THE ENEMIES OF SANTA CLAUS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 306, 23 December 1912, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE ENEMIES OF SANTA CLAUS.

IluW TIIKV KOROOT IT WAS ! t IIIMSTMAS DAY. Ibrn-ni! Z'-is-s-s! Room! Z'ss-s-s! | •■Croat -leho-aphat! What i- that?" , iaeulatc 1 Father Christmas. The rein leer's hoofs skidded on the I ice as t'ne -'r : g : . came to a -udden halt, i Father Christmas bent forward and j listened. There it was again. Boom! Ziss-s-s'. At one moment the sound seemed in ] front, at another behind, and then for J a second or so it seemed to come from under the ice. Tin- reindeer by this time was tre.m- ' Ming all over. "What"- the matter with you.' Cracker?" -aid Father Christmas a-s he 1 produced a lump of sugar from his poc- , let and gave it loirs excited steed., "You seem to smell something strange; j but don't you worry, old boy." Father Chr'stmas leapt from his sleigh an.! began to -'.rote and pit Cracker's i'tl; and ,i I I lie same lime gaze eare!'i'!v around h'.m. In front ~: i -'■ ■-•: .1.-: mc,- :herc rose a' 11 <_r i i ridge -i' ice ovi-r wh'c'.t ,ie aur ra - ;,-i'1,.1 hi 1 :'■,,• st v- :w'.n' :.. 1. E\i>ry now and again a !i::'e pinkish •oil.l scenic 1; , ri-e an 1 oh'.itera'e a !', w stirs ami then disappear. "That's i|ii. er." though] Father Christ- ■ i-. "I must 1., .'■ into th!.-." It too!; - m-e I .'tic cvxing :,. in.-I—c Cracker to advance, but Cracker trusted ;

his: master, and woim iiic sleigh was can- - tiously rounding the ice hills. Whit should burst on Father Christ-' mis' astonished gaze but a column of sloani ris-ug froiin a hole in she ground. A hot red glow was rellecled on the ] \apour, which a', intervals rose in big puffs. Boom' cime from In-low. and the ground shook. Cracker once more started trembling' am! had again 1" be coaxed .ml petted : into ,|:iieliuss. .\s soon a.- -lie reindeer was ijnici Father Christmas advanced towards the edge of this <|llcer hole. ! Ziss-«s: went the steam agin, hiding the sleigh and al' the presents lie was i takine to little children. Before it cleaved oIT there was an extra j loud bourn a ill up I here rose Hvc demons.; glowing wil h re I. Insitanitly e.u.-hinfr sight of Father Cii'-i-tmas. with one \oicc they shouted. "Cci away from here or we'll boil you : n pi'<•!■." j "Oh, don't you try to bully mc." re- j plii 1 Father ('lirsim,i,s. "I know who 1 y,,u .re. 'i",,ii are K-ivv. Pride. Ha.red. <-r I. and Mc: m.-s." !,,• continue 1. ;,■"! ing tliein oil' with his linger. f,, r if y..n , li.-.vTy .ii !,a. p,.'A, ■ ~-erV'"i. ' \ I- a: her i iira-lni i- >vi; . : m-ir ii .rri 1 wh':i c I "The f.c; !.-." -aid Kallur Christmas.! sn-.i' ng with the ktiowh-b'c tin; he h id | -cor. I :he first p.Mi;, "you hoys have ' ma!,- . mis: i-■(.. !•';.--; .•' ,!. | don't ! thin you know where - •• ire." Th" demons growled bin said nothing I sensib'.f 1

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"You thought you were coming to the surt.ice near a town I suppose, whereas vim ..re on an island in the Polar Sen. Hi. ha. H.i! Ami what is more." roared the ~|,i gentleman, "it's Christmas Day, and n .lie of you have the least power to walk abroid anywhere on the surface of lie c-.irth. ]\.t. ha. ha! If this isn't t'.ie lust joke I ever-- " At i.;- moment n.atr.-d raised his prong, ami but for l; being Christmas Mac I- , , father ,4" Chri-tmos might have f-iiMcrcd grievous barn for these prmiA, Mr" ,j;,-ectly t !,,.y ;,„„.], vo „. l>l]t )6 it happened the demon wa- at once paraiysid the moment he re.se above the surfiee. He sank back with a groan. ••tiood-bye. boys." shouted Father f'hrstmns as Cracker swung along at a merry pace; "[ h,,p o you'll make the same m'stake again. Ha. ha. ha!" "I he old man's merry io-night." siid a I'olar bear to his mate as the sound if laughter died away over the dark ice floe ', > the -outh. Here you see it dvi:;g away almost to nothing—ll \- HA. TIA! H-\. HA. HA! HA. HA. HA! HA. HA. HA! HA. HA. H V II A. 11... H, V HA. HA. IIA! Ha. 111. ha! Hi. .h.i. ha: II i. ha. ha! Hi. ha. ha! Ha. ha' ' Ha. ha! Ha. ha! tla, ha! Ha! Ha!