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Whftby Fiee Pms. Wec*Iesday. Decomber 22,1993, Page 27 By Stephanie Vases Grade 7 St. Theresa Catholic School Christmas 1870 This is the story of bow one little girl met, and camne te believe in the biggestjoliest maxi in the world. It was Christmnas Eve, 1870. Snow bad fallen and a white blanket lay over everything in sigbt. The door te the little cburch on Main Street epened, and eut burst the people. The big dlock acresa the street struck mine e'lock, as Christmas carels played softly in the distance. And in that amallittie tewn in the seuthern United States, tbey were experiencing their firat-ever snowfall. The people were full of jey as the magical day of Christmas approacbed. The Wortingten faxnily was eepecially excited about Christmas. They had man t.hings to be thaxikful fer. Mr. Werthington nd just been hired as the tewn decter, Mrs. Wrthingten get a pay raise at the town achoolhouse and they had two wonderful cbildren. Their cildren were named Elizabeth and Julia. Elizabeth was six months old. It was ber firat Christmas, for she was born in June. Julia was sMvon years old. This wasn't ber first Cbri tp~s. However, tbis year, she bad decided that there really was ne Santa Clatis. "Dear child! Do yeu realize you're probably tbe enly child bore in the south wbo doesn't believe in old St. Nick?" Juliads mother cried as tbey walked down the cburch steps. "But manuna! How de you believe in a big fat mani whe bas eight reindeerr' Julia asked. "Varlin' even I believe in Santa Claus," Mrs. Worthingten told ber daughter. " Ne, you den't! I enly like Christmas because of the gifts I get from yeu anid daddy! And the gifts frmAumt Sally in Kansas anid cousin Rose in Mississippi! Oh, and from graxidma, tee! Except for those big heavy sweaters she senda!" Julia teld ber mother. "Julia dear, stop blabbing on and on. Anyway, graxidma is a Yankee. Ites always cold up xiorth! However, Christmas is for giving, and net for receiving. Remember that, fer that is the true meaning of Christmnas, and wben people forget that, there is ne Christmias spirit," Mrs. Worthingten warned. Night bad fallen. The sky was black but glistened with stars. The street lampa were turned on and casted a golden tene ente the newly fallen snow. 1On Maple Street ixi every bouse window sut a Christmas tree. Each one was beautiful and net one better than the ther. At 6 Maple St. sut the home of the Worthington family. They sut in their living room, next te their tree, sipping bot cocea. "Isn't it a beautiful Christmas?" Mrs. Wortbingten said te ber husband. Ha nodded thoughtfully, stroking bis chin. It is a truly magical Christmnas," be agreed. "Only it is a shame our dear little daughter doesn't believe in Santa Clatis!" "Daddy! I will only believe in Santa Clatis if I see him with may very own eyes!" Julia told ber father firmly. "Well. well just have te see about that," Mr. Wortbingten said, witb a twinle in bis eye. The large grandfatber dlock in the bail struck midnight. The house was dark and still. Mr. and Mrs. Worthingten sud Elizabeth were asleep. However, Julia lay awake. She coulda't sleep. She wanted to stay up ail nigbt te see if there really was a Santa Clatis. She didn't want te stay up by berself, but ber maxama and daddy were asleep, sud she wouldx't <are wake up Elizabeth, for she'd make a fusa sud wako the entire street Up. Just as ber eyes started te close for about the one bundredth tinie, a noise startled ber. What was that? Was it Elizabeth turning over? A faint thud was beard down in the living TOoM. Julia get out of bed sud made ber way quietly down the stairs, armed with ber teddy bear. The lightturned on in the living room. She reached the bottomn step. and peeked around the corner into the living room. She heard the sound of wrapping paper. Her eyes grew wide as she stepped into the living room. Bending over the Christmnas tree sat the jelliest mani she'd every seen. He was short, but had a large belly. Hie wore a red and black eutfit -- a large red cap on his head and big black boots on his feet. Hie had hair as white as snow. She couldn't see what his face lèoked like until he turned around. The jolly man's eyes grew wide. He bent down te the height of the littie girl. "Shouldn't you be in bed, littie one?" he asked kindly. Julia smiled when she saw his face. It was as white as bis hair, but bis nose and cheeks were flushed with pink. He had a pipe in his mouth and the srneke circled around him. Julia shook her head. I couldn't sleep. I wanted to see if there really was a Santa Clatis." The mani laughed and gave Julia a small hug. "Well, rest assured. There is a Santa Claus." Julia gasped. "Really? Who?" The maxi chuckled once more. I amn, dear. I arn Santa Claus. Or Saint Nicholas, or Father Christmas. Whatever you want te cali me. You're the first child who bas ever seen me. It's quite a surprise you knew." 'IIl go te bed now, Santa. I wiIl, I will, I will," she said. "Nonsense. If you stayed up this late, yeu might as well watch me p ut the gifts under the tree. And while I do this, M'iltell you all about my workshop," Santa Claus said te Julia. Julia smiled and dlimbed up on the sofa. 'Well, I live up north and have a workshop,". Santa started, but was interrupted. "Where my grandrnalives?" Julia asked eagerly. Santa cbuckled. "No, no, further north than where your grandniother lives. Anyway, I have 1 workshop with thirty littie elves and I live with my wife, MIrs. Clauis. She does the baking which makes me big and round in the bely!" Julia giggled. "What dees she bake?" "Oh, cookies and cakes. Oh, and choclate! I can't forget those choclates! Back te my stery now. Ail year long my little elves bel p me make teys for boys and girls like you who live al around the world. "And every Christmas Eve, they pack up my sleigh and the reindeer and I set off around the werld. We deliver teys te everyone," Santa added. "Will there always be Christmas?" Julia asked softly. "As long as there's spirit, there will always be Christmas," Santa said as be tied up bis sack. Julia gave Santa Claus one last hug then turned areund te go back upstairs. She thon turned around again te ask him if he'd Ike some cookies and milk, but he was gene. She wa]ked over te the cbimney and looked up but saw nothing. Then, a faint voice said, "As long as there's spirit, there will always be Christmas." The grandfather dlock struck seven edlock. It was morning. The sun had risen and it was a bright new day. Christmas day. Julia scrambled out of bed and burried downstairs. Bundles and bundles of gifts lay under the tree. She awoke ber parents and little Elizabeth. They ail ran downst.airs and tore open the gifts. The morning was filled with laughter and bappiness. Ail morning long Julia kept thinking of the night before when she bad met Santa Clauis. Hewever, she said nothing of it. When at last aIl the gîfts bad been epened, Mr. and Mrs. Werthington went into the kitchen te make breakfast. Julia sat next te the tree and whispered aleud, "Thank.yo, Santa Clauis. Ill always believe in ouad111always remember, " as long as tbere's spirit, there will always be Christmas.' And se there ends the tale of bow a ittie girl camne te believe in Santa Clatis and tbe true meaning of Christmnas. That story was over 100 'years age, and te this day littie children al ever the world stili believe in the jelly old maxi wbo brings bappiness te Christmasfoilies FATI-ER LEO J. AUSTIN students kicked up their heels Friday in their Christmas Follies show. The show included singing by a choir of "bratty" youngsters, including the two above and decidedly masculine ballerinas, including one sporlng a eard.Photo by Mark Reesor, Whltby Free Press oulberieVe ci é> an ;a ;auý;e