THE DAILY BRITISH WHIG Today's Riddle LACE Times oO SANTA'S VISIT -------------- T was the day before Christnins. Outside fat snowflakes were fall- ing. Inside the house the spirit of Christmas, was everywhere. Ev- eryone seemdl bursting with secrets. Nancy was standing at the window watching the snow and singing a lit- tle song about "Jolly Old Saint Nich- olas." "Mother," she cried, running back to the kitchen where the Christ- mas baking was going on, "will Santa come topight?" "Yes, and if you're real good and put those toys away, he may come early enough for you to see him." "Oh! May I stay up till he comes?" Nancy jumped up avd down fn ex- eltement. "I never Lace seen him. Once I bascd him," she went on, half to herself, "but he was gone before 3 eould get even one little peep." That evening everything was very quiet. Mother was tylsg up some &ifts with red ribbon and Nancy was trying hard o keep awake. Grandma Was sitting near the fire, knitting and smiling away to herself. Suddenly a great racket com- menced upstairs. A stamping and blowing and puffing and such a clat- ter. Nancy ran to mother in a great fright. "It's Santa, dear!" mother whispered, and, sure enough, down the stairs he clattered and into the room, throwing down his pack, he began to dance around. "Oh! He looked so funny," Nancy said after- ward, "with his bright red coat and white fur and long white whiskers waving all ground." Naney just; glung to mother and mother laughert and laughed. After MOTHER GOOSE DOT PUZZLE Some ICEZ, on which we cannot skate. Pol ice baa Not ice Laft ice Ju Par "THE CHRI di And now the boar's head Was brought in, While the great hall rang With merry din. The Garden of Holiday Wishes It is sweet. with the spice Of all of the nice Christmas wishes it carries about. That scatters when small -------------- As well as when tall Very Likely. v " Good wishes to each breeze that Jack Frost has gone far, far away awhile he spled Nancy and, coming "Oh, Daddy," she said, as he came blows y ' That Iveliest ® frisky od ay oves, he sald in his big, kind Noles: Into the room. "Santa was here and And that's why the air is so fragrant But I suspect that he today And what do you want, little one you missed him!" It makes little girls and boys shout, Is frosting Santa Claus' whiskers. "Please, Mr. Kringle, I want a dol- Sn AY A Christmas Surprise The poodle slept in Dolly's bed; You should have heard the things they said, The duck said "Quack!" the monk said "My!" The birdies sang a lullaby. 1here'sa garden of holiday wishes In which the green Christmas tree grows, Sing a Song of Christmas Sing a song of Christmas Here is fun for every gir You'll ride your h When merry iy" Nancy quavered, "Ho! Ho! Ho! So you want a dolly, do you? well, come here and tell Santa all about it." Nancy had quite recovered from her fright, and told him all the things she wanted. "Ho! Ho! Ho!" laughed Santa when she had finished, "Such a big list for such a lttle girl! Well, we'll Sée about it," he said, with a sly look at mother, and he never noticed that his pack had slipped .open and the toys were all pushing their way out, but Nancy didn't see that, either. Presently mother hurried Nancy off to bed because Santa said he . couldn't trim the tree until she was asleep, Christmas morning Nancy hurried down to the tree. Oh! such a tree! Underneath the tree were all the toys. "Santa left everything I asked for 'cept the real airplane," Nancy sald, gathering up three dolls and a puss-in-boots. "But I don" want that now," she added, giving the puss a squeeze, at which he cried "Me-ow!" ; yes, sing a song of joy, 1'and for every boy. orse, and beat your drum, Christmas Day shall come, ob re THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS "Twas the day after Christmas when all through the house Was bustle and hurry--to startle a mouse!' For Bobby had eaten until he was sick, And father wags pouring him castor ofl thick; The maids were a-scouring and scrubbing the stair, For candy and cake crumbs and nut shells were there; mother was moaning and groaning in bed, The fireworks had given her a pain in the head; While cook made a hot mustard plas. ter for Nelly, Her tummy rebelled at three help- ings of jelly! The worst of this story is just this, my dear, They'll all do the same things right over next year! Poor Here Comes Jolly Smiling Santa With His Lightning-Swift Reindeer to Wish You Merry Christmas and a Happy Bright New Year. The First Christmas Wasn't it wonderful and dear When the shepherds lost their fear And went to see The Holy Child, So sweet and mild? 1 Ww, fast as could be, When from the Holy Ones they parted, They ran to iheir own children,