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Show I lyTtoSnrpnseri f anfa Claus 4 ' , ' riorenet Htrri Weill . i i ! HURETS thi Christmas tre, Mist Johnson. That's that." Tom Blodgett who represented represent-ed ths school board to the soow-bound Tillage, stood back and surveyed the fine symmetrical fir he had Jnst made stable In the center of f the schoolroom platform. -""Now what! next, teacher? ' . .- - 1 f- j I'eggy Johnsoa ' laughed jsy'y: i "Next, we haug all the Ciirlstrnqs ornamenU rve been able to get to- getlier In this community,' and all the f strlugs of- popcorn and pranberrlas I the mothers could, spare.! : I "You're bound to have' a'Chrlatmns I celebration, of some k(ud, aren't you, even If ws have been hemmed tn here for four straight "weeks. - In' alt the years I've been bqre I've never aeca such steady snowfall,", Tom ton-, tlnuetf; "not chance for an auto, to make .that ( forty b.lles to the city, all up grade as It l.,r The youngters will get tftelr faith In Bania da us shaken, rm afraid, this year. Presents will befmlghty km." .: ,,'::'. "Scarce all right, Peggy ebeerWrs agreetV, "But they're going to b tti 1 good Cbrlatmas I as It Is, possible for na to give i them.;'y , Vs Ta wftb yon on that," Tom said, "My f little - folks and all the other kiddles atft look-, Ing forward to this mors than . they ever nave, to any Christmas,"' T h big folks are, too. Fine Idea of yours. . lilss Johnson.; Everybody'! keen-' keen-' aboat It." .: t I ,i As hey chatted T , - r I ths tree was fast becoming gay and ' ; festive In Us Chrlatmas apparel. . 'They had barely finished,, when the - village folks began to' straggle In, laden with baskets of food. It was ty be community, dinner, followed by carol and games and the distribution of the few presents they bad; been able to assemble from , the "town's meager resources. Z j- It was when tlit games .were the very liveliest, that the crash camea crash that-Jarred tlie little school-house school-house and brought . the merrymaking to an abrupt stondatilL - y $ A second. Sod Tom, followed by oth. ers, rushed ont; then came th real j surprise. In came Tom and with him Santa Claus tn a scarlet Hudson Bay coat, plaid trowsers tncksd-Into bis heavy boots, and a fur con pulled down over bis ears. .' ,-. - u " Behind them were the ethers,, their . arms Oiled with bundles f all sizes and descriptions while . dolls and trumpets, drums and all sorts of toys were piled In a great hamper that two of the men -brought ta between' them. The boys, and girls shouted .with glee and the older folks looked on' In amasemenL Tom and Santa-- Clans walked straight to' Miss Johnson. Santa Claus. pulled off .the great fur cap. w Both Santa Claus and Peggy stared. , I - ,. " ? '' , "Pejgy I bp stammered. "Reg I" she stammered back. Where did yoe come from?" -.. " - - ... 8anta Gut's found his tongue: . - "I was 1' ii'd i.ere I didn't, know yoa wer i beard ihe t'own-Sras, y v , ;-snowbound 'a n-3 thought Td be San-' ta-aan - But I i thought li was five . miles beyond. 'I flgyved my big car could iget through; on the down grade. ! bate! to 'think ef kiddies' bavlng o' Chrlstmaa - Bet i the car got off the 1 rack In the drifts and we came down the side of the bill I! lie a rocket ontll we bit this schooL" t Til any you did," i T o in lnternipled . as he turned swnj from jbem, -; , "I thought I was done for," Reg con-tinned. con-tinned. "Instead I'm made If yon say o. Peggy. I've bunted all over for yon since your f.-iiher lost bis money and yon ran" sway from ttie because Joq thoug'it It n..le difference." Paggy's eyes -, 'glistened-, as. she fought, back . ber wars; then ; she caught' Reg b ths hand and dragged him Into the i " snrrouncUng the glfta "Here's F s already to dls- Wbute the r Santa C - ',t her spirit and held ber 1, j n , i tighter as be gay ly added: "An j t;ia future Mrs. Son, ta Clans alreudy to- help blm. We wish you all a Merry Chi'stinasP And the little room, (V,at all the evening bad beet) so til.-! rltb good will. Just bi-fnifited over v-'.'i laughter f song aod Merry Chrl; ..i.-ises. ; J (ft 1,11 W-!rn Ni)i3-t Unlonip . |
