A TRUE STORY

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 23, 28 January 1928, Page 14

A TRUE STORY

A little old Grannio lived not far from Perth, in Australia. As Christmas Eve drew near she felt very sorry that her poverty prevented her arranging a Christmas tree for her grandchildren, as had been her wont. . A sailor, passing by her hut, saw her wiping her eyes. "What's the matter, Gran?" he asked. She.told him, and he-confessed that, he was very sad' himself, as he had been abroad. He hadn't written to his mother, and had come home and found her dead, and buried. pace out of the house the sailor felt that' here w§,s a chance to atone by making another old mother happy. Now-the first thing to do was to find a suitable Father Christmas, Christmas tree, and all the things that were needed. He found the shops would soon be closed, so he rushed into a big shop in. Perth, and the manager said he would supply all the things needed, even the. Father Christmas and flowers. Then the sailor went as fast as he could to the addresses' where the old lady's married daughters and sons liv- ■ cd. Not wishing them to know till the ' last minute what was going to happen, he asked them all to visit the poor old Grannie on Christmas Day. They all contented to go and to take the children, too. Christmas Pay arrived, and all who had promised.went to. Grannie's house. The poor old Grannie didn't know what to do. She was so pleased ■to think they had all thought of her on Christmas -Day. There came a knock at the door. To Gran's amazement six little fairies stood outside, all dressed in yellow eilk, carrying beautiful bunches of flowers and waving beautiful wands. One of the fairies came forward and ■aid: "The fairies have come and wish to give you and yours. a Christmas treat. Can^ we come in?" Poor old Gran said in a whisper, "Yes," being too afraid to speak much. They entered the little hut and presented all the little children with a little box of chocolates, with a Father Christmas standing on the lid and a little «ard attached, and saying that Father Christmas would be there at 8 in the evening. My word! the excitement! The tea "■ was provided by. Father Christmas, who sent a huge bonbon for each parent, and jellies for the children, and fruit y and nuts and beads made out of bush flowers. Weren't those children impatient for 8 o'clock to come T Then poor mothers and fathers were worried and tired out with their excitement. At last 8 o'clock came, and you could haye1 heard a pin drop when one of the fathers went and opened .the door; and, oh! the expression on the children's faces when they saw, instead of a big Santa Claus, a tiny little Santa Claus. But he was just lovely! He had a long train on wheels. The train was loaded, not with toys, but with eggs. These were not of chocolate but of .coloured wood about the size of a coconut. They were all colours. Behind the train came six big ducks on wheels. They were just lovely, and oh! the coloifs of the feathers! Santa Claus just pressed the back of one and , she laid a golden egg for eac^ child, with all sorts of surprises inside. Then Santa Claus told them all to sit down. When they were seated he rang a bell. In a minute sue little fairies came in, wheeling a beautiful Christmas tree. And everybody received lovely, presents. The sailor stood in the doorway watching the scene. He felt it was the best Christmas Day he had spent for many a long year.