday Season. Our Stock “BEAUTIFULLY” com plete with the choicest productions of the year, while our facilities for service were never so good as now. Especial attention has been given our display of diamonds and watches, and also to those lines that provide worthy and useful gifts at moderate prices. 9 Pretty Jewelry Is the Qlft of the Ages. • Nothing can bo More Fitting GIFTS FOR LADIES Diamond Rings, Diamond Brace lets, Photograph Frames, Eyeglass Chains, Chatelaine Pins Toilet Sets, Boquet Holders, Handy Pins, Sets of Spoons, Card Cases, Sterling Silver, Collar Pins, Birth-month Spoons, Change Purses, Plain Rings, Flower Vases, Vanity Cases, Neck Chains, Gold Watch es, Signet Rings, Hat Pins, Jewel Cases, Manicure Sets, Set Rings. GIFTS FOR MEN Signet Rings, Cuff Links, Scaaf Pins, Fountain Pens, Cigar Cutters Gold Watches, Full Dress Sets, Umbrellas, Military Brushes, Tie Clasps, Cigar Lighters, Book Racks, Card Cases, Emblem Rings, Desk Clocks, Sachel Tags, Key Rings, Emblem Buttons, Toilet Sets, Hat Brushes, Tape Measures, Ink Wells, Bottle Openers, Soap Boxes, Desk Calendars. Only SIX More Shopping Days Before