MR. WHITE HELPS SANTA CLAUS
by
Josephine Lawrence
Illustrated by Joseph C. Claghorn
Scanned by Deidre Johnson for her Josephine Lawrence website; please do not use on other sites without permission
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| | MR. WHITE HELPS SANTA CLAUS |
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+++++ PERHAPS you've never seen a little red envelope, an envelope no larger than your thumb, sticking in the crack of the floor some morning. It's all right if you've never happened to see a little red envelope like that, but in case you have seen one, you might like to know that it was a letter from Santa Claus. Santa Claus always writes his letters on bright red paper and he uses tiny square envelopes, but children do not see his letters often, because he doesn't write to them. No'm, the children |
write to Santa Claus, but you can easily see he wouldn't have much time to spend getting ready for Christ- mas if he ever tried to answer all the letters he receives. The moment Mr. White saw one of those little red envelopes we've just told you about, he knew it was from Santa. It was the week before Christ- mas and a very busy time for everyone. All the children were busy being good, Santa Claus was busy choosing pres- ents for them, and as for Mr. White, he was busy explaining to the three White boys what Santa Claus wished them to do that Christmas Eve. Mr. White knew exactly what they were to do, because it was only the |  |
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Christmas before that Santa Claus had brought him in his sleigh from North Pole Land. "You are to go in the top of the children's stockings," said Mr. White patiently for the third time-those White boys would try to play the new mouth organ instead of listening to him. "All of us in one stocking?" asked Willie White, who wore a checked jacket. "Certainly not," Mr. White an- swered. "One of you in the top of each stocking. You mustn't handle the toys, or play with any of the things or eat any of the sweets, either." | |
"Not even gum-drops?" asked Wil- fred White, whose jacket was red. "Certainly not," Mr. White answered again. "Nor the oranges?" asked Wilbur White-his jacket was bright red. "Don't eat anything," said Mr. White and just then he spied the red letter and knew Santa Claus had written to him. ' ' Excuse me, ' ' he murmured politely to the three White boys and then he opened the envelope and read the letter. "Dear Mr. White," wrote Santa Claus, "I have always been able to depend on you and I am sure you -will not fail me now. The grandpa of the | children in your house has some extra special gifts for them and he doesn't want them to be on the Christmas tree because they will see that Christ- mas Eve. This grandpa can not be at the house till Christmas Day. In fact he doesn't expect to get there much before dinner time. He has given me his presents and I will see you Christmas Eve. I'd like to leave these gifts in your care, if you are willing. Affectionately your old friend, Santa Claus. P. S. Mrs. Santa sends you her kindest regards. Now there, as Mr. White remarked excitedly, was something to think about. The three White boys were terribly curious and they teased Mr. 13 |
| White with questions right up to Christmas Eve; but not a word could they get from him. And when Santa Claus tumbled down the chimney Christmas Eve, the three White boys hovered as near as they dared, hoping to at least see what these gifts were that were not to go on the Christmas tree. That tree, blazing with lights and with a beautiful white and gold fairy on one of the branches, delighted the chil- dren. Santa Claus turned on the lights for them and then, while they were looking at their gifts, he and Mr. White got behind the sofa and had a confab all by themselves. "That's all right then," Willie |  |
| White heard Santa Claus say. "We'll keep it as our secret. I'll be back at midnight to fill the stockings" And he went away after that. It was Wilbur White who noticed that Mr. White looked different, but before he could say anything, he was popped into a stocking. You know how fast time flies on Christmas Eve. It was midnight, the children were asleep, and Santa Claus had come back to fill their stockings. "I think Mr. White looks differ- ent--" Wilbur White began and it was then Santa Claus put him in a stocking and told him to keep still. As soon as breakfast was over the next morning (Christmas morning), | |
| Hannah began to set the table for Christmas dinner. Right in the center of her table, after she had put on a beautiful linen tablecloth, she put Mr. White. Dear me, he did look handsome! His tall hat was very shiny, his jacket was very blue, and he seemed to have a lot of little red ribbons coming out of his neck. A lovely wreath of holly was placed around him and the tall red candles that he had always ad- mired. Then Hannah went back and forth, from the pantry to the table, putting on the best plates and the tall glasses that sparkled because she had polished them so nicely, and the very necessary knives and forks. 18 |
The Christmas tree was in the dining room and Mr. White thought that a fine arrangement. He said it gave him something to look at. He didn't have much time to look at it at first, because Hannah kept going and coming and every time she came to the table she changed a plate, or moved a glass, or patted the holly wreath. Lastly, though, she put down great white napkins, neatly folded, and then she went off to her kitchen to see if the turkey was roasting properly. It was then that Mr. White had a chance to admire the Christmas tree The packages were gone, and some of the candy canes were missing, but 19 |
| there were plenty of lovely things still in place. The children were trying to keep the tree "all trimmed" as they said, to show their grandpa. "How do you do?" said a very sweet little voice suddenly. Mr. White would have jumped, if he could. But he had no legs and legs are absolutely necessary to anyone who jumps. Then he noticed that something bright and shiny was being swung before his face and a moment later he saw that it was one of the tinsel stars. "Who's swinging that star?" asked Mr. White, trying to make his voice sound very deep and stern. "I am," giggled the little voice. | |
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"Who are you?" Mr. White asked, remembering that he had a secret with Santa Claus and that someone might be trying to get it away from him. "Merry Christmas!" laughed the pretty voice. "I'm Princess Star- Shine." Mr. White blinked his eyes and wished he could take off his hat. He had never met a princess. But his hat was glued on and he hoped the princess would understand and excuse him. Then, for Princess Starshine con- tinued to swing the star, a bit of tinsel flew off and struck Mr. White in his eye! "Ouch!" he said, and felt around |
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for his silk pocket handkerchief. "Oh-oh-oh!" the little voice said sadly. "Have I hurt you? Wait a minute and let me get that speck out of your eye." And to Mr. White's great astonish- ment, the beautiful fairy from the Christmas tree flew down to the table. He could see then that she wore tiny red shoes and a tall read hat and carried a slender wand. She had long golden hair and her dress was white gauze and altogether he had never seen anyone so pretty. "Let me touch your eye with my wand, said Princess Starshine, "and it will not hurt you at all." 24 |
Mr. White took his handkerchief away from his sore eye and the princess touched it ever so gently with her wand. "My goodness, it doesn't hurt a bit!" said Mr. White. "Thank you very much." "Don't mention it," the fairy prin- cess answered. "My wand is tipped with magic and I like to use it. Sh- here comes Hannah with more holly. I'd better fly back to the Christmas tree." Before Mr. White could count two, the fairy was back in her place and there was Hannah, walking around and around the table, laying a little bunch of holly on each clean napkin. |
| "It's a fine-looking dinner table, if I do say it myself," said Hannah aloud. "You do yourself proud, Mr. White." Hannah made him a bow and Mr. White smiled his best smile. That was the second time he wished his hat wasn't glued on, so he might tip it politely. ' ' Seems to me I never saw you with so many ribbons on before," said Hannah, staring at Mr. White. "But there, I suppose it is some of the children's doings." She went back to her kitchen and the fairy princess flew down to the table again. "How many people are coming to 26 |  |
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dinner?" asked the fairy, curiously. "Oh, dozens," Mr. White answered wisely. ' ' All the people in this house, and all the people next door, and Grandpa Perry from-far-away, and Uncle Oscar and Aunt Mary." "And will they all look at the tree?" asked the fairy princess. "Of course they will," Mr. White said. Princess Starshine looked about the table and her eyes began to shine mischievously. "Want to see some of my magic?" she asked. Mr. White couldn't stop thinking about the secret he had with Santa Claus, and he wished he could. He 29 |
| was afraid he might mention it if he thought too much about it. So he was very willing to see some magic- he thought, and rightfully, too, that magic would give him something else to think about. "Then just you watch," said Prin- cess Starshine. We've told you that she carried a wand and now, as Mr. White watched her, she tripped about the table, touching the candles, one after the other. The instant her wand touched the tip of a candle, it burst into flame. "Oh-h, you're lighting them!" Mr. White cried. ' ' They'll burn out before the folks come to dinner." "I'll put them out-" began the 30 |
fairy princess with her soft laugh. She meant to say she would put them out right away, but before she could do that, there was a noise in the next room and quick as a flash Princess Starshine flew back to the branch on the Christmas tree, where she belonged In the doorway stood Mother Evans and Daddy Evans, and Bobby and Betty and Baby Evans. They lived in Mr White's house, or he lived in their house, whichever way you wish to have it. "Why I didn't know Hannah meant to light the candles!" cried Mother Evans "Grandpa hasn't come." Just then Hannah came into the 31 |
| dining room with the bread plate and as soon as she saw the lighted candles, she looked surprised. "Did the company come, ma 'am?" she asked. "I see you've lighted the candles." "I didn't light them," replied Mother Evans. "You must have lighted them, Hannah." But Hannah declared she had not and none of the others had touched a match to them, and who lighted those candles always remained a mystery in that household. Mr. White could have told but, aside from politeness which made it impossible for him to tell tales, he had a rule he never broke-he did not speak aloud. 32 | |
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However, the candles were allowed to burn, for the door-bell rang a moment later, and there was Grandpa from-far-away, and Aunt Mary and Uncle Oscar and the people from the house next door. You know all about how Christmas dinner tastes, so we won't tell you about this dinner, except to mention that the turkey was a little more of a golden brown than any other turkey you've seen. And the potatoes were so fluffy they looked like snow, and everyone's name was spelled out in red pimentos on the salad and the nuts and raisins were simply delicious. Oh, yes, and the plum pudding wasn't too rich for the children either. 35 |
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And, when dinner was over. Grandpa from-far-away said he had given his presents to Santa Claus to deliver, but that Santa had not been able to tell him where they would be hidden. Had anybody- seen a letter from Santa Claus that morning? Nobody had, but obligingly every- one began to look. "I've got it!" shouted Bobby Evans, whose sharp eyes were the first to spy a little square red envelope sticking out from under the dining-room rug. "That's it," said Grandpa, taking the letter. He opened it and read it quickly. "Why Santa says that Mr. White is taking care of the presents," said 36 |
Grandpa. "Listen and I'll read you what Santa has written: 'Pull the ribbons fair and square, you'll find presents hidden there.' " It was a wonder Mr. White didn't blush, so many pairs of eyes stared hard at his dangling red ribbons. "Let's each take one and when I count three, pull!" Grandpa suggested. So each one at the table took a ribbon and Grandpa held up his hand. 'One!" he counted slowly. "Two!" he said next. "Three!"-and everyone jerked a ribbon. Snip! Up went Mr. White's head, and out came little flat packages, wrapped in red tissue paper. 37 |
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They looked exactly like Christmas presents and they were-beautiful shiny gold pieces which were meant to be spent during holiday week, Grandpa said. Everyone was de- lighted and away they all rushed into the next room to begin to plan what they would buy when they went shopping. No one stayed to thank Mr. White for keeping the precious gold pieces so carefully, and when Hannah came in to clear off the table, she burst into laughter. "Ha! Ha!" laughed Hannah, pick- ing up Mr. White's head and trying to put it on straight for him. "I wish you could see yourself. You're 38 | 
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too funny for words. Your hat is over one ear. You look positively foolish." All the time Hannah was talking, she was carrying Mr. White out to the kitchen and when she put him down on the kitchen table, to put his head on for him, she went right on telling him how foolish he looked. But she needed the room on the kitchen table for her dishes, so back to the dining room she carried Mr. White again, and plumped him down between two piles of clean plates. His hat fell over one eye and he slid down till he leaned against a goblet. Hannah laughed at him once more and then she went back to the 41 |
| kitchen to eat her nice hot dinner. "I don't care," said Mr. White drowsily, for the excitement had made him sleepy, "I don't care if I do look silly; I told Santa Claus I would help him and I have. I may have a head that wobbles, but I know how to keep a secret." And the Princess Starshine called to him from the Christmas tree. that that was true. Later that evening Mr. White showed that he knew more than how to keep a secret. He knew how to warn Hannah that all was not well in the dining room. It happened this way: the children had gone next door to see the Christ- |
mas tree there and had insisted on taking the Princess Starshine with them. This left Mr. White with no one to talk to, so he simply dozed gently, not exactly asleep, you under- stand, but just resting. Hannah was talking to her best friend, Mrs. Nagel, in the kitchen, as she set bread for the next day. Hannah always baked bread on Thurs- day, no matter whether it was the day after Christmas or not. Mr. White, dozing between the two piles of clean plates, could hear their voices and he liked that because then he didn't feel so lonely. Suddenly Mr. White thought he heard a voice that was not Hannah's 43 |
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voice, nor yet Mrs. Nagel's. It was as tiny a voice as the Princess Star- shine's, but not nearly so sweet. This tiny voice was sharp and shrill. "Eek!" it went. "E-eek! Oh, you must hurry-there are raisins and nuts and everything perfectly delicious." Mr. White opened one eye cautiously. "Eka, eka, eka!" began another little voice. "How about the Christ- mas tree? I would so love to nibble a candy cane." Mr. White opened his other eye. "The mice!" he said to himself. Now Mr. White was not unkind to mice. He rather admired their | |
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perseverance and their cheerfulness. But he knew they had no business on the dining-room table and he thought only a very mean mouse would eat the candy on a Christmas tree. He tried to think of a way to warn Han- nah, and in a moment he had the idea. Mr. White simply let his head roll off the table! Hannah heard the noise and came running in, and Mrs. Nagel came with her. "I knew I ought to have cleared off the table and now I will," said Hannah wrathfully. "Those nasty mice have been in here-see this raisin dragged across the cloth." Then she saw Mr. White's head on 47 |
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the floor and she picked it up and put him together again. "I suppose the mice knocked him over, running past him, ' ' said Hannah, which shows you that she didn't know as much about it as you do yourself. THE END | |
Scanned by Deidre Johnson for her Josephine Lawrence website; please do not use on other sites without permission
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