*Ø* Blogmanac | He'll leave no child behind.

THIS Little Guy means what he says -- not like someone I could mention.


Minneapolis Elf Has All the Right Answers
By Gregg Aamot, Associated Press Writer

MINNEAPOLIS - Four-year-old Shira Rabkin wanted to ask just the right questions, so she thought long and hard.


"Dear Mr. Little Guy," she finally scrawled in big letters across a sheet of paper. "Do you like mints?" After some more pondering, she added, "and going to Camp Snoopy? Love, Shira."


Mr. Little Guy was nowhere in sight this early August evening, so Shira stuffed her letter behind his door at the base of a hollowed out ash tree. It's always open, and always full — of letters, pens, flowers and coins.

The elusive elf has enchanted Twin Citians ever since the 6-inch wooden door appeared eight years ago, just off a walking path around popular Lake Harriet. Double takes led to messages, and messages to answers — and somehow Mr. Little Guy keeps up, responding to the queries in typed notes half the size of business cards.

Some of his notes are left in the tree for children to find; others, if he has an address, are mailed. So many children visit that a patch of grass once leading to Mr. Little Guy's door is now powdery dirt. A flower bed bordered by stone surrounds one side of the tree.

Shira is headed to kindergarten, and she's a big believer. But parents are smitten, too.

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