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Show samta mmm a First Prize Winning Story Shara Lee Jeppsen (Daughter of Mrs. Edna P. Jepp-senCorinnei By , this lowing message: Dear Mr. Hodge, 1 have went home. even both-- j enough that Was goin to tell ered to knock, for if they did, a you but you had a they would be considered visitor. I guess stranger, or else someone asking a direction. 'cause when I went to go in I hoard you He thought of how much trou-- ! to someone. So's Talking to ble everyone went to jus I decided not to go in keep the secret of Santa Claus. and perturb you. He.e I sit." he hought, "wearHope this is okay and these ily painting giving with you. toys the last few touches. These Toni. I have been workpast weeks basted little Toni sure "That ing overtime three and four takes a lot for granted!" Mr. hours a day just so the toys said." as he tore the note would bo finished by Christmas. Hodge it on to bits and throw the Then who gets all the credit? Now I have to carry ail floor. Santa Claus, of course! To most those bags to the delivery truck. children I'm just the guy that He turned slammed the has nothing to do because to door behindaround, him, grabbed two tell them what I do would give go. "rural bags marked, city-taway the secret. to go." and loaded them, after By this time old Mr. Hodge much puffing, pulling and tughad himself so worked up that ging, in to the big delivery he said right out loud, "Santa truck. Claus! Bah! He's just an old Once in the truck, he was even more aggravated at Toni. And fraud!" made up his mind to have Toni He was just finishing the last fired the minute he came back nine. toy as the clock struck from the Christmas holidays. He know he was on schedule, Mr. his little Hodge brought for the parents all told him that memo pad forward and looked they would have their children at the first name, Mr. and Mrs. in bed by nine o'clock and it Selma Fowler," he read. Findwould be okay for him to come ing he was on the wrong road, any time after that. They don't he turned around and went toseem to care a bit about how wards the big house next to the he late I have to stay up, city hall. "Half the toys in the seto their "Just keep thought, town go here I'll 'bet. he crets. and deliver their orders. his jealousy. thought, showing litI see some Well tonight if "Fowlers the' biggest man in tle vixon staying up later than this He dug down into the nine oclock I'll just walk in well city. bag and brought and to heaven with the idea! two organized out. big red fire engines Mr. Hodge again spoke out loud. Surprised, he searched the bag He rose and called for Toni. for more.. But to his amazement Toni was the little Italian boy he found not one more packwho applied for work two years age. The big door opened to his before, and had worked stead- knock. Isabella, tihe maid said, ily at everything he was told to "Hello. Mr. Hodge." Mr. do. Toni was like the copy boy said Hello," Hodge commonly' seen in a large news- gnouchily. "Mrs. Fowler is in the dining paper oflfice, but in place of the copy is a toy and in place of the room," she concluded. editor are many sacks marked, entered the dining Hodge To go. Rural, and so forth. and before him Mrs. Toni usually wonked in the gift Fowlerseeing and young Tommy, he He room. his liked wrapping waited for recognition. work very muoh because of his quietly he saw for the first Surprised skilled hands. He could do most time young Tomsmy Fowler sitanything, and in fine style, too, a wheelchair, listening but his knack was in wrapping ting in to his beautiful mother read the It said was the often gifts. by of the first Christmas: villagers that you could always story And this will be a sign tell when Toni wrapped a gift. unto you; ye shall find the baibe wrapped in swaddling Noticing there was no answer, Mr. Hodge opened the door to clothes lying in a manger. the gift room and called again, Mr. Hodge turned quietly and but there sftJU was no answer. left. Calling Sarah, fhe other around the maid, he said1, Will you give Quickly glancing room he noticed a note tied to these to Mrs. Fowler? She's the steam pipe overhead.' Tak- busy and I dont want to bother ing it down and putting on his her." Mr. Hodge's feelings had been glasses, Mr. Hodge read the fol- softened by this scene; but later in the truck they were transformed into the same prejudiced ideas as before. Why, nobody cares how cold I get or how late I stay up trying to get these toys delivered. And besides I'll bet the Fowlers are the only them. All the people in town knew each other just one, so he put on a record a child could lsiten to. and enjoy. "Santa Claus Comes Tonight. This turned grumpy old to Mr. Hodge's thoughts back the same thing he had been thinking this morning. Even though I am nearly through with the toys. I won't be able I to go home. No. not until have gone out delivering these toys to the people who are too afraid to keep them in their house, because Sue or Johnny might accidentally run across them." He robelliously thought well no-on- e Mr. Hodge sat looking out the! small window above his large work bench at the softly falling snow. If the window were just a little longer he would have seen the many bright eyed, Christmas shoppers going towards their homes wilh bundles piled from waist over to himself. the tops of their heads. The people in this little town Christmas music rang from the village square. Although of Snowville had no idea Mr. carols had been played all eve- Hodge felt this way about it. ning, the man at the record for if they did they never would transmitter decided to change1 have asked him to do this for e 1 - ones who dont think of Christ- mas as Santa Claus. He had now grumpily delivered three more houses toys and had come to the fourth name on the list. Mrs. James Martin. This was a happily married bride of four years. their They both worshipped three old daughter. When Mr. llndge entered. James Martin was seated in the big easy chair by the fireplace. Christy and mommy were furnishing a rehearsed program for well daddy who was enjoying it thoroughly. Mommy was at the piano and Christy was standing to the side of it in her little . Christy w as Here Comes Santa singing. Claus." The happiness could be kitten-sleepers- hea: 1 in her voice. Mr. Hodge couldn't feel the happiness and love closely knit in his scene. AH that he could hear was, "Santa Claus." Again this character was stealing all the praise and recognition Mr. Hodge desired. He marched into the room, grabbed little Christy, sat her square on his knee. 'Christy." he said, voice angry and shaking. Dont you believe them. There isnt a Santa Ciaus. Im the one who made all the boys Im what you might call Santa Claus. Expecting Christy to acknowledge him as site did Santa Claus, he was much surprised when tears filled the little girls big blue eyes, and she said with all the feeling a little girl ol three could gather. "Mommy, Is this true?" Daddy, Mrs. Maitin. now having gathered her senses, rose and took Christy tenderly into her arms. Her eyes. too. filled with tears. She slowly climbed the stairs with slow unbelieving glances at Mr. Hodge. Mr. Martin rose and sjsoke in almost defning loud, tones. "How could you? What kind of a man are you to spoil the child's first Christmas?" Mr. Hodge replied, Hodge w'here tie had gone. Mr. Hodigc, looking at Tonis costume, got an idea, and told Toni lo lake it off and change into his clothes. Toni, surprised, stepped out of bis costume and gave it to Mr. Hodge. Mr. Hodge hastily put it on. and left. In full costume, he knocked at Christy's door. Christy answered with Mother and Daddy close behind her. "Mommy! Daddv! Look, it's A ALL THE JOYS OF THE SEASON GOOD HEALTH GOOD LUCK iTCfllmlA GOOD FRIENDS GOOD CHEER A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS A HAPPY NEW YEAR REMINDER Once again it is Christmas . . . May It bring you peace, good health and happ ness throughout the yea. Central Chevrolet Well maybe now you dont think I dont knew what Im doing, but in future years youll be grateful to me for telling her." "Grateful? Yes. grateful. "Youd bettor leave, before you find out how grateful I am to you! said Mr. Martin with disgust. Later in the delivery truck. Mr. Hodge began to think of Christy's tear-filleeyes and realized what a fool he had made of himself, and began to think what he could do to make things as they were. He knew how wrong he was about Santa, but in his heart he will still jealous. He arrived home. As he entered the door to his front room, a strange sight caught his eye. There on the harth sat a little Christmas tree decorated with all it could hold, and presents stacked to the center benches. Mr. Hodge stood, mouth agape, staring unbelieveably at this unexpected sight. He walked quickly over to the little tree, and picked up a little package. He glanced down at the slip, and he read. 'To the true Santa: From Mr. and Mrs. Martin and1' Christy. Astonished, he picked up the biggest package and the card in this package read: Just a token of appreciation . . Mr. and Mrs. Fowler." over the rest he Looking found that they weie all from the many villagers he had waited on, and promised to deliver their packages personally. He now could find no part of jealtoward these ousy or hatred people or Santa Claus. Later, as he took the delivery tiuck back to the workshop, he found Toni asleep in a Santa Claus suit, culled up on a pile of newspapers. him. Waking Mr. Hodge found that he had feme back from playing Santa Claus for the orphans, and had decided to wait, and tell Mr. OFFICE SUPPLY ANI) EMPLOYEES Kathy and Van Clay Laugh made a bed on the flour after finishing decorating the Christmas tree, while daddy was at work and mother va ; attending a m eeting. . . . 9 Box Elder JOURNAL Brigham City, Utah Friday. December 25. 1953 Santa Claus! Afler much excitement, and after Christy had gone to bed. Mr. Hodge, now recognized by Mr. and Mrs. Martin, was asked for an explanation. In words filled with emotion. Mr. Hodge spoke, "1 was a veiy foolish old man. Never think ing of other people's feelings. I was willing to make them sad and tear down their hearts as well as the childrens. When I went home this evening after I had realized what a seifish man I was. I still had a small amount of hatred, and envy in my heart towards Santa Claus gloI entered ry, but when tny house and saw what was waiting. all the hatred and envy were gone, and I was looking for a way to make all had done up to you." Mr. and Mrs. Martin, after seeing how deeply sorry he really was, asked him, since he was all alone, to stay and spend Christmas with them. After graciously consenting. Mr. made Hodge said, You have in me see. by the forgiveness your hearts, and by the way you have helped me to realize how wrong I was. that tlieie truly is a Santa Claus. Jr is truly a pleasure to dy greet you with our very best wishes for a joyous Christmas and a prosperous New Year I Vi'S 1 y J HOLLYWOOD CANDY Bob CO. Hillman |