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tBeou VmJtiSY COUNTY PROGRESS, W-
THE TOY MENDER
FOR SANTA GLAUS
13NNIH was fond
of toys. Most
little boyB of
seven like them.
Boui^Jlt(le bpys,
however. -jt-apcg-:
better '-&a£trfp8i'
their HfeWrtSj
Bonnie' did lT i
his. '
Every
Santa
called
house with a big bag of gifts. Christ
inas morning when Bennie got up and
found them bulging from his stocking
Santa Claur
iMakcj 1
Early
WHEN POLLY GOT HER
CHRISTMAS KITTEN
0 you believe In Santa Cluus?"
The old gcutlviuan who sat
la the corner peeped around
iS the corner of his paper as
-Billy asked this question,
i}.':'; Billy's Aunt Harriet, who Mt very
...... wft »
prim and straight beside him. sighed.
“I’m surprised that you cun .tfilhk of
y year Bantu Claus, Billy, when yoqr dear
Claus mother is III," she answered severely,
at his | Billy's eyes tilled. "I wns thinking
of her,” he answered.
king
“I Just wrote to
HRISTMAS morn
ing, when stock
logs are emptied
and girts admir
ed, is of course a
very Jolly time,
but Christinas
eve Is lovely too.
There Is a bustle
and hur.r. of ex
pectation In the
air, and guessing
what gifts Santa
or standing around tbe flrcpluco he
would shout with glee. Ob, bow fond
first I ’•,
be w.ns of those toys at lirs r . , Tr
In-a day or two, howevefi^he w<
begin to tire of them. ThefcbefwoijL
leave them around on the tluoi' lusteafl'
of putting them away when lie was
done playing with them. Often some
one would come in and step ou them.
Then those toys were dona
' “If you are not more careful of your
toys," his mother sold, "Bantu will
■top calling at our house."
Now, Santa Olaus may have been
listening when mother said this. It
was only a few evenings nfter ns Ben
nlo sut In the twilight before the .lire
that he beard a queer, rumbling .voice
up the chlmuey, calling:
“Bonnie—Bennie Bright!"
“Hello!” exclaimed Bennie. "Who
are you? Wbnt do you wuut?"
"Step up here, will you?" the voice
answered, aud before Bennie had time-
to think whnt n very funny request
this wus he noticed thnt the fireplace
bud yawned wide, and the lire separat
ed to show a little path Inside thnt
seemed to lead up and out through tbe
darkness. Bennie Jumped up and ran
along the path to see who was calling-
him.
It grow lighter ns be ran. When he
turned to look back: at tbe grate tbe
fire bad closed In behind him aud the
flame rose high and pink Just ns he
had* beard the northern lights looked
Underneath he saw that all wns snow
As he stared ahead he saw the walls
and gates of a tremendous big white
castle. It seemed to be built of blocks
of snow and Ice. There wns n huge
silver latch on tbe gate, with a sliver
plate that Bold, ‘‘Don't knock; walk
right In." Bennie went In.
Inside the gnte was a courtyard, and
It swarmed wltb little white elves
Tbe Christmas elves are all white, you
knpw. In tbe midst of them stood
Santa Clans ordering them about In
One style. They were putting away
( the Christmas toys that had Just come
- from the workshop, and whenever
they had a chance the elves would stop
to play with the toys. In that way a
good many toys were broken.
“Here, you," called Santa as soon as
he saw Bennie coming In tbe gnte.
“I’ve Just been waiting for you." And
ho motioned to two of tbe biggest
elves. “Take that boy Into tbe repair
room and set him to work fixing tbe
broken toys."
Before Bennie bnd a cbnnce to ob
ject one little elf grasped his right
Suurn and asked hint to bring some- Claus will bring you is run.
thing very nice, 'cause site's sick." - 1’olly and her brother Ned lived In a
"I'm afraid there won't be much big brownstone house In the city. Oa
Christmas at your house this year, Christmas eve it was so hard for them
8 1th your motirer so 111," Aunt Har- to go to sleep. They were too excited
et replied dlscourngingly. about the morrow.
("And don't you think Saoln Claus "Now, children, 1 want yon to go to
Will stop at ull?" Billy persisted. But sleep right away," their mother said
Aunt Man-let only shook her head, and as she tucked them Into their beds on
looked out of the window of the ear as Christmas eve.
it rolled ou Its way downtown'.
Then Billy glHured over at the cor
ner where the old gentleman., sal. He
was quite sure ho saw him wink as he
hurriedly dropped Ills eyes to his paper.
And Billy wondered whether the wink
was menut for him or whether It was
Just accidental.
The old gentleman belonged Just next
door to Billy’s home. In a great big
flue house, with mnuy servants. The
old gentleman lived quite alone. He
had no wife and no' family, and BtUr
had often thought It must' lie very
lonely In the big house. Hitt all day
the old guntlcuum was nwiiy at the
bank of which he wns the head, and
Billy saw him only la the .mornings,
when lie hurried out to catch the car.
or In the evenings, when lie came brisk
l.v home. Billy had heard (lint he did
not wish to be bothered with Ills neigh
bors. especially children. He.had been
charged to be very careful not to throw
his ball Into the next yard or nnuoy
the old geulleiiuiu In auy way.
Billy studied Ills neighbor ns tbe car
rolled along. He thought be had uot
such a cross face after nil. Tliere wns
n smile lurklug around tbe old gentle
man's month, and when they reached
the department
Htore where A uni
IK THE MIDST STOOD SAHTA.
band and another little elf grasped bis
left hand. Then they whisked him
through the door Into tbe castle and
tbrougb more doors until they reached
a big hall full of broken toys.
' ,1 — took him to a workbench.
On
life bench Bennie found glue and tacks
C ™,1 nnefo Wltb fill
Harriet got off
h e looked n p
from his news
paper. . and tills
time Billy was
a I m o rt quite
sure the old gen-
tlomnn wiuked at
blui us Aunt
Harriet took him
out of the car.
That-.was sev
eral days before
Christmas. On
Christmas eve
Tira uEAiiKST ciinisT- „, llv a-as sitting
disconsolately In
tbe dlniug room, wondering whether It
would be worth while hanging up bis
stocking, win
ahd small nails and paste,
sorts of brushes and tape—everything
that Is needed in mending toys. Ana
the elves set blm to work. As fast ns
he had one toy mended they wouldI be
at bis elbow wltb another, for out
side tbe elves kept breaking more toys
all the time.
“Oh, why can't they be careful?
groaned Bennie In despair. An J
then Santa ClauB come In.
“Why aren’t you careful ‘, b _
toys I bring you?" be neked severely
Bennie blushed and bung his head. At
I last be was asbumed of b'mself.
“Please, sir, I will try to be careful
after this.’* he answered humbly.
It does seem strange that no sooner
' had Bennie made this answer than be
opered bis eyes Ur tHe chnlr before the
flra The Are was burning Just as
inland the only voice be could hear
wns his father's:
"Come, Bennie; It's time to go to
bed.” ______ "
>eii the doorbell tinkled.
Nora wns busy In the kitchen, aud
Aunt Harriet was upstairs' with the
nurse, who was taking care of moth
er. l-'nther had been away for several
weeks ou Important business and wns
not expected home much before New
Year’s.
Billy got up and went to open the
door, for Aunt Harriet bad charged
him to try to make himself useful
There was a Jingling of bells outside
just before the door was o'pened, and
who do you think stood outside?
Why, Santa Claus himself! - He wore
a long red coat trimmed jvltb what
looked like snow, for It glistened and
glittered In the light. On- his bead
wns a white cap. In which was stuck
a piece of holly.
"Thought I wasn't going to -call
here tills season, did you? Well, I’m
stopping here early. May 1 come In?"
Billy was too surprised tq say any
thing at first. Imt be led the way Into
the parlor. Santa rolled the bag off
tils hack and began dmwlng ont pack
ages.
"Here's the candy. I brought It In
a box this time." said he. "I knew it
would he early for you to liiive a stock
lug up."
The box was n beautiful big one with
n picture of a flying machine on the
outside, and Billy's face shone ns he
thanked the giver. Then there were
toys and games and books. Santa bad
uever brought so many things to Billy.
"Now, If you'll promise not to look
I've got something else out there In
my sleigh," snld Santa. jLook? Of
course Billy wouldn't look. And n min
ute Inter Santa came In with tho dear
est little Christmas tree all trimmed
and with candles ready for .lighting.
"Oh. oh!" was all Billy cduld say.
“Well, my boy, 1 hope yo;j will have
a very merry Christmas," snld Snntn
very cordially us he picked up tho
empty bag.
"Thank yon very much, $Ir. Santn
Clnus, and 1 hope you'll bayq a merry
one, too," Billy cried warmly.:
I-'ootsteps were heard overhead.
".Well, I guess 1 must be going." Ban
They woro trying very hard to be
good and obedient - They knew that
about Christinas time tills Is the wise
way to do. Tbere la always the ohnneo
that Santa tuny be up chimney listen
ing or wiltcblng to bco how chlldreu
helm re. They knew quite well that
VABTKNKD TO 1'OI.LX’S STOCKI.NO.
Santa la not the friend of naughty
children.
So they closed their eyes very tight
Mother turned down tbe gas ami went
dowustalra to Join daddy, who was
very busy about something In the II
brary.
Tbe light from tbe atreet flooded tbe
room so that when Polly opened bet
eyes after a few minutes aim 'found
that Ned also Imd Ills wide open.
"You're to go right off tq sleep, you
know," Polly reproved.
“So are yon,” Ned retorted, nnd then
they both giggled.
••Wonder what he’ll bring ns?" Ned
said, meaulug Suuta Claus.
“I'm most sure Ue’ll bring me a doll."
Polly replied. "He always does."
"Maybe be’ll bring something differ
ent this time,” Ned suggested, "but I
do truly need a uew sled."
And so tbey chatted softly. The
clock struck 0, and Just before 10 some
one ruug tbe bell.
"Wonder If that’s Santa I" exclaimed
Polly, excitedly.
Ned Jumped out of bed and ran to
tbe window.
-"There’s au express wngon standing
at the door," be announced.
"Theu. of course, tt can't bo Snntn,'
Polly replied. "He always comes In a
sleigh, or nn automobile, or u tlytug
machine, or somellitug like thnt."
Ned crawled back Into bed. and they
listened to the folks downstairs mov
Ing about. Sometimes they heard them
laughing. Then they heard a little
sound tbey couldn't understand nt all.
It was something like a faint cry.
"Muyliu one of the dolls is crying.’
Ned reniurked.
“Well, we can't Hnd out until morn
lug, enn we?” I'oli.v replied dolefully.
They were beginning to be sleepy by
tbls time.
Soon they nodded nnd sighed nnd
snuggled down among ilieir pillows.
They wero awake bright mid early
In the morning. Polly heard the fun
ny little cry again and rushed down
stairs, crying. "Merry Christmas!" Ned
wont down on the banister. Their par
ents followed more soberly. ...
When they opened the dining room
door, there, with the sliver collar on Its
neck fastened to Polly's stocking by a
rlbbop. stood the cutest little long
hftlrcd gray kitten.
The kitten opened Its little pink
mouth und gave h. grieved meow ns the
children rushed In.
Polly picked It up nnd—yes. she did—
kissed It on. Its little silky head. She
bad been wanting a kitten so much,
ta remarked. “It might bo' the lady and this wns quite the loveliest kitten
who doesn't believe In Santa coming she had ever seen.
down, and you know tbe rule la people
who don't believe In Santa Clans can
never see him." And Santa Claus
winked. •
He darted to the door aud close I It
softly after blm. Billy rusbed to tbe
window, but It wns so dark be could
only see n figure disappearing toward
the gnte and then turning Into the
gnte next door, ns Billy supposed, to
leave n few presents for tho rich and
lonely old gentleman who lived thore-
but. of course. It may bnve been for
another reason.
We'll call It Fluff." she snld to Ned,
Then she thought s minute. "I’m
sure I liAiril the pussy crying Inst
night nfler the express man slopped.'
the whispered to Ned.
"Yes." her. brother replied. "PTaps
Snntn didn't have room for It In the
Blelgb mid sent It to ns by express.
"Maybe he did." Polly-agreed.
When they naked their father about
it h.> snld It was quite likely, ns Snntn
had n great mnuy ways of distributing
gifts to hla little friends, for Ills llsi
hnd grown so of late years that It was
not always convenient for blm to bring
•verything In tbe sleigh.
\jI7HEN LOOKING for your Christmas
Goods come in and let us show
you our line of Fine China, Aluminum
Ware, Electric Cookers and Sad Irons,
Silver Plated Ware, Carving Sets, Meat
and Bread Knives and Fancy Pocket
Cutlery. We have also a fine line of
Winter Lap Robes. Our prices are right
and quality the best. Com# fo see us.
;
'"T
si
•■‘.MW
WIGHT HARDWARE CO.
Kfci:
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