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Santa Claus and Little Billy by John
Kendrick bangs One. He was only a

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little bit of a chap and so
when, for the first time in his

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life he came into close contact with
the endless current of human things, it

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was as hard for him to stay
put as for some wayward little atom of

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flotsam and jetsam to keep from tossing
about in the surging tides of the sea.

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His mother had left them there in
the big toy shop, with instructions

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not to move until she came back
while she went off to do some mysterious

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errand she thought no doubt that with
so many beautiful things on every side,

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to delight his eye and hold his
attention, strict obedience to her commands would

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not be hard. But alas the
good lady reckoned not upon the magnetic power

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of attraction of all those lovely objects
in detail. She saw them only as

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a mass of wonders, which,
in all probability would so dazzle his vision

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as to leave him incapable of movement. But Little Billy was not so indifferent

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as all that. When a phonograph
at the other end of the shop began

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to rattle off melodious tunes and funny
jokes. In spite of the instructions he

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had received. Off he pattered as
fast as his little legs would carry him

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to investigate. After that, forgetful
of everything else. Finding himself caught in

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the constantly moving stream of Christmas shoppers, he was borne along in the resistless

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current until he found himself at last
out upon the street, alone, free

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and independent. It was great fun
at first, by and bye. However,

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the afternoon waned the sun as if
anxious to hurry along, the dawn

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of Christmas Day sank early to bed, and the electric lights along the darkening

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highway began to pop out here and
there, like so many merry stars come

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down to earth to celebrate the gladdest
time of all the year. Little Billy

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began to grow tired, and then
he thought of his mama and tried to

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find the shop where he had promised
to remain quiet until her return. Up

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and down the street he wandered until
his little legs grew weary, But there

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was no sign of the shop,
nor of the beloved face he was seeking.

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Once again, and yet once again, after that did the little fellow

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traverse that crowded highway, his tears
getting harder and harder to keep back.

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And then, joy of joys,
whom should he see walking slowly along the

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sidewalk but Santa Claus himself. The
saint was strangely decorated with two queer looking

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boards with big red letters on them, hung over his back and chest.

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But there was still that same kindly
gray bearded face, the red cloak with

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the fur trimmings, and the same
dear old cap that the children's friend had

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always worn in the pictures of him
that little Billy had seen. With a

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glad cry of happiness. Little Billy
ran to meet the old fell and put

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his hand gently into that of the
saint. He thought it very strange that

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Santa Claus's hand should be so red
and cold and rough and so chapped,

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but he was not in any mood
to be critical. He had been face

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to face with a very disagreeable situation
then, when things had seemed blackest to

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him, everything had come right again, and he was too glad to take

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more than a passing notice of anything
strange and odd. Santa Claus, of

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course, would recognize him at once
and would know just how to take him

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back to his mamma at home,
wherever that might be. Little Billy had

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never thought to inquire just where home
was. All he knew was that it

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was a big gray stone house on
a long street somewhere, with a tall

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iron railing in front of it,
not far from the park. Had he

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do, mister, Santa Claus,
said little Billy, as the other's hand

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unconsciously tightened over his own. By
hot he do, Kitty, replied the

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old fellow, glancing down at his
new found friend with surprise gleaming from his

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deep set eyes. Where did you
drop from? Oh? I'm out,

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said Little Billy bravely. My mamma
left me a little while ago while she

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went off about something, and I
guess I got losted, very likely,

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returned the old saint with a smile. Little two by four fellows are apt

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to get losted when they start in
on their own hook, specially days like

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these with such crowds hustling around.
But it's all right now, suggested little

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Billy. Hopefully I'm found again,
ain't i? Ah? Yes, indeedy

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you've found all right, kitty.
Santa Claus agreed, And pretty soon you'll

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take me home again, won't you? Said the child, sureest thing you

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know, answered Santa Claus, looking
down upon the bright but tired little face

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with a comforting smile. What might
your address be, my what, asked

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Little Billy? Your address, repeated
Santa Claus. Where do you live?

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The answer was a ringing peal of
childish laughter. As if you you didn't

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know that, cried Little Billy,
giggling. Ah ha, laughed Santa Claus.

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Can't fool you, cat, I
It would be funny if, after

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keeping an eye on you all these
years, since you was a babby,

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I didn't know where you lived.
Eh, half funny, agreed Little Billy.

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But tell me, mister Santa Claus, what sort of boy do you

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think I've been? He added,
with a shade of anxiety in his voice.

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Pretty good, pretty good, Santa
Claus answered, turning in his steps

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and walking back again along the path
he had just traveled, which Little Billy

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thought was rather a strange thing to
do. You've got more white marks than

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black ones, a good many more, one hundred and fifty times as many,

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Kitty. Fact is, you're all
right way up among the good boys,

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though once or twice last summer.
You know, yes, I know,

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said Little Billy, meekly. But
I didn't mean to be naughty.

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That's just what I said to the
bookkeeper, said Santa Claus, And so

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we gave you a gray mark,
half white and half black. That doesn't

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count either way. Four against you. Thank you, sir, said Little

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Billy, much comforted. Don'll mention
it. You are very welcome, kitty,

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said Santa Claus, giving the youngster's
hand a gentle squeeze. Why do

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you call me kitty when you know
my name is Little Billy, asked the

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boy. Ah, that's what I
call our good boys, explained Santa Claus.

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You see, we divide them up
into two kinds, the good boys

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and the naughty boys. And the
good boys we call kitties, and the

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naughty boys we call caddies, and
they are just Then Little Billy noticed for

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the first time the square boards that
Santa Claus was wearing. What are you

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wearing those boards for, mister Santa
Claus, he asked. If the lad

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had looked closely enough, he would
have seen a very unhappy look come into

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the old man's face, but there
was nothing of it in his answer.

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All those are my new fangled back
and chest. Protect us, my lad,

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he replied, Sometimes we have bitter
winds blown at Christmas, and I

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have to be ready for them.
You wouldn't do for Santa Claus to come

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down with the sneezes at Christmas time, you know, no, sir,

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ree. This board in front keeps
the wind off my chest, and the

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one behind keeps me from getting rheumatism
in my back. They are a great

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protection against the weather. I'll have
to tell my Papa about them, said

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Little Billy, much impressed by the
simplicity of this arrangement. We have a

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glass board in the front of our
automobile to keep the wind off Henry.

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He's our shuffer. But Papa wears
a fur coat and sometimes hetha the wind

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goes right through that. He'll be
glad to know about these boards. I

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shouldn't wonder, smiled Santa Claus.
They aren't very becoming, but they are

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mighty useful. You might save up
your pennies and give you Papa a pear

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like em for his next Christmas.
Santa Claus laughed as he spoke, but

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there was a catch in his voice
which Little Billy was too young to notice.

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You've got letters printed there, said
the boy, peering around in front

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of his companion at the lettering on
the board. Lord, what did they

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spell? You know, I haven't
learned to read yet, and why should

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you know how to read at your
age, said Santa Claus. You are

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not more than five last month,
said Little Billy proudly. It was such

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a great age, my as old
as that, cried Santa Claus. Well

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you are growing fast. Why it
don't seem more than yesterday that you was

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a pink chief to Babby, And
here you are big enough to be out

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alone. That's more than my little
boy is able to do. Santa Claus

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shivered slightly, and Little Billy was
surprised to see a tear glistening in his

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eye. Why have you got a
little boy, he asked, Yes,

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little Billy, said the saint,
a poor wife faced little chap about a

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year older than you. Who,
well, never mind, kiddy, he's

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a kitty too. Let's talk about
something else, or I'll have bicycles in

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my eyes. You didn't tell me
what those letters on the board spell,

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said Little Billy. Merry Christmas to
everybody, said Santa Claus. I have

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the words printed there so that everybody
can see them. And if I'm mis

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wishing anybody a merry Christmas. You'll
know I meant it just the same.

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You're awful kind, aren't you,
said Little Billy, squeezing his friend's hand

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affectionately. It must make you very
happy to be able to be so kind

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everybody two. Santa Claus made no
reply to this remark, beyond giving a

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very deep sigh, which Little Billy
chose to believe was evidence of a great

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inward content. They walked on now
in silence, for Little Billy was beginning

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to feel almost too tired to talk, and Santa Claus seemed to be thinking

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of something else. Finally, however, the little fellow spoke, I guess

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i'd like to go home now,
mister Santa Claus, he said, I'm

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tired, and I'm afraid my mamma
will be wondering where I've gone to.

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That's so, my little man,
said Santa Claus, stopping short in his

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walk up and down the block.
No mother will be worried, for a

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fact. Then your father too.
I know how i'd feel if my little

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boy got lost it and hadn't come
home at dinner time. I don't believe

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you know where you live though,
now, honest come fess up, Billy.

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You don't know where you live,
do you. I guess I do,

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said Little Billy. It's in the
big graystone house with the iron fronts

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in front of it, near the
park. Ah, that's easy enough,

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laughed Santa Claus nervously. Anybody could
say he lived in a greystone house with

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a fence around it, near the
park. But you don't know what street

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it's on, nor the number either. I'll bet fourteen wooden giraffes against a

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monkey on a stick. No,
I don't, said Little Billy frankly,

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but I know the number in her
ordermobile. It's n y fine, laughed

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Santa Claus. If you really were
lost, it would be a great help

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to know that. But not being
lost, as you ain't, why,

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of course we can get along without
it. It's queer. You don't know

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your last name, though I do
tourn on my last name, blurted Billy.

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It's a Billy. That's the last
one they gave me. Anyhow,

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Santa Claus reflected for a moment,
eyeing the child anxiously. I don't believe

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you even know your papa's name,
he said. Yes, I do,

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said Little Billy indignantly. His name
is mister Harrison. Well you are a

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smart little chap, cried Santa Claus, gleefully. You got it right the

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very first time, didn't you.
I really didn't think you knew. But

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I don't believe you know where your
papa keeps his bake shop where he makes

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all those nice cakes and cookies you
eat well, he began to laugh again.

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You can't fool me, mister Santa
Claus, he said, I know

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my papa don't keep a bake shop, just as well as you do.

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My papa owns a bank splendid made
of tin, I suppose, with a

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nice little hole at the top to
drop pennies into, said Santa Claus.

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No it ain't either, retorted Little
Billy. It's made a stone and it

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has more than a million windows in
it. I went down there with my

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mama to Papa's office the other day, so I guess I outn't know.

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Well, I should say so,
said Santa Claus. Nobody better. By

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the way, Billy, what does
your mama call you papa? Billy like

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you? He added? Oh no, indeed, returned Little Billy. She

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calls him papa except once in a
while when he's going away. Then she

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says goodbye Tom. Fine again,
said Santa Claus, blowing upon his fingers.

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For now that the sun had completely
disappeared over in the west, it

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was getting very cold. Thomas Harrison
banker, He muttered to himself, what

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with the telephone book in the city
directory, I guess we can find our

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way home with Little Billy. Do
you think we can go now, mister

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Santa Claus asked Little Billy, for
the cold was beginning to cut through his

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little coat, and the sandman had
started to scatter the sleepy seeds all around.

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Yes, sir, ree, returned
Santa Claus promptly, right away,

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off now instantly at once. I'm
afraid I can't get my reindeer here in

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time to take us up to the
house. But we can go in the

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cars. Hum, I don't know
whether we can or not. Come to

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think of it, Ah, do
you happen to have ten cents in your

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pocket? Santa added with an embarrassed
air. You see, I've left my

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pocket book in the sleigh with my
toy pack, And besides, mine's only

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toy money. They won't take that
on the cars. I got twenty five

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cent, said Little Billy. Proudly
as he dug his way down into his

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pocket and brought the shining silver piece
to light. You can have it if

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you want it, Thank you,
said Santa Claus, taking the proffered coin.

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We'll start home right away, only
come in here first, while I

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telephoned to Santaville. Tell him the
folks where I am. He led the

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little fellow into a public telephone station, where he eagerly scanned the names in

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the book. At last it was
found Thomas Harrison seven six five four Plaza.

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And then, in the seclusion of
the telephone booth, Santa Claus sent

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the gladdest of all Christmas messages over
the wire to two distracted parents. I

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have found your boy wandering in the
street. He is safe and I will

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bring him home right away. Three
fifteen minutes later there might have been seen

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the strange spectacle of a footsore Santa
Claus leading a sleepy little boy up Fifth

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Avenue to a cross street which shall
be nameless. The boy vainly endeavored to

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persuade his companion to come in and
meet Mamma Nah Billy. The old man

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replied sadly, I must hurry back. You see Kitty this is my busy

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day, missires. I never go
into a house except through the chimney.

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I wouldn't know how to behave going
in at a front door. But it

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was not to be as Santa Claus
willed for Little Billy's papa and his mamma,

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00:14:46,039 --> 00:14:50,720
and his brothers and sisters, and
the butler and the housemaids, and

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two or three policemen were waiting at
the front door when they arrived. Aha,

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said one of the police, seizing
Santa Claus roughly by the arm.

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We've landed yea. All right,
where have ye been with this boy?

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You let him alone? Cried Little
Billy, with more courage than he had

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ever expected to show in the presence
of a policeman. He's a friend of

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mine, that's right, Officer,
said little Billy's father. Let him alone.

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I haven't entered any complaints against this
man, but you want to look

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out for these fellows, mister Harrison, returned the officer. First thing,

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you know, they'll be makin a
trade of this sort of thing. I'm

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00:15:24,519 --> 00:15:30,879
no grafter, retorted Santa Claus indignantly. I found the little chap wandering along

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the street, and as soon as
I was able to locate where he lived.

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I brought him home. That's all
there is to it. He knew

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where I lived all along, laughed
Little Billy. Only he pretended he didn't,

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just to see if I knew.
You, See, Sir, said

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00:15:43,200 --> 00:15:46,399
the officer. It won't do him
any harm to let him cool his heels.

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00:15:46,639 --> 00:15:50,799
It is far better that he should
warm them, officer, said mister

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Harrison kindly, and he can do
that. Here. Come in, my

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man, he added, turning to
Santa Claus with a grateful smile. Just

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for a minute, anyhow, missus
Harrison will wish to thank you for bringing

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our boy back to us. We
have had a terrible afternoon. That's all

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right, sir, said Santa Claus
modestly. It wasn't anything, Sir.

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I didn't really find him. It
was him as found me. He took

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me for the real thing, I
guess. Nevertheless, Santa Claus, led

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by Little Billy's persistent father, went
into the house. Now that the boy

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could see him in the full glare
of many electric lights, his furs did

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not seem the most gorgeous things in
the world. When the flapping front of

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his red jacket flew open, the
child was surprised to see how ragged was

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the thin gray coat it covered.
And as for the good old saint's comfortable

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stomach, strange to say it was
not. I I wish you all a

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merry Christmas, faltered Santa Claus.
But I really must be going, sir.

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Nonsense, cried mister Harrison. Not
until you've got rid of this chill.

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And I can't stay, sir,
said Santa Claus. I'll lose my

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00:16:57,039 --> 00:17:00,759
job if I do. Well,
what if you do, I'll give you

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00:17:00,799 --> 00:17:03,799
a better one, said the banker. I can't, I can't, faltered

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the man. I I I've got
a little billy of my own at home

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waiting for me, Sir. If
I hadn't, he added fiercely, do

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you suppose I'd be doing this?
He pointed at the painted boards and shuddered.

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It's him as kept me from from
the river, he muttered hoarsely.

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And then this dispenser of happiness to
so many millions of people all the world

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over, sank into a chair,
and, covering his face with his hands,

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wept like a child. I guess
Santa Claus is tired, Papa,

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said little Billy, snuggling up closely
to the old fellow and taking hold of

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his hand sympathetically. He's been walking
a lot today, Yes, my son,

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said mister Harrison gravely. These are
very busy times for Santa Claus,

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and I guess that as he still
has a hard night ahead of him,

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James had better ring up Henry and
tell him to bring the car around right

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away so that we may take him
back to his little boy. We'll have

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to lend him a fur coat to
keep the wind off, too, for

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it is a bitter night, oh, said Little Billy. I haven't told

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you about these boards. He wears
he has them to keep the wind off,

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and they're fine, Papa. Little
Billy pointed to the two sign boards

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which Santa Claus had leaned against the
wall. He says he uses them on

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cold nights. The lad went on. They have writing on them too.

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Do you know what it says,
yes, said mister Harrison, glancing at

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the boards. It says, if
you want a good Christmas dinner for a

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quarter, go to Smithers Cafe.
Little Billy roared with laughter. Papa is

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trying to fool me. This is
you did when you pretended not to know

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where I live. Santa Claus,
he said, looking up into the old

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fellow's face, his own continents brimming
over with mirth. You mustn't think he

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can't read, though, the lad
added hastily, He's only joking. H

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No, indeed, I shouldn't have
thought that, replied Santa Claus, smiling

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through his tears. I've been joking, have I, said Little Billy's papa.

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Well, then, mister Billium,
suppose you inform me what it says

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on those boards. Merry Christmas to
everybody, said Little Billy proudly. I

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couldn't read it myself, but he
told me what it said. He hasn't

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printed there, so that if he
misses saying it to anybody. No,

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no, he means it just the
same. By jove, mister Santa Claus,

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cried Little Billy's papa, grasping the
old man warmly by the hand.

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I owe you ten million apologies.
I haven't believed in you for many a

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long year, But now, sir, I take it all pack. You

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do exist, and by the great
horn spoon, you are the real thing.

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Four. Little Billy had the satisfaction
of acting as hosts to Santa Claus

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at a good, luscious dinner,
which Santa Claus must have enjoyed very much,

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because when explaining why he was so
hungry, it came out that the

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poor old chap had been so busy
all day that he had not had time

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to get any lunch, No,
not even one of those good dinners at

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Smither's Cafe to which Little Billy's father
had jokingly referred. And after dinner,

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Henry came with the automobile, and
bidding everybody good night, Santa Claus and

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Little Billy's Papa went out of the
house together. Christmas morning dawned, and

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Little Billy awoke from wonderful dreams of
rich gifts and of extraordinary adventures with his

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new found friend, to find the
reality quite as splendid as the dream things.

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Later, what was his delight when
a small boy not much older than

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himself, a pale, thin,
but playful little fellow, arrived at the

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house to spend the day with him, bringing with him a letter from Santa

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Claus himself. This was what the
letter said. Dear little Billy, you

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must not tell anybody except your Papa
and ya Mamma, but the little boy

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who brings you this letter is my
little boy, and I am going to

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let you have him for a playfellow
for Christmas Day. Treat him kindly for

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his papa's sake, And if you
think his papa is worth loving, tell

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him so. Do not forget me, little Billy. I shall see you

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often in the future, but I
doubt you will see me. I am

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not going to return to twenty third
Street again, but shall continue my work

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in the land of Yule, in
the Palace of good Will, whose beautiful

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windows look out upon the homes of
all good children. Good Bye, Little

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Billy, and the happiest of happy
Christmases to you and all of yours,

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Affectionately, Santa Claus. When Little
Billy's Mamma read this to him that Christmas

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morning, a stray little tear ran
down her cheek and fell upon Little Billy's

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hand. Why what are you crying
for, Mamma, he asked, with

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happiness, my dear little son.
His mother answered, I was afraid yesterday

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that I might have lost my little
boy forever. But now you have an

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extra one thrown in for Christmas,
haven't you, said Little Billy, taking

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00:21:56,480 --> 00:22:00,480
his new playmate by the hand.
The visitor smiled back at him with a

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smile so sweet that anybody might have
guessed that he was the son of Santa

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00:22:03,359 --> 00:22:07,720
Claus. As for the latter,
Little Billy has not seen him again.

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But down at his father's bank there
is a new messenger named John, who

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has a voice so like Santa Claus's
voice that whenever Little Billy goes down there

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in the motor to ride home at
night with his papa, he runs into

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the bank and has a long talk
with him, just for the pleasure of

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pretending that it is Santa Claus he
is talking to. Indeed, the voice

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is so like that. Once a
sudden and strange idea flashed across Little Billy's

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mind. Have you ever been to
twenty third Street? Young, he asked?

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00:22:37,960 --> 00:22:41,920
Twenty third street, replied the messenger, scratching his head as if very

316
00:22:42,000 --> 00:22:47,799
much puzzled. What's that? Why
it's a street, said Little Billy,

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00:22:47,920 --> 00:22:51,640
rather vaguely. Well, to tell
you the truth, Billy said John,

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I've heard tell of twenty third Street, and they say it is a very

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00:22:55,359 --> 00:22:59,640
beautiful and interesting spot. But you
know, I don't get much chance to

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00:22:59,680 --> 00:23:03,319
travel. I've been too busy all
my life to go abroad. Abroad,

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00:23:03,680 --> 00:23:10,200
roared Little Billy, grinning at John's
utterly absurd mistake. Why twenty third stat

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ain't abroad, it's uptown near a
near twenty second Street, really, returned

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00:23:18,319 --> 00:23:22,799
John evidently tremendously surprised. Well,
well, well, who'd have thought that.

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00:23:22,640 --> 00:23:26,079
Well, if that's the case,
some time when I get a week

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00:23:26,119 --> 00:23:29,960
off, I'll have to go and
spend my vacation there, From which Little

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00:23:29,960 --> 00:23:36,119
Billy concluded that his suspicion that John
might be Santa Claus in disguise was entirely

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00:23:36,160 --> 00:23:44,079
without foundation. In fact, end
of Santa Claus and Little Billy by John Kendrick Bangs