10 ACORN try ter do something about this yer beau row. Here's an apple what I brought for you," and soon Jim was gone. Sally sat a few minutes thoughtfully munching the apple. "Jim Miller's mighty smart, but I don't believe he knows anything bad about Santa Claus. No, siree, I won't believe it. Santa brought me Mary Jane and I know he'd help if he could. 'T wouldn't do no hurt to try. If Jim does get one, two won't do no harm; she could save one till next time." Things were carried off with dispatch where Sally was concerned, so five minutes found her laborously struggling with pencil and paper. At last the letter was composed and Sally had stationed herself on the corner, nearest her poor home, awaiting the passing of a person sufficiently prepossessing to be intrusted with the forwarding of the precious missive to its destination, Santa Castle. At length, one appeared. Sally saw him coming down the street and watched him anxiously for half a block. Yes, he would do. She was sure such a gay walk, such a frank air, such broad shoulders and such curly light hair, to say nothing of sparkling blue eyes, and such rich Irish complexion, could not fail to know where the good saint lived. Tom Donahue fairly gasped for breath and swallowed his whistle with a gulp as a queer little figure in an ill-fitting woolen thrust a crumpled bit of wrapping paper, carefully folded, into his hand and frantically pleaded with him to get it to Santa Claus in time. "Sure" was all he could say with a laugh as he glanced at the earnest black eyes and noted the ill-fitting dress. "Poor little shaver. What a joke? Well, perhaps I can take it to the good saint. Ye Gods! She nearly bowled me over," were his ruminations as he unfolded the paper. He had walked on, but now he looked for Sally. She had vanished and was safely back to Mary Jane, hurrying to set the table before "Mother Susie" should get home from school. "Where did that kid go? "Well, let's see what she wants." dear santa claus: Jim ses mabe yow cannt du it, but i no yow kan if this is ounly on tim susie z got too hev a bo for the dans coodn't yow bring hem plez git hem heer for crismus ef you kan as its then shee neads hem she cannt go too the dans cos shee cannt hav no hi heled shoos an haz to wer drab ribins an cos wer pur but shez reel smart an so gud too pa un mee cudnt do with out hur if you kan bring a bo dont bouther ubout enny thin fer me wee liv at E 7 6 1 pasifik an our namz West don't forgit deer santa an weel pay it bak ef yull let us no whut yow want. "SALLY." ACORN 11 "Well, I'll be swamped," Tom exclaimed, pulling his sunny curls. "What's the kid getting at? Let's try it again. What does b-o spell? If this isn't the darndest mess I've ever seen. Hello Bill! Say, come here. See what I've got. A youngster with eyes big enough to carry her off shoved this into my hand and entreated, implored me to take it to the good Saint. By all the saints! if you can make it out it's my treat." So Bill read the missive. After much figuring and primitive sounding of letters they simmered down the wants of Sally. "It's that little quiet West girl in the Freshie class. Don't you know Tom, the one I told you I believed would be very possible if some one could get some of her shyness out of her. We've had some awfully good things handed in from her for the paper. Don't you remember?" "Well, yes, does seem like- Yes, yes, I know I said if she'd take those slabs off her feet and perk up her hair Oh, yes, I remember. Say, Bill, do you know what? I am going to ask her to go with me." "You! What a joke! The lion of the school. What will Violette say? Who'll she go with?" "You know, Bill Meyers if Violette has one bid for that dance she'll have a dozen and oh, I guess she'll get there all right, but I'm going to take this little West girl, if I can persuade her to go." "You're a trump, Tom. Got the Christmas spirit, all right. Ha! Ha! You don't mind my laughing, do you, old pal? Ha! Ha!" "Yes, I do mind your laughing. And I'll fight any other fellow I catch at it. You fellow's 've got to get in and help me show her the time of her life." And so it happened that Santa Claus brought Susie a beau, but Sally never told about the letter and the new beau never mentioned it, even when Sally refused to slight Mary Jane for the jointed beauty that Santa brought too. '10. Think not that one's feelings are lined with steel A loved one's thoughtless word may sting the heart. A trust betrayed no balm that hurt can heal, And stings of conscience burn with endless smart. ALBERTA WRIGHT, '11.