WHAT SANTA CLAUS POUND OUT

Hutt News, Volume 3, Issue 29, 11 December 1930, Page 23

WHAT SANTA CLAUS POUND OUT

A OHKI^rMAS EVE STORY.

It "was Christmas jEve, and Marjorite had been sent to i)ed for being naughty. Mummy had told her not to slide on the big pond behind the house, and Marjorie ; had disobeyed. But more than that, she had fafllen thrqugh the ice and got all her clothes wringing wet, and very nearly a cold, "You don't deserve to h&Te <anythingiri your stocking!" said her mother, as she turned out the light. '"I'voa good mind to tell Santa Clans about you, and see what he says about it." «■■ /,'■•■ '■ Marjorie couldn't sleep for -wondering if mummy meant to do what she: said. She had written to Santa Claus asking hint to give her a pram for. her dollies. Santa Claus was kind, so perhaps he'd bating hoi1 the pram, in any case, even though she had been naughty. Suddenly the door opened, and a figure entered, carrying a lantern. The stranger had a long, white beard andeyebrows, and wore a red coat and hood with white fur trimaning. Marjorie sat up in bed and saw, that' it was "Santa Clans. ."Oh," she cried excitedly, not a bit frightened. "Didn't mummy tell you? Have you brought me a pram for my dollies, after all?" > , "I came to tell you,'' Santa Claus said, "that I have only one ilolly's pram left, and there's another little girl who also wants a pram. She is a cripple and very poor. Would you mind very much if I gave her the pram?" iiarjorie hesitated. But she couldn't help feeling sorry for the little cripple. "All right, I don't niin-3," she whispered. ■_.'''•■ "You arc a good, generous little j girl,"'Santa Claus said. "And in the morning; there will. be a lovely surprise for you." ) And—would you belfeve it.I?—the very first thing that Marjorie saw iiexs.i morning was tho Joveliest *Jolly/sT-j pram! You see, it wasn 't Santa. Clatis who ] had paid Marjorie a visit but her own j da&dVj who had dressed himself up in 1 order to find out if Marjoric was really such a naughty little-girl at Jieart as^ he.r mummy had said, and he found j that she wasn't.