THE TWO LITTLE ST OCKINGS.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 234, 24 December 1887, Page 4

THE TWO LITTLE ST OCKINGS.

Sarah Keables Hunt

A CHRISTMAS STOIty. Two little stockings hung side by side, Close to the tireplace, broad and wide, " Two ? ' said Saint Nick, as down he came 5 Loaded with toys and many a game, " Ho ! ho !" said he with a laugh of fun " I'll have no cheating, my pretty one, I know who dwells in this house, my dear, There's only one little girl lives here." So he crept up close to the chimuey- place, And measured a sock with a sober face, Just then a wee little note fell out, And fluttered low, like a bird, about. " Aha ! what's this ?" said he in surprise, I As he pushed his specs up close to hi 6 eye, i And read the addres3, in a child's roughs plan. " Dear Saint Nicholas," so it began, " The other stocking you see on the wall I have hung for a child named Clara Hall. She's a poor little gill, but very good, So I thought perhaps, you kindly would Fill up her stocking, too, to-night, And help to make her Christmas bright. If you've not enough for both stockings there Please put all in Clara's. I shall not care." Saint Nicholas brushed a tear from his eye* And, "(Jod bless you dailing," he said with a sigh. Then, softly ho blew, through the chimney high, A note like a bird's, as it soars on high. When down came two of the funniest mortals That ever was seen this side earth's portals. '• Hurry up !" said Saint Nick, "and nicely prepare All the little girls wants whore money is rare. 1 ' Then, oh, what a scene there was in that room ! Away went the elves, but down from the gloom Of the sooty old chimney comes tumbling low A child's} whole wardrobe, from head to toe. How Santa Claus laughed, as he gathered! them in And fastened each one to the sock with a pin ! Right to the toe he hnng a blue dress. " She'il think it came from the &ky, \ guess." .Said Saint Nicholas, smoothing the folds of blue, And tying the the hood to the stocking, too. When all the warm clothes were fastened on, And both little socks were filled and done. Then Santa Claus tucked a toy here and tli ere, And hurried away to the frosty air, Saying " God pity the poor, and bless th© dear child Who pities, them, too, on this night bo wild.' 1 The wind caught the words and bore them on high Till they died away in the midnight sky. While Saint Nicho as flew through the icy air, Bringing "peace and goodwill" with him everywhere.