The story relates to two poor children whose father is out of work and whose mother is sick. They live in a squalid tenement in Poverty Row. The doctor sent by a local charitable organization prescribes medicine for the wife, but they have...See moreThe story relates to two poor children whose father is out of work and whose mother is sick. They live in a squalid tenement in Poverty Row. The doctor sent by a local charitable organization prescribes medicine for the wife, but they have no money to purchase it. The father has but a nickel left. The children, 8 and 3 years of age, are out gathering wood from around the builders' yards. On their way home their thoughts center on Christmas at the sight of the toys that are tastefully displayed in a window of a store. They realize that the following day is Christmas Day. On returning to the two-room tenement that is their wretched home they go into their bedroom while the doctor is with their mother. The elder writes a letter addressed to "Mr. Santa Claus, Heaven," in which he asks him to remember them. The doctor departing, they go to their parents, and the father finds that all that is left in the house is a dry crust of bread. He gives them his last coin and sends them out with a bottle to purchase some milk. On the road they mail their letter, which in due course reaches the post office. A sorter shows it to the superintendent, who in turn shows it to the postmaster, who happens in then. The latter places it in his pocket and returns to his sumptuous home to see his little daughter asleep in her cot, while his wife has gaily decorated a fine Christmas tree for the following day. She sees the letter protruding from his pocket, and taking it out they road it sadly. The same idea strikes both, they put on their wraps and, taking a goodly load of the magnificent toys destined for their own little girl, proceed to Poverty Row. Meantime the two poor children have returned home and eaten their meal of bread and milk. They say good night to their parents and retire to their room. There they hang up their stockings, and having said their prayers, retire to sleep. The postmaster and his wife enter the squalid dwelling and. showing the letter to the poor father, steal on tiptoe and deposit the toys at the foot of the children's stockings. The children are not disturbed, but happy in their slumber dream that they see the factory of Santa Clans in full blast. They see the toys being made, and the fairies filling a big bag which Santa places on his shoulder. They see him emerge from the fireplace of their room and deposit the presents on the floor. They wake up. It is morning. They find it was not a dream. In reality the toys are there. Each taking some they rush in to tell their parents, and the picture ends with a clever tableau showing the poor man's Christmas and the Postmaster's Christmas. Written by
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