Show santa claus abroad it Is strange to contemplate the great variety ot of forms the santa claus custom assumes in different countries in belgium the little ones fill their shoes with carrots and oats and hay for the white horse st nicholas Is supposed eup rup posed to drive very early in the morning they tun un to the room in which their shoes have been left and find that the provender has gone and in its place candles candies and presents are found among the carpathian mountains it Is st peter who dressed as a bishop and accompanied by the dreadful ru Is expected by the children on christmas eve the visitor first de livers a short sermon lays on the table a rod whitened with chalk and takes his departure with his tinkling 9 bells while ruprecht follows close be hind the children now hasten to pull off their shoes polish them and tie together and as soon as the last notes of s bells have become lost in the distance they run into the garden and secrete their shoes be neath a bush they spend the time until 10 0 clock in relating stories then go to their shoes to find them filled with apples nuts and goodies |