One September afternoon, Anne, running up-stairs, bumped against the
Charities lady.
"Oh! I beg your pardon, Miss Santa Claus," she exclaimed.
The lady laughed. "That's a new name for me," she said.
Anne reddened. "It just slipped out. I don't know your other-folks'
name. And I call you Miss Santa Claus to myself because you are always
giving people things. I don't mean to listen," she explained, "but I
can't help hearing them ask you for coal and shoes and grocery orders."
"You are my little neighbor on the floor above, aren't you?" asked the
lady.
Anne assented.
"It's a nice name you've given me--very much nicer than my own real
name which happens to be Margery Hartman. I know your name. I heard
Albert Naumann call you Anne Lewis."
"You gave Albert shoes to wear to school," said Anne.
"Yes. That is my business--to give things to people who need them. Kind
people provide money for me to help the poor. Isn't that good of them?"
"It's very good," said Anne, earnestly. "Do you give them--shoes, I
mean--to all the children that need them?"
"Not all." Miss Hartman smiled and then she sighed. "I wish I could."
CHAPTER XXV
The new acquaintance soon ripened into friendship.
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