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How Doggie Puck Played Santa Claus T Was tin- day before Christmas, und sweetest smells wer? Is suing from the kitchen, und park Ilgen wore hoi tig lefl ill Ihw door every few minutes with loud ringings of tin* doorbell, Tuck hud uevor In nil hi* llttie doggie life been treated ns |p> bud beet: the Inst few days Nobody bud uny time for him. When Daisy, bis little mistress, bud gone oui thiit morning. Instead of tak ing her dog she had sitld: "I can't t:ike yon today. Old fellow. Ill have too many packages to man age you." Puck went to Hie kitchen, led the-o. no doubt, by the delightful odoi s. '?(.Jet out of her.-!" said Urid ?*! can'T TAKK you Jjot, Mild she I'.Otir toiiav. oi.n tr.i. Ished n hr-vun at low." hitu The tnsultl It nearly broke Puck's heart, Puck Walked out of the kitchen up Into the piny room on the top floor He crawled under ih?> curtail: willed adorned the bed <>f Prances, Hie l ist doll to arrive from Paris. Puek grew drowsy, and the last thing bis eyes rested upon before sinking into sleep was a huge book cut in the shape of Santa Claus and colored to look like htm as well. The book con tained (bo story beginning "'Twus the night before Christmas," nnd Puck bad heard Daisy road that story only the night before What was his surprise to see that book straighten Itself until It looked like n soldier on parade, but of course It was not n soldier, only 8anta Clans, the very being fron whom he was trying to picapo. Santa Clans began talking to him. "Puck, I do not like to see you show anch an ugly spirit this day liefere Christmas. Christmas is my day. you know, and I like every living thing to be happy when it comes around "If you want to net fun out of Christ mas rjnlt OX|iecttng a merry Clu'lsl mas for yourself. Try to give it to some one else." went on Santa Clans "Mr. Santa Claus." said Pink, look ing offended, "nobody will nl'ow mo lo help in any way. AI! I can do is to keep out of the wny until your day Is over." "Nonsense." replied Santa. "You are all wrong The festival is in my hon or, true enough, but that docs not shut out other people from helping." Puek was wide awake nnd poIPfl enough to crawl out from beneath the bed and listen to his visitor. "You know Daisy is to have n party tonight." said Santa. "There Is to be a splendid tree with presents on It. ami 1 have made that tree the handsomest ] ever trimmed. I had planned ro make my appearance myself to wish the boys and girls a merry Chri3'.mns, but ] simply cannot take ihe iime. If you would like you can lake my place. I'll dress you for the parly, allow nie I shall looi< iirour, what I can find In Miss Dttlay's play room. Good, the very thing. Ws'll make a hit!" And Puek looked toward the waatebnsket, where he saw a false fnee of Santa Clans with It* Ion-; white beard nnd the remains of ? ?'i.e ihu warranted to mend or stet? nny tning. Santa Claus bent t > fV.e cats o' PueV and whispered Ida pbir, it", a s-er.-t. The secret seemed to im et v ltb P ick'n approval, for he wagged h's t?li nnd wriggled his hotly Just ns he did wL?*:< Daisy fexl him a bit of bis faorltc enndy. It grew dark very early, for n snow atonn was on the way. Sound? of ar riving visitors came to Puck's ears as the boll pealed again and again Ills absence was not noticed os b<?nu tifuiiy dressed Kiri.s came luto Hie nest room to r p m ovo l heir wrnps. w h I I e shouts of laugh ter sin! merry Christ in a ses floated to Pe.ek In bis retreat, he neath the doll's ?>od. The voice of Daisy's father at last sounded, a nd aa this was the cue Santa had glveu lilin to appear Puck crawled out. ap proached the wastebasbot, knocked !t over. ruhlH'd bis face in Ihe alowly trickling glue and (hen stuck it In,:, tho Hanta Claus false face lying ronven lently near. F.. ? nilnuif the queer Puck-Santa Cfaua ran down the stairs n> d ln*o ihe room, arousing shrieks of laughter UU ooe boy screamed. "Why. It's 9amu cm ?ar "No, It la not!" shouted another. "Did 700 over see a Santa Claus with four legs? It'a a dog, that is what it la." "It's my IMck," said Delay, taking the queer specimen In her nrma, "but how In the world did he ever get him ?elf up In this clever fashion?" Pock wsB not telling. bHi the fun this odd looklug Hanta started mad> the party a success. It you w11 ICJ ar.-.l f ee* *? he i>a.n r<ow:.*8TAir:a. ENTERTAINING THE YULETIDE ANGELS cry sense of tho word, we nre tinging wide the portals to tho winged ones and spreading tho banquet they love. To come down to plain, everyday speaking, hero aro a few of tho sins tho most well-meaning persons com mit against tho holiness, lovo and comfort of the Chrlatmastido. Everybody known that year by year the shops make a strenuous effort to encourage tho early buying of gifts. Christmas goods are put on sale quite six weeks before they are needed, whllo many a mercantile advertise ment openly pleads the case of the shop people. When we put off our buying until the eleventh hour, men, women and children?all of whom have a right to their own share of Christmas ? must work overtime. Nothing Is said of the awful heat of the crowded shops, of the exhausted air, of the tolling beings who swolter, atand In icy draughts, who faint and, perhaps, are sometimes discharged for Inadequacy with the last hideous bat tle of buying, nut those who are be hind tho scenes know it all and every I heart open to human justice must j surely see this sldo of late Christmas ?hopping?the bitter side. By PRUDENCE 8TANDI8H. HERE are these an gels, Invisible to mortal eyes, and bow may we enter tain them? They are In the spirit of Christraas, in that glad feeling In the heart which knows there Is reason for Joy and which tells us to do all we can for others. When wo trans gress against tho laws of Joy and kindness we are turning the Yule tldo angels from our doors. When we open our hearts fully to tho Christ mas spirit, in ev How inadoquato la tha last-moment present bought under such conditions ?the usual conditions in cities?to express the rightful Christmas senti ment. Instead of telling of Christmas Joy if it could but speak the gift would say: "I bring you a friend's irritabilities, and a sales-woman's white cheeks, and a little cash girl's sobs, and wish you a miserable Christmas." In short, this belated purchase, obtained with j such effort to all concerned, carries ' with It the unheard tears and sighs ! of the Yuletlde angels, those shining spirits of gladness we turn from our ) doors. There is a way to escape this ! very great annoyance to ourselves and Injustice, to others. The shops are never crowded In the early morning, bo do the shopping then with the very first hour. Or if you are a business person and cannot spare the time, write the friend whom you recall at this late hour a nlco little note full 1 of Christmas feeling or else run around the corner and buy her a bunch of bright berries from any of tho temporary stands, which if not patronized would mean ruin to their owners. At any rate, however, you solvo the problem, keep ono thought in your heart: Peaco on earth and good will tow ard all tho poor souls hired to sell Christmas presents. Tho next sinners against tho Yule tido angels are tho family ogres who deny the home children their rightful share of Christmas Joy, who fret about having the l'ttle ChriBtmns tree with Its trifling gifts, who shatter In fantile idols by revealing tho sacred mystery of Santa Claus, and so and so on. Ah, me, ah, mo. could I not tell weeping stories myself of the hardness of grown-up hearts at this tlmo?stories of tho dark and dread t ful day when a silly aunt of soven i teen mocked me for my belief In good Krlss Kringle and when, a little later, the edict went forth that I was too old to "think much of Christmas" any j more. Is anybody ever "too old" to ; think of Christmas? Is the heart ever 1 too hardened not to suffer when the I doarest of its saints is ruthlessly ta { ken away? As to this rubbishy talk of the Christ ' mas tree being too much trouble, or i too much expense, It only menus that the grown-ups are thinking en ' tlrely of themselves. There are Christ ' mas trees and Christmas trees, and ? tho cheapest and littlest may bring Just as much Joy to small hearts as I the most expensive ones. In fact, 1 : have seen little Christmas trees bur ! dened with tiny fts, and gay with ! candles, that cc no more than a ! couple of dollars. They were set up with love, and trimmed with love, and revealed with love; and the children and tho grown-ups were all as happy as happy could be because they had Invited every one of the Yulotlde an gels to the fun. So don't rob the children of theii good ChrlBtmas snlnt, Santa Claus, but leave them to find out the facte of Christmas giving themselves. And, bo your home ever bo poor, save some thing from the housekeeping money to give the children their rightful ChrlBtmas Joy In another way when thn tr?o rAiinot be managed. An orange, a big, rosy apple, and a walk j ing stick of striped peppermint candy I cost but little. Yet tho bunch of cheap ' things will seem like Christmas, the j real true?true Christmas, when It is dumped out of tho little stocking. Concerning more Important gifts than these, they also may bo of the cheapest sort. All a little child ex pects Is 8i?methlng new, so the trifles bought at a reasonablo hour at tho ten-cent store, tho cheap, home-dresB ed doll, the nickel watch or fifteen cent box of paints, are all equally prized. \V?iit the kiddles want is to feel their Yulotlde angels near thorn, and a little extra bother, a llttlo ex tra patience, will achieve tills bless ing. Remember, too, tho child with out the gates, for It needs a share of your joy. Sit up a little later for tho next six nights and see what you can make out of pretty scraps of stuff on hand, the colored pictures In tho old fashion books, etc. Let all tho chil dren who cross your way feel some of the gladness thut 1? In your own hoart. It 1b so easy. Don't grumble; do what you can with enthusiasm and give everything with love. The worst sinners against Christ mas peace are those who feel the reason Is a nuleanco and who do their level best, to make others feel the same thing. They hato the excite ment, the exchang" of presents, tho letters or cards they must send, tho idea of having to give servants monej, the dinners they must get up. those which they must attend. And In hat ing these, and all the dozen and one duties of the ChrlBtmnBtldo, they hate everything?the Joy that Is In the air, tho sweet church bells, tho cherubim and seraphim of P?ethlehom, and oven him whoso coming the prophet Micah foretold so long he fore. NAN nticl Jack and little black Topsy rubbed their eyes ami stared about them. A big wave had landed them high and dry on a Baddy island. "All shipwrecks are horrid." said Jack. "Hut 1 think 1 cnu tind some thing to eat. and If you are cold, why. you and Top ay can lie down nnd let me cover you with warm sand, and then I'll go aud look about "Now. goodby." said Jack. "I'm going to look for food." Aud he marched off like a man. with his hands In his |>ock ets. "Topsy." 8 a I d Nan after he had "I'll AWKUl.l.Y G1.AD Rone .>d<) ym, YOU CAMP." bnow ,t j8 tue day before Christmas nnd we won't get a single present tomorrow?" Hut Topsy was not despondent "What's de tnattah wld Marse Santa Claus?" she demanded "Aln' he com lu' to dls islan'V Dot's whut I ask." "Why. Topsy." explained little Nan patiently, "bow could he? His rein deer couldn't cross the water." "Let him come in a hoat. den. Hat's whut 1 say. Let him come lu a boat.' said Topsy fiercely. "Oh." said Nan. "but 1 nm afraid he cau't." Suddenly Topsy sat up and pointed a skinny black linger toward the sea. "It's a boat." she said, "u little boat, and It's coming here" Nearer and nearer came the little boat, and presently Topsy shrieked "It's Marse Santa Clans Miss Nannie. It's Marse Santa Clans, and he's com In' straight t<> dis yer Isbiu". Didn't I tole yer? Didn't I tole yer he d come?" The man In the hoat had a nice white beard He had on a red sweater nnd wore a soft hat pulled well down over bis ears. As he climbed out of the boat they saw that he was very round and fat and had a folly red face When be had pulled the boat up out of the water he leaned over and picked up a great hag and siting it over his sboulder and came trotting up the beach "It truly Is Saute" said Nan breath lessly, ?and be Is coining straight to ward us I am jmlng to run right down and meet him." Away she sped, her golden curls fly. Ing behind her. and when she reached the old man she slipped tier hand Into bis confidingly "I'm awfully glad you cnmo. Santa." she said "We were so frightened and lonely, and maybe you tain tell us what to do " The old man stood still and stared nt her. Then he chuckled "Well, welll" he said "Where did you come from?" Just then .luck came running down the beach. "It's Santa Clans." cnlled Nan as soon as he was within hearing. But .lock was older than Topsy nnd Nan. and he bad bis doubts. "Are you really Santa Claus?" he asked gravely The old man winked "Don't I look like him?" he suld "Yos." snid Jack, "you do." "Ain't I got a pack on my back?" he asked "Yes." Raid Jock, "but It looks like potatoes and not toys." Then the old man leaned down nnd whispered lu bis ear: "That's Jes' what it Is. but if them little dears wants to think I'm San ta. why. let 'ein think It It won't hurt anybody, will It?" "No." said .lack. "It won't" "Well. then." said he out loud, "that being de elded, we win go a n d h a v e din ner." "Dinner?" said Jack. In surprise "Why. where do you live?" "Follow me." ?aid the man and they trotted jjnyly after him Away among the sand bills they came suddenly upon a little bouse Within was a glowing lire, aud a great pot was bubbling on the stove, and each of the little folks had a hot bowl of soup und u big piece of bread, and when they had finished their eyes drooped 'Now hang up your stockings," said their host, "and go to bed." How the old sailor found things to fill those Stockings was a wonder Rut there was a quaint sandal wood fnu for Nnn, a pnlr of Chinese shoes for Jack and a Japanese dolt for Topsy Then he filled up the corners with beautiful shells nnd with little boxes of dried fruit and such things as sailors pick up in mnny voyages Such n Jolly Chrlstmna morning as It was! The children were delighted with their gifts aild afterward Santa rowed them nv-fti to the mainland and put them oi> the rood for home TIIOTTR0 OAYl.Y A KT KII IIIM. Little Jack Guessed A Christmas Secret T was the after uuuD before Christmas, a u d the j'ir was full of big, feathery suowrlakes. Jack and Mar;.- stood at the window watching t t? e m. and Baby Jane sat on the tl?>or. "See how pret ty they ere!" cried Jack. Clap ping his bauds. "They're Just like fairies going to a Christ nuts party." Mary clapped her hands, too. and Baby Jane ihuuiped her rattle on the Boor and crowed Bill Mrs Brown looked out of the window rather uux lously. The store was n tulle away, and the snow seemed to come thicker and faster every minute "How do you s pose Santa t'laus can get here in such a storm V" asked Jack, at which Mary s face clouded. Perhaps this tbourlll was troubling Mrs Brown She didn't answer for more than a minute, not uutil Jack spoke again. "Booh 'n' oonsense!" he said. "This Isn't much of a snow. 1 could go io It myself well's not." "Could you. dear?" asked his mother quickly "I'm afraid It's a chance If papa gets home liefere tomorrow, the wood road will bo so blocked, and 1 want some things from the store to night. Do you suppose you can go with your sled. Jackie?" "Why. yes!" cried Jack, delighted enough, and in a very few minutes ' he was ready to start. * "Give this note to Mr. Slmpklns." said his mother, "and then you won't have anything to remember. And be careful, dear, and hurry home as fast as you can " Mr. Slmpklns' eyes twinkled when ho read that note. "I can't attend to you right away." he said to .lack, "and I wish you'd Just JACK STnUOOI.KD 0.4 run over to the house with a line to Mrs. Slmpklns for me" "Yes. sir." answered Ted. Mr. Slmpklns had the bundles tucked away In the sled box and covered with thick brown ,<aper. that the snow couldn't got through, when Jack cuine back. "Hard night for Santa Clans to get around." lie said, pinching the boy's red check "Do you suppose you'll see him at your house?" "1 hope he'll come." answered Jack politely, "but 1 don't guess I'll see him, sir." "I saw him once." Mr. Slmpklns snld soberly, "when he was a little boy, about your size. He looked a gteat deal like you too" When he got home mother bad a plate of hot oatmeal pudding with sugar ami real ( ream waiting for him, and she whisked the bundles out of the sled box and Into the pantry In a hurry All this time the snow kept falling, falling, and the wind blew until the little house fairly shook. If it had been set on a bill there Is no saying what might have happened Jack felt a good deal troubled He told his mother what Mr Slmpklns had said about Santa Clans when she was tUckt Ing him Into bed for the night, i "I'm 'frald he can't get here," snld he. "and then Mary will be so disap pointed" But Ids mother laughed, stooping down for the good night kiss. "Don't worry, dear." she said "Santa Cluua won't mind this little storm." And. sure enough, when morning came the three little stockings hanging beside the chimney were stuffed as full as they could hold. "So Santa Claus did come." snld Mrs. Brown, laughing at the children's nn tlcs Jack looked thoughtful a minute His eyes danced He put his lips closo to his mother's enr "1 do b'lleve I know whnt Mr Simp kins meant." he said, "but 1 shan't tell Mary And It's lots of fun. Just the name."