Show 1 I 1 copt q 6 t 1 y I 1 4 0 1 I 1 11 A I 1 I 1 ORD HE minute tommy woke tie he re THE that it w was the day before bea ore christmas and that meant j his breath escaped in a quick white plume across his bed santa would woud soon arrival the thought shot sudden warmth through his small body as he climbed out of bed and 1 reached for a stocking after supper he would bang one up and an if it should have a hole in in the toe like this one that t matter matter understood why he santa of course had not had anything new for a long time ammy tommil Tom his mothers voice called dress quickly dear its very cold why I 1 let you sleep late tommy turned and saw her watch ing him from the doorway her blue eyes looked tired as if she had been I 1 up a long time mommy will it be ion long before santa comes ill tell you about that later she said lets bring your things into the kitchen by the stove im sorry theres no milk dearest mommy said maybe I 1 shall hear from the agency tod today and get a job and he want to talk about milk or mommy getting a defense job or even ask why his daddie not come home any more mommy what about santa claus chaus he asked so then she told him he listened quietly hot little tears burning hiis his eyelids she had told him the most dreadful thing he had ever heard in au all his life no wonder she cried too but darling mommy said wiping bis bil eyes with her apron 1 I have something nice for you I 1 was saving it for tomorrow but F ill 11 let you have it now because it will I 1 aft 1 I 1 I 1 i I 1 I 1 C I 1 I 1 1 d 1 I I 1 51 1 1 I I 1 I 1 I 1 I 1 santa asked us to give you all these presents the nurse said make you healthy and strong enough to be a soldier like daddy she gave him a luscious bright red apple i yes he thought if santa had only had a mother adother who knew everything that was good for him he be so sick now that he go out with his presents tonight and he would not be in the hospital then a bright thought came to tommy and he began to run i when he reached his destination he was out of breath he hurried into the wide corridor his small feet making silent nt steps on the heavily piled carpet which led to the reception desk the white hite uniformed nurse see him as he stood there tommy found his voice then look he said ive brought a present for santa claus will you please give it to him oh oher er is santa claus here the nurse asked yes said tommy nodding my mother told me hes a awfully fully tick sick with a cold and cant come out tonight then the doctor spoke up yes darling santa is here and hes very ill he leaned over and covered her hand with his looking straight at tommy he said sonny you bet well give him yoa your apple ill see that the rascal eats every bite of hill it and tell him to eat it slowly and chew up the skin then heu hell get big and strong like my dad the nurse put her arm around tommy then just wait here a minute little boy sit here in in my chair and well be rig right lit back and tell you what goes on n in santas room when he gets ge ts your gift he w was as looking at the tree when he saw the nurse and doctor appear appear from behind it their arms were loaded with christmas packages and they were smiling and hurrying over to him there was even a huge stocking running over with t toys and sweets santa ate your apple sonny the doctor said thanks thank s a lot he said to tell you it made mad behim him feel so strong that tha t he got rig right lit out of bed and went over to his closet where he had all these presents presen ts P he asked us to give them to you for him the nurse said because he has a lot of business to do tonight at the soldiers camps he said understand ohl cried tommy geel gee all those wonderful pres presents ants when he expected anything mommy be sed mcclure 1 syndicate feature |