Rensselaer Republican, Volume 23, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 December 1890 — ELSIE’S SANTA CLAUS. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ELSIE’S SANTA CLAUS.

■Sf HE BURGLAR the bright disc XvjOf bis dark lantern along the mantel LTji~Bhelf and then placed together some of the 'trinkets he Km|i. *o ind there... ;v ~ ‘I know V yon.” cried ui a mellow childish voice

from the corner of the room. The masked man was so startled that he almost dropped his lantern, but with the quick instinct of a criminal he grasped and cooked his revolver and turned the lantern toward the sound Its bright circle of light shone on the wall like the illumination of a magic lantern, and in the center of it was a prettier picture than ever a magic lantern exhibited. It was a little child of six or seven years sitting up in her cot. Her eyes were dazzled with the light of the lantern, but they sparkled with merriment. Her long curls fell over her shoulders on the white embroidered little night dress. The burglar's revolver dropped to his side. “You know me?” he said. “Y es. You’re Santa Claus. I tried to keep awake last time, but I couldn’t. I think I wus asleep this time when you came, butl waked up just in time, didn’t I?”

Tho burglar didn’t 6eem to know what to say. “Did you just come down the chimney? W on’t you turn around thu light so that I can see you? It hurts my eyes. I nqver saw a light like that. T didn’t know you needed a light. Di l you always have one?” v. os—genei ally. Hadn’t you better go to sleep ag tin! * “Oh, no, I want to see what you brought. Did you know I was bad trust other day? I’ve been awful good ever since and mamma said she Lhought perhaps if 1 kept right on being good all the time that perhaps you won!d fbid you forget?’’ ••I forgot till about it. Where is your nnuuina an 1 papa?” •‘Oh, didn't you kiow there was a party at Mrs: Hammon’s?’ Yes. It’s a Christmas .Jive- party. They were going to take me, but they thought I would full asleep. Mamma says I get cross when I wake up.” ••You don’t seem vel’y cross.” “Oh. not when I right awake, but just\ h a I’m not quite awake.” “Diu they leave you here alone?'’ “Ob no; Katy was to wait up with me, but I gi.ess she's down in the kitchen Sho'll be dis’ppointed when she knows*-you were here. Katy’s .oing to hang up her stocking too. Vre.ypu going to put any tiling in it?”

‘I don’t think she deserves anything when she left you alone.” “Oh I think you might put some, thing in or she’ll be awful dis’ppointed, and then you could put in a potatoe for leaving it alone Wrap it up in loste of paper so she'll have to wind and wind and wind before she comes toit-Wont you turn the light’iound so that I can see you?’’ “I don’t think you would caro to see rne,' but I’ll turn the light away so it won’t hurt your eyes. There, now.” “Oh, I can see you a little. You haven’t a long white beard. What, is that over yo u* face? Your not n bit like Santa Clavso you frighten me. ” ••You nuua't be frightened,my little pet. Nobody would hurt you. I take that off.” ••Oh. does it come off. What is it forP Oh, I know.-it is so the soot in the chimney won’t hurt your eyas.”. •‘That’s it. J had a sweet little girl like you onoe—a long time ago. Perhaps if she—well, hadn’t you better go to s'oep now?” “I didn’t know Santa had a .little girl of kis own? Is that why you bring things ?o little girls?” “Yes, that’s the "reason. Ifow you must lie down again and try to go to

s’eep—that's » good little girl. I must go up the chimney again,” •> 4 ‘But I want to see what you brought me. How can Igo to sleep if I didn't: Can’t you let tne have it now? I’ll want to go to the stocking, and when you take away the light it will be dark and I'll be afraid to go, and then I*ll waii'to, and between the ’lraida and the want.to, I’ll cry.” “You mustn’t cry and* you mustn't afraid. Here is your present.” The burglar threw open his revolver" and the cartridges fell into his hand. Then he snapped it shut again and showed its gleaming barrel in the light. “Oh, isn’t it pretty? What is it for?” “Your papa will tell you. You tell him that Santa thinks he will never use it again. That perhaps he won't. He don’t make any promises. Wili yon remember that?” “Yes. May 1 kies you good night?” “No! No! Next Christmas, perhaps.

Tell your father that. Now good night; cover up your little head. That’s right. ” * > * * * * w When Mrs. and Mr. Porter came horro they found Kitty Bitting demurely by the side of tho cot, ••She’s never stiired, mum the little dear.” and with that Katy was commended for her watchfulness and caro, The mother took the sleeping form in her arms for a goodnight hug, but suddenly let the little child fall back on her pillow again. “Good gracious, John, where*did the child get this?” she screamed. “Heavens! it’s my—no, it isn’t, it’s another make—why, where—” “Oh, papa, that’s mine,” cried the gleepy voice of Miss Klsia. “Santa Claus brought it. Katy was down in the kitchen, and he came down the chimney. And papa, do you know,” her eyes getting wider and wider as she spoke, “he hat a thing over his eyes to keep the soot out. And he don’t look a bit like tho pictures—oh, there it is on the floor.” Mr. Porter picked up the burglar’s mask and muttered something very strong between his teeth. The next moment he was applying such means as he could think of to calm a woman in hysterics. * * * * * A month after this one of Mr. Porter’s clerks said that a rather unpromising looking" individual insisted on seeing him person illy, and would teli his business to no one elso. When tho man came in ho was hag gard and in every wav disreputable, but with a weak face rather than a bad one.

“Well, my man, what do you want 1 of meP” “I want work.” •‘You needn’t havo insisted on seeing me for that purpose. I’m a busy man. My foreman will toll you if wo want any extra help.” “I have been trying for a month to get something to do, but I can't get a job. I wouldn’t have come to you if 1 could have got it anywhere else.” ‘•Still I don’t sea why you come to l me.” 4 • •Because I havs only one recomj mendation, and that is no good to any one else.” “Who is it from?” “It is from your daughter.” “Nonsense. I have only one daughter and she is biu a child.” i “Yet you iove her all the more for tha*. don't you?” ; ‘‘Why, of course, what's the use of ! talkiog like that? There’s something i wrong with you, my man. You’re crazy.” The man approached Porter’s desk I and laid his hand on it. I “Yes, there's something wrong and II want to put it right. Mr. Porter, I ! want honest work or—l want you to .give back to tne your daughter’s j Christmas present.” i Porter sprang to his feet with a cry and for a moment the two men glared | at each other. j “I will get honest work for you,” , said Mr, Porter. --.

IS YOU SANTA CLAUSE?