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Speaker 1: Santa Claus and Little Billy by John Kendrick bangs One.

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He was only a little bit of a chap and

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so when, for the first time in his life he

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

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it was as hard for him to stay put as

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for some wayward little atom of flotsam and jetsam to

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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,

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with instructions not to move until she came back while

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she went off to do some mysterious errand she thought

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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

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to her commands would not be hard. But alas the

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good lady reckoned not upon the magnetic power of attraction

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of all those lovely objects in detail. She saw them

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only as a mass of wonders, which, in all probability

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would so dazzle his vision as to leave him incapable

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of movement. But Little Billy was not so indifferent as

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all that. When a phonograph at the other end of

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the shop began to rattle off melodious tunes and funny jokes.

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In spite of the instructions he had received. Off he

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pattered as fast as his little legs would carry him

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

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caught in the constantly moving stream of Christmas shoppers, he

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was borne along in the resistless current until he found

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himself at last out upon the street, alone, free and independent.

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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,

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the dawn of Christmas Day sank early to bed, and

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the electric lights along the darkening highway began to pop

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out here and there, like so many merry stars come

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down to earth to celebrate the gladdest time of all

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the year. Little Billy began to grow tired, and then

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he thought of his mama and tried to find the

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

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Up and down the street he wandered until his little

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legs grew weary, But there was no sign of the shop,

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nor of the beloved face he was seeking. Once again,

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and yet once again, after that did the little fellow

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traverse that crowded highway, his tears getting harder and harder

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to keep back. And then, joy of joys, whom should

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he see walking slowly along the sidewalk but Santa Claus himself.

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The saint was strangely decorated with two queer looking boards

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with big red letters on them, hung over his back

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and chest. But there was still that same kindly gray

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bearded face, the red cloak with the fur trimmings, and

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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

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had seen. With a glad cry of happiness. Little Billy

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ran to meet the old fell and put his hand

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gently into that of the saint. He thought it very

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strange that Santa Claus's hand should be so red and

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cold and rough and so chapped, but he was not

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in any mood to be critical. He had been face

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to face with a very disagreeable situation then, when things

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had seemed blackest to him, everything had come right again,

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and he was too glad to take more than a

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passing notice of anything strange and odd. Santa Claus, of course,

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would recognize him at once and would know just how

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to take him back to his mamma at home, wherever

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that might be. Little Billy had never thought to inquire

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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,

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with a tall iron railing in front of it, not

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far from the park. Had he do, mister, Santa Claus,

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said little Billy, as the other's hand unconsciously tightened over

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his own. By hot he do, Kitty, replied the old fellow,

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glancing down at his new found friend with surprise gleaming

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from his deep set eyes. Where did you drop from? Oh?

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I'm out, said Little Billy bravely. My mamma left me

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a little while ago while she went off about something,

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and I guess I got losted, very likely, returned the

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old saint with a smile. Little two by four fellows

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are apt to get losted when they start in on

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their own hook, specially days like these with such crowds

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hustling around. But it's all right now, suggested little Billy.

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Hopefully I'm found again, ain't i? Ah? Yes, indeedy you've

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found all right, kitty. Santa Claus agreed, And pretty soon

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

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sureest thing you know, answered Santa Claus, looking down upon

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the bright but tired little face with a comforting smile.

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What might your address be, my what, asked Little Billy?

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

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answer was a ringing peal of childish laughter. As if

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you you didn't know that, cried Little Billy, giggling. Ah ha,

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laughed Santa Claus. Can't fool you, cat, I It would

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be funny if, after keeping an eye on you all

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these years, since you was a babby, I didn't know

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where you lived. Eh, half funny, agreed Little Billy. But

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

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you think I've been? He added, with a shade of

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anxiety in his voice. Pretty good, pretty good, Santa Claus answered,

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turning in his steps and walking back again along the

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path he had just traveled, which Little Billy thought was

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rather a strange thing to do. You've got more white

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marks than black ones, a good many more, one hundred

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and fifty times as many, Kitty. Fact is, you're all

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right way up among the good boys, though once or

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twice last summer. You know, yes, I know, said Little Billy, meekly.

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But I didn't mean to be naughty. That's just what

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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.

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That doesn't count either way. Four against you. Thank you, sir,

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said Little Billy, much comforted. Don'll mention it. You are

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very welcome, kitty, said Santa Claus, giving the youngster's hand

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a gentle squeeze. Why do you call me kitty when

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you know my name is Little Billy, asked the boy. Ah,

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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

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good boys and the naughty boys. And the good boys

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we call kitties, and the naughty boys we call caddies,

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and they are just Then Little Billy noticed for the

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first time the square boards that Santa Claus was wearing.

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What are you wearing those boards for, mister Santa Claus,

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he asked. If the lad had looked closely enough, he

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would have seen a very unhappy look come into the

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old man's face, but there was nothing of it in

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his answer. All those are my new fangled back and chest.

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Protect us, my lad, he replied, Sometimes we have bitter

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winds blown at Christmas, and I have to be ready

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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, ree.

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This board in front keeps the wind off my chest,

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and the one behind keeps me from getting rheumatism in

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my back. They are a great protection against the weather.

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I'll have to tell my Papa about them, said Little Billy,

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much impressed by the simplicity of this arrangement. We have

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a glass board in the front of our automobile to

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keep the wind off Henry. He's our shuffer. But Papa

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wears a fur coat and sometimes hetha the wind goes

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

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I shouldn't wonder, smiled Santa Claus. They aren't very becoming,

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but they are mighty useful. You might save up your

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pennies and give you Papa a pear like em for

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

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there was a catch in his voice which Little Billy

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was too young to notice. You've got letters printed there,

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said the boy, peering around in front of his companion

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at the lettering on the board. Lord, what did they spell?

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

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should you know how to read at your age, said

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Santa Claus. You are not more than five last month,

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said Little Billy proudly. It was such a great age,

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my as old as that, cried Santa Claus. Well you

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

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that you was a pink chief to Babby, And here

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you are big enough to be out alone. That's more

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than my little boy is able to do. Santa Claus

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shivered slightly, and Little Billy was surprised to see a

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tear glistening in his eye. Why have you got a

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little boy, he asked, Yes, little Billy, said the saint,

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a poor wife faced little chap about a year older

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than you. Who, well, never mind, kiddy, he's a kitty too.

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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

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the board spell, said Little Billy. Merry Christmas to everybody,

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said Santa Claus. I have the words printed there so

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that everybody can see them. And if I'm mis wishing

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

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the same. You're awful kind, aren't you, said Little Billy,

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squeezing his friend's hand affectionately. It must make you very

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happy to be able to be so kind everybody two.

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Santa Claus made no reply to this remark, beyond giving

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a very deep sigh, which Little Billy chose to believe

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was evidence of a great inward content. They walked on

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now in silence, for Little Billy was beginning to feel

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almost too tired to talk, and Santa Claus seemed to

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be thinking of something else. Finally, however, the little fellow spoke,

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I guess i'd like to go home now, mister Santa Claus,

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he said, I'm tired, and I'm afraid my mamma will

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be wondering where I've gone to. That's so, my little man,

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said Santa Claus, stopping short in his walk up and

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down the block. No mother will be worried, for a fact.

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

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my little boy got lost it and hadn't come home

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at dinner time. I don't believe you know where you

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live though, now, honest come fess up, Billy. You don't

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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

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the iron fronts in front of it, near the park. Ah,

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that's easy enough, laughed Santa Claus nervously. Anybody could say

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he lived in a greystone house with a fence around it,

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near the park. But you don't know what street it's on,

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nor the number either. I'll bet fourteen wooden giraffes against

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

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Billy frankly, but I know the number in her ordermobile.

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It's n y fine, laughed Santa Claus. If you really

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were lost, it would be a great help to know that.

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But not being lost, as you ain't, why, of course

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

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know your last name, though I do tourn on my

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last name, blurted Billy. It's a Billy. That's the last

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one they gave me. Anyhow, Santa Claus reflected for a moment,

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eyeing the child anxiously. I don't believe you even know

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your papa's name, he said. Yes, I do, said Little

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Billy indignantly. His name is mister Harrison. Well you are

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a smart little chap, cried Santa Claus, gleefully. You got

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it right the very first time, didn't you. I really

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didn't think you knew. But I don't believe you know

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where your papa keeps his bake shop where he makes

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all those nice cakes and cookies you eat well, he

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began to laugh again. You can't fool me, mister Santa Claus,

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he said, I know my papa don't keep a bake shop,

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just as well as you do. My papa owns a

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bank splendid made of tin, I suppose, with a nice

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little hole at the top to drop pennies into, said

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Santa Claus. No it ain't either, retorted Little Billy. It's

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made a stone and it has more than a million

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windows in it. I went down there with my mama

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to Papa's office the other day, so I guess I

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outn't know. Well, I should say so, said Santa Claus.

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Nobody better. By the way, Billy, what does your mama

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call you papa? Billy like you? He added? Oh no, indeed,

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returned Little Billy. She calls him papa except once in

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a while when he's going away. Then she says goodbye Tom.

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Fine again, said Santa Claus, blowing upon his fingers. For

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

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it was getting very cold. Thomas Harrison banker, He muttered

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to himself, what with the telephone book in the city directory,

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I guess we can find our way home with Little Billy.

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Do you think we can go now, mister Santa Claus

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asked Little Billy, for the cold was beginning to cut

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through his little coat, and the sandman had started to

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scatter the sleepy seeds all around. Yes, sir, ree, returned

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Santa Claus promptly, right away, off now instantly at once.

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I'm afraid I can't get my reindeer here in time

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to take us up to the house. But we can

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go in the cars. Hum, I don't know whether we

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can or not. Come to think of it, Ah, do

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you happen to have ten cents in your pocket? Santa

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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,

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mine's only toy money. They won't take that on the cars.

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I got twenty five cent, said Little Billy. Proudly as

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he dug his way down into his pocket and brought

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the shining silver piece to light. You can have it

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if you want it, Thank you, said Santa Claus, taking

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the proffered coin. We'll start home right away, only come

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in here first, while I telephoned to Santaville. Tell him

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the folks where I am. He led the little fellow

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into a public telephone station, where he eagerly scanned the

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names in the book. At last it was found Thomas

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Harrison seven six five four Plaza. And then, in the

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seclusion of the telephone booth, Santa Claus sent the gladdest

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

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I have found your boy wandering in the street. He

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is safe and I will bring him home right away.

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Three fifteen minutes later there might have been seen the

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strange spectacle of a footsore Santa Claus leading a sleepy

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little boy up Fifth Avenue to a cross street which

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shall be nameless. The boy vainly endeavored to persuade his

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companion to come in and meet Mamma Nah Billy. The

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old man replied sadly, I must hurry back. You see

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Kitty this is my busy day, missires. I never go

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into a house except through the chimney. I wouldn't know

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how to behave going in at a front door. But

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it was not to be as Santa Claus willed for

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Little Billy's papa and his mamma, and his brothers and sisters,

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and the butler and the housemaids, and two or three

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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

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the arm. We've landed yea. All right, where have ye

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been with this boy? You let him alone? Cried Little Billy,

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with more courage than he had ever expected to show

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in the presence of a policeman. He's a friend of mine,

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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

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want to look out for these fellows, mister Harrison, returned

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the officer. First thing, you know, they'll be makin a

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trade of this sort of thing. I'm no grafter, retorted

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Santa Claus indignantly. I found the little chap wandering along

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the street, and as soon as I was able to

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locate where he lived. I brought him home. That's all

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there is to it. He knew where I lived all along,

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laughed Little Billy. Only he pretended he didn't, just to

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see if I knew. You, See, Sir, said the officer.

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It won't do him any harm to let him cool

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his heels. It is far better that he should warm them, officer,

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said mister Harrison kindly, and he can do that. Here.

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Come in, my man, he added, turning to Santa Claus

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with a grateful smile. Just for a minute, anyhow, missus

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Harrison will wish to thank you for bringing our boy

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

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all 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.

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He took me for the real thing, I guess. Nevertheless,

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Santa Claus, led by Little Billy's persistent father, went into

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the house. Now that the boy could see him in

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the full glare of many electric lights, his furs did

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not seem the most gorgeous things in the world. When

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the flapping front of his red jacket flew open, the

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child was surprised to see how ragged was the thin

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gray coat it covered. And as for the good old

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saint's comfortable stomach, strange to say it was not. I

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I wish you all a merry Christmas, faltered Santa Claus.

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But I really must be going, sir. Nonsense, cried mister Harrison.

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Not until you've got rid of this chill. And I

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

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if I do. Well, what if you do, I'll give

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you a better one, said the banker. I can't, I can't,

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faltered the man. I I I've got a little billy

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of my own at home waiting for me, Sir. If

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I hadn't, he added fiercely, do you suppose I'd be

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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

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muttered hoarsely. And then this dispenser of happiness to so

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many millions of people all the world over, sank into

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a chair, and, covering his face with his hands, wept

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

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said little Billy, snuggling up closely to the old fellow

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and taking hold of his hand sympathetically. He's been walking

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a lot today, Yes, my son, said mister Harrison gravely.

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These are very busy times for Santa Claus, and I

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guess that as he still has a hard night ahead

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of him, James had better ring up Henry and tell

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him to bring the car around right away so that

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we may take him back to his little boy. We'll

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have to lend him a fur coat to keep the

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wind off, too, for it is a bitter night, oh,

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said Little Billy. I haven't told you about these boards.

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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

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sign boards which Santa Claus had leaned against the wall.

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He says he uses them on cold nights. The lad

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went on. They have writing on them too. Do you

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

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

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dinner for a quarter, go to Smithers Cafe. Little Billy

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roared with laughter. Papa is trying to fool me. This

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is you did when you pretended not to know where

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

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old fellow's face, his own continents brimming over with mirth.

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You mustn't think he can't read, though, the lad added hastily,

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He's only joking. H No, indeed, I shouldn't have thought that,

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replied Santa Claus, smiling through his tears. I've been joking,

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have I, said Little Billy's papa. Well, then, mister Billium,

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suppose you inform me what it says on those boards.

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Merry Christmas to everybody, said Little Billy proudly. I couldn't

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read it myself, but he told me what it said.

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He hasn't printed there, so that if he misses saying

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it to anybody. No, no, he means it just the same.

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By jove, mister Santa Claus, cried Little Billy's papa, grasping

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the old man warmly by the hand. I owe you

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

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

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You do exist, and by the great horn spoon, you

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are the real thing. Four. Little Billy had the satisfaction

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of acting as hosts to Santa Claus at a good,

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luscious dinner, which Santa Claus must have enjoyed very much,

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because when explaining why he was so hungry, it came

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out that the poor old chap had been so busy

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all day that he had not had time to get

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any lunch, No, not even one of those good dinners

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at Smither's Cafe to which Little Billy's father had jokingly referred.

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And after dinner, Henry came with the automobile, and bidding

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everybody good night, Santa Claus and Little Billy's Papa went

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out of the house together. Christmas morning dawned, and Little

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Billy awoke from wonderful dreams of rich gifts and of

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extraordinary adventures with his new found friend, to find the

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reality quite as splendid as the dream things. Later, what

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was his delight when a small boy not much older

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than himself, a pale, thin, but playful little fellow, arrived

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at the house to spend the day with him, bringing

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with him a letter from Santa Claus himself. This was

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what the letter said. Dear little Billy, you must not

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tell anybody except your Papa and ya Mamma, but the

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little boy who brings you this letter is my little boy,

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and I am going to let you have him for

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a playfellow for Christmas Day. Treat him kindly for his

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

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tell him so. Do not forget me, little Billy. I

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shall see you often in the future, but I doubt

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you will see me. I am not going to return

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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,

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whose beautiful windows look out upon the homes of all

377
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good children. Good Bye, Little Billy, and the happiest of

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happy Christmases to you and all of yours, Affectionately, Santa Claus.

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When Little Billy's Mamma read this to him that Christmas morning,

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a stray little tear ran down her cheek and fell

381
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upon Little Billy's hand. Why what are you crying for, Mamma,

382
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he asked, with happiness, my dear little son. His mother answered,

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I was afraid yesterday that I might have lost my

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little boy forever. But now you have an extra one

385
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thrown in for Christmas, haven't you, said Little Billy, taking

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his new playmate by the hand. The visitor smiled back

387
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at him with a smile so sweet that anybody might

388
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have guessed that he was the son of Santa Claus.

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As for the latter, Little Billy has not seen him again.

390
00:22:09,240 --> 00:22:11,599
But down at his father's bank there is a new

391
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messenger named John, who has a voice so like Santa

392
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Claus's voice that whenever Little Billy goes down there in

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the motor to ride home at night with his papa,

394
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he runs into the bank and has a long talk

395
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with him, just for the pleasure of pretending that it

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is Santa Claus he is talking to. Indeed, the voice

397
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is so like that. Once a sudden and strange idea

398
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flashed across Little Billy's mind. Have you ever been to

399
00:22:36,319 --> 00:22:40,680
twenty third Street? Young, he asked? Twenty third street, replied

400
00:22:40,680 --> 00:22:43,599
the messenger, scratching his head as if very much puzzled.

401
00:22:44,000 --> 00:22:49,480
What's that? Why it's a street, said Little Billy, rather vaguely. Well,

402
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to tell you the truth, Billy said John, I've heard

403
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tell of twenty third Street, and they say it is

404
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a very beautiful and interesting spot. But you know, I

405
00:22:58,440 --> 00:23:01,359
don't get much chance to travel. I've been too busy

406
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all my life to go abroad. Abroad, roared Little Billy,

407
00:23:06,039 --> 00:23:10,200
grinning at John's utterly absurd mistake. Why twenty third stat

408
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ain't abroad, it's uptown near a near twenty second Street, really,

409
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returned John evidently tremendously surprised. Well, well, well, who'd have

410
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thought that. Well, if that's the case, some time when

411
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I get a week off, I'll have to go and

412
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spend my vacation there, From which Little Billy concluded that

413
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his suspicion that John might be Santa Claus in disguise

414
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was entirely without foundation. In fact, end of Santa Claus

415
00:23:41,119 --> 00:23:44,079
and Little Billy by John Kendrick Bangs