4 ACORN Russet's Christmas Present "D'you like Santa Claus, Billy?" "Sure, I think he's a fine old fellow, don't you?" "Yes, 'cause he brings me lots of things, but he don't bring you much, does he?" "O! last year I got a pair of mittens and some candy and that's all, und for this Christmas I want some candy und a horse, und a wagon, und some peanuts, und a ball, und a lot more nice things, too." "I don't want him to bring me nothing, 'cause I've got lots of things already so he can bring you my share if he wants to." "O! Oh! wouldn't that be fine," cried the excited Billy, "Then I'd give some to Freddy and Carl 'cause they'd be so pleased." The two playmates, each occupied with his own thoughts of the coming holiday, proceeded with the building of their block house. The big brown eyes of the little sunburnt Billy fairly danced with joy as he thought of the prospects of having Russell's Christmas toys. Russell on the other hand was in a brown study, his golden curls were in great disorder and the blue eyes looked sad. Presently he startled his little companion by pushing over the completed block house and exclaiming: "I wish I was you, Billy." "Me," cried the astonished child, "I bet you don't, 'cause you wouldn't like to live in that little log house of ours around the corner instead of having these pretty things and this here room to play in." "Yes I do," answered Russell, " 'Cause you've got a mamma to love you and I aint got nobody but papa and he's always to the office. 'Cause my mamma's gone and I don't know where she is." The tears rolled down the cheeks of the poor little motherless child as he lay on the door of the nursery, his little frame shaking with sobs, Billy was astonished to see his rich friend crying so tried to comfort him. "I'll tell you what you can do. Tell your papa to have your mamma come home, then you'll have a mamma." "Papa'd like to see her, too, 'cause he talks lots about her, but he don't know where she is 'cause she left us when she was mad and we don't know where she went, so I won't never have her no more." "Well, if your pa can't find her, I bet I know who can, why Santa Claus. You jest ask him and see, 'cause he goes everywhere and he'd sure find her," counseled his friend. "O! no, he couldn't, he don't see the people in the houses," was the reply. ACORN 5 When the clock struck six, Billy went home, and Russell began to think of his little friend's plan. The longer he thought about it, the more feasible it became and within an hour's time, a little white envelope addressed to Santa Claus was dropped into the letter box. The next morning when the postman was gathering the letters, he stopped whistling upon finding an unstamped letter directed to Santa Claus. "Hello, what this?" he said, "'For Santa Claus!' Well, well, what shall I do with it? Some poor little child wants a visit from the good old fellow. I'll leave it here at Grayston and maybe they'll take pity on him," and suiting the action to the word, he slipped it into the morning paper. "So pleased to see you and glad that you came early, Mrs. Carter," called Mrs. Grayston as she entered her drawing room," excuse me for making you wait, but I was so interested in the morning mail that I forgot the time. And by the way, listen to this little letter, for Santa Claus, which came with the mail. I think it's very cunning. It is very difficult to read: Santy klas i don't wunt nothings fur crismes, so giv um tu billy who dims hear sumtimes. i want mi mama and so duz pa cnz we like er. i don't hev no tin tu luy me so plees tri to hev er cum tu us an thets all it i want, if you kin find er bring er tu 927 W. stret, an yull find us. from russell. "Now isn't that sweet of the little kid. I'd like to do something for him. O, excuse me there's the bell, so I think the others are arriving," said Mrs. Grayston. failing to notice the agitation of her guest. "Let me see the note," requested Mrs. Carter. "Certainly, here it is," said Mrs. Grayston as she tossed the letter to her guest and left the room. How eagerly she took the note, how white and trembling was this society belle as she read and re-read this childish appeal to Santa. How quickly did she hide it in her dress when the door was opened. "'Tis my own little son," she said to herself, "O, how unhappy he must be." In order to cover her agitation and restlessness during the after noon, Mrs. Carter complained of a headache and as early as possible excused herself and went home. "It is breaking his heart," she mused, "And they both want me he says. O ! I must make them happy, I must and I will." Thus the struggle was ended in the woman's breast. The ringing of the bells awoke Russell early on Christmas morn ing and as he looked about his little white room, no toys met his gaze.