Show 0 or holenia Hole alert natA 9 A ilk ADS ABS was such a little girl to B abut be disappointed at christmas but there seemed no other way her mother called her to lo the bedside babs darling she began softly christmas will soon be here the little girls eyes shone it wont be the same this year darling there wont be any presents or well anything no santa claus no santa claus but why youre going on five dabs babs try to understand what we call santa claus is really just the love people have for each other at christmas her voice trailed oft off in a fit ot of coughing that pillow there now I 1 can breathe it I 1 dont love you darling I 1 just cant do things this christmas that lovely tree last year you remember it dont you babs oh yes mummy well try to have one like it next year if ff she choked a moment if I 1 get well why mummy youre crying no no im not see why dont you run out and play a bit get your coat and rubbers babs went out into the snow very thoughtful A group of children were foi I 1 21 ir VO 1 A he came dressed as she had seen him first and with a bag playing down the block but she want company of course there was a santa claus he come last year and all her playmates he came to see them too how could mummy be so mistaken she intended to come so tar far but it was tun fun walking on the crisp crunchy snow and there ahead were men stringing lovely colored lights and loops of greenery on lamp posts she want bill 1 I cant just get it something about santa claus why sure kid just down the block hes ringing a little bell the men laughed and babs laughed too santa claus she would find santa claus the street was alarmingly crowded but she could hear the thin tinkle ot of a bell then she saw him all dressed in red and with a long white beard he was sitting by a big red box and every now and then someone would drop money into it babs stood tor for a long while watching fascinated afraid to speak the tinkling stopped and the santa claus came over the matter he asked gently she let him lead her back to the big red box he took her up on his lap and gave her the little bell to ring slowly she told her story mummy who was so sick had said there any santa claus this year babs took care of mummy she know how to get home 1 I think I 1 had better see it we cant find your mummy santa claus declared ashes probably worried about you you arent afraid t to 0 come with me are you oh no babs answered trustingly and carried the bell while he put away the big red box they found the right neighborhood with no great difficulty babs insisted that santa claus come in to show mummy there really Is a santo claus and he agreed then things began happening there was a doctor and a nurse and babs must be quiet and see mummy not for days through it all santa claus kept coming back only without the beard or red suit until christmas that is and then he came dressed as she had seen him first even to the little bell and with a big red box full of toys for her and as an even grander present he said that mummy was well enough to sit up lie he was very tender to mummy and carried her gently to the big chair that was ready tor for her babs was sure that mummy looked prettier than she had ever seen her oil oh it wes such a merry christmas imael if it could only last my said babs 1 I wish you could stay here forever and the santa claus man answered very gravely thank you babs theres nothing I 1 should like better but he looking at babs it was more as though he were talking to mummy service s |