Little Willie Found Santa Claus.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXV, Issue XXVI, 29 December 1900, Page 1238

Little Willie Found Santa Claus.

Little Willie, five years old, remembered what his two sisters had told him when they started down town. They were going to see Santa Claus, they said, and if Willie would be a good boy they would see to it that his stocking would be filled with lots of nice toys and sweetmeats.

Visions of soldier men and jumping ponies floated before Willie’s gaze, as he sat, with his nose dented against the window pane, and wondered how old Santa Claus could drive over trees and housetops with his reindeer and his sleigh loaded with toys. Somehow, like most boys of the present generation. Willie had just a little doubt of the existence of the white bearded old fellow who “slides down the chimneys” and “shakes like jelly when he laughs.” So when he espied Helen and Mabel coming up the street, each carrying a lot of bundles, an idea suddenly struck him. Quietly he slipped down from the window ledge, and, unnoticed by any one, made his way to the girls’ room and crawled far under the bed. Helen and Mabel entered the house tired out from their Christmas shopping, and, glad to escape Willie’s prying eyes, they quickly carried their numerous purchases to their room and deposited them on the bed. “Oh, I’m so glad we got in here before that little rascal discovered us,” said Mabel. “Yes, indeed,” Helen responded. “He knows too much for one of his age, and he’d be bound to find out just what’s in tHcse packages, and that would spoil everything.” “Well, we’ve fooled the dear little tyrant this time,” said Mabel. “I suppose mamma saw us coming,” she added, “and very considerately trundled him off to the nursery.” Never a sound from under the bed. Then the two girls commenced to sort out and mark each present for whom it was intended. Time and again Willie’s curiosity nearly got the better of him, as his sisters unwrapped dollies, pianos, kitchens, books, and other pretty things and placed them along the floor, remarking, “This is for Bob,” and “This is for Mattie,” and so on, but with the patience of an old campaigner the sly youngster bided his time. Only by a very strong effort did he control his patience, however, when Helen placed a huge box on the floor, saying, “And this is for Willie. Won’t he be delighted with that?” “I can see his eyes fairly dancing with joy now,” answered Mabel. This task completed, the two girls gathered up the paper and twine and went down stairs to tell mamma of their day’s work. This was Willie’s chance, and with feelings of mixed wonder and astonishment he crawled from his hiding place. He did not care for the other toys stretched along the floor. He wanted to see what was In the box which Helen said was for him. But the cover was fastened, and, try as he would, it would not budge. His eyes were fairly bulging out with rage at this defeat and his chubby cheeks were crimson from his exertions. On the front of the box Willie saw a lot of letters, but he could not read them, and was about to give up in despair when his busy brain again came to the rescue. Willie thought of his slate and pencil which he was just learning to use, and quietly he tiptoed to where he had left them. Then returning to the treasure room once more, the little fellow threw himself, slate and pencil on the floor before the box which was to be his. Slowly but carefully the wee schemer copied letter for letter the reading on the box label, and, picking up his slate, made his way hurriedly to the nursery. Dinner had been announced and the maid was hunting for her charge, so, after being washed up, Willie stepped into the dining room, still clinging to his slate. The family were all seated at the table and Master William. marched, over' to htis mothen. Then, shoving the slate into her lap, he asked, pointing at his work, “Mamma, what does that say?” Wondering where he could have seen the words, the mother answered

proudly, “Why, that says ‘Locomotive and cars.’ ” A look of dismay overspread the faces of Helen and Mabel and turned to amazement when Willie blurted out, “That’s what Santa Claus is going to give me for Christmas.” Of course everybody wanted to know how he found it out, and where he copied the words from, but Willie, having outwitted his sisters and satisfied his belief concerning Mr Santa Claus, was obdurate, and refused to explain until he was promised numerous other presents, besides the locomotive.

Willie’s papa now thinks of training him for the detective force.