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The Lucknow Sentinel, 1920-12-23, Page 31 Christmas Made Them Partners. FOR LOVE OF HIS LITTLE CHILD, THIS FATHER GAVE ALL AND GAINED ALL. By MAY ELLIS NICHOLLS. r "it's dre'ful to get .a puncture. 'spe- down on the table and'for a moment be questioned anxiously when she re- cialiy after dark!" said Bobby and longer Bobby stood motionless in turned. gazed ruefully at the broken rubber I sheer amazement. Then he jumped "Yes, he is feverish, but I hope it band in his hand. +and capered and fairly squealed with On the floor at his side was a din- i delight. The thing was a tiny auto- abled .,auto -truck, loaded down with.l mobile, only a few inches high but per - Christmas packages—at least that was feet in every part and it ran like mad; what Bobby saw. Of, course if one first this way and then that over the - had only grown-up eyes, it might have ' polished surface of the table. bound round with rubber bands and quivered with excitement. "ft's, from the fourth, as Bobby had mournfully Santa Claus, isn't it, and it's for me?' declared; minus its "rubber tire." The eager little hands were out- • "Mother.!" he called, scrambling to stretched, but before they reached the . his feet. Receiving 'no reply, he ran coveted treasure they were struck to the door through whose crack a 1 ,aside and a voice that Bobby would ray of light sheers "Mother, please never have kn lwn for Father's, shoat- • , looked to him like a cigar box mounted on four IittIe wheels, three of •them "Oh, gee, Father ' Gee whiz, can't she go!" Bobby's little body fairly light the gas, i';•, got a blowout." , ed at him: With the open::ng of the kitchen ! "Don't you dare touch that. Child! door .a flood of light, an appetizing Why did your mother let you conte . here anyway . odor and Comfort all entered together. • " Comfort had ' flushed c Beeks and tend- . "blether didn't let me; I came. •.: Bobby protested, ready to defend er eye.. She wore a white .apron over a blueslin dress exactly the shade ;Mother e:en in his extremity. The surprise and suspense in the of her eyes; her sleeves, :rolled above , her elboaaa, displayed her .shapely j pitiful little *face brought Robert ' Net- t4n to a realization of himself. With white arms. one hand he swept the marvellous lit- - "Why you .blessed darling! Alt in Ile car f: cm the table- and- with the the dark, are yoti?" She lighted the other terned Bobby gently- but firmly gas a d. with the Iight the room toward the door: •sprang into definite lines, like a de- "Father canni>t talk With you flow. velcpitea negative. It was the orein- • Sons • One of these days ary dining teem you , m of the ordinary city he's auep. you ,shall have all the cars you want, fiat: a cheap, ornate, built-in side- i hope. Run along now, that'sa, man!" , board, a yellow: -oak dining table, four eseee stopped in the passage, his' 'chairs•and a divan teat could be used smeI! frame .Shaking with the sobs af' for a bed, made up the furniture. a very small boy. ' He felt stunned and "See toy puncture_, mother" Bobby humiliated and desolete. He crept into, held up the rubber hand and pointed the kitchen,. s to the little handless wheel. . f "Father' wouldn't mead city tire. he The mothers serene eyes suddenly : sobbed is only a cold," she replied absently. Then she burst out. "Robert. do you know that to -mor- row is Christmas? Christmas' and we have nothing for Bobby!" "Hare we • really cathing for the little chap?" "Not a thing and no money ! No turkey, no greens. no tree. - Nothing to make a reel Christmas. Oh, Robert, give up the invention. Many meet have tried fust as hard as you and failed." "But someone has to do it," he pro- tested. "It is the inventors who make the world move." "And their wives tat_d children who have to suffer:" she. flashed. This was the first` time she had spoken so'and he flushed and gave her a loop of pained surprise. "Have you no faith :n me, Dear" She left her chair and slipped one arm about his neck. "I have .faith in hope, oho. how 1 do you will succeed. faith, do you think rented to give up • you, Dearest. and I hope for your sake; It I .had not had I should have con-, our home? Would I have used me our snug little nest - egg.? But it is used up. Robert, every penny of it. • 'there isn't enough Ieft to pay the rent" "Never mind. Little Wife, we'll pull through some wags' and another Christ- nias, God wiili,ng, there will.be enough money to gratify your every wish.' • "It isn't . for myself i mind. You know that,, Robert. I have you and Bobby; what more could I want? But bows on the table, her chin pupped in her palms. Ana Norton was the kind of woman the Old Masters visioned when they painted the virgin Mother. Her large shapely hands were viorant with ser- vice, her deep bosom was a haven cd rest, her clear steady eyes were bea- con Lights. She was no( an imagin- ative woman. As a little girl she had not been a lover of fairy tales' and now she was not able to enter into her husband dreams. Had she been able to do so she.might have had more sympathy with him, but might not have been as patient as she had been. She coveted his heart's desire- for her "'big boy" as she playfully called her husband, just as she desired the ex- pensive littie car for Bobbby, because she loved him and it hurt her.to have' 'him .disappointed. - . Again a hoarse cough sent her r- rying to 11kbby'g room, and is she looked fearfully at the delicate •flu'h- e1 face, her tnotherhood revolted. i Bobby should have a Christmas' He 'should not be robbed -pf his rightful inheritance of childhood for some in- tangible future prosperity. What ' would it all be worth when dear old Santa Claus had been offered up to the i god, :Linemen! She hastily slipped on ' her coat and hat and ran down the '. long flights of stairs to the street She returned an hour later, loaded with bundles and followed by' a boy! why carried a market basket and a email tree. Piling all the things on the ' dining room table, she knocked softly ' +•at her husband's door, and, after wait- .{ ing in vain for an answer, turner the knob softly and went in. Once across the flares -bold, she was attempted to' retreat ,without making her presence known. Robert Norton . sat at.' the' ; ! table, but he was no longer playing • with the little car. His head was rest- ing on his arm and his whole attitude • told of utter weariness and discour• - a,Fment• , "I have the Christmas things, Rob- i ert; come and help.me trim the tree." "I thought yell said you had no money," 'For answer she held her left hand before his eyes. The finger nails were trimmed close and, though the hand was carefully kept. :: bore the unmis -takable marks of rough work. Her plain gold wedding ring hung loose saedened. "Cars. cars. cars, assays ' For once' his gentle mother turned . father do scme examples." had done. "Bobby' You dun't mean cars! Put up your play, Bobby: and on him almost fiercely as his • There- was a cadence in the moth- yon bothered FatherY'� M� er's tone that the child .felt though he "He isn't • working. *other -dear. ;, �.• -�, . did not understand. He reluctantly •That's—went=" chokingback t'he,} obeyed. His mind wes not on the 'acne that seemed to fill his throat,' l f. s _� - ��� : ?• ` question of how mans two's make ; "hurts my feelings so. He isn't work. tv>ur. After his mother had returnee Leg! . He's just playing; He's playing Ur �. ` � ,tr with the canningest little touring car ;�•� : f • pod ever saw in your life and he. wouldn't let me touch it." Mother held out her arms and se- cure in the privacy of the kitchen, Bobby ran into them. It was all such a puzzle. Father playing with toys in the parlor, Mother getting their din- ner in t e kitchen, when Father deed to go to business every -day, Nora used to get dinner, and Mother used to sew and read rind play with him. And the worst of it was Father did nor seem to enjoy his play and_ sometimes he thought Mother did not fete to get the to her dinner -getting he tied the broken rubber band anti stretched it over the fourth wheel: it broke shorter than before. Once more 'he tried but with the same result. - "If I had only a big rubber'" he mourned. He tried to fasten it with a string but the rubber was rotten 'and he threwit down with tears In his big gray eyes. "the mean old thing:" he cried. ' Suddenly he sprang to his feet, a look of determination on his face. "I've a great mind—" he said and put his hand on the kpob of the hall dinner—anyway she had looked sorry door. For a full minute he stood de- enough when a man came with a pa - liberating, then he turned the knob, per and she had counted money out of walked slowly the length of the dark an old pocketbcok and given it to him. hall and paused outside another door. And another time a man came and For weeks Bobby had been forbid-' there didn't seem to be enough money den to enter that room. "Father is at in the pocketbook, and he said some -1 • thing cross and went away. It was a • work and moot not be bothered, 'aqui the law Iaid down to him every morn. comfort to lie still, cuddled egafnst her . ing and never repealed. Each morn- soft shoulder, for W at once he felt • ing after breakfast that room swallow -1 t±red and sleepy and knew that his ed Father. Sometimes he came out ; head was aching dreadfully. for lunch, sometimes Bobby did not I "How hot your head is. dear," see him again till the next day. When I Mother said, raising his chin to look, he did come out, he seemed to be . into the tear-etained little Lace. "'Do looking at something far away and you feel sick in any ways" hardly spoke to Mother or Bobby. Tet li "may «hen' 1 swallow." he was not angry with them. Oh. no! i Mother carried him to the' light. 'Wen he did see them, he cuddled and ii "I will give you your supper right kissed them as if he had been awne. away. Dear, and put you to bed. Pott for a lung time and only the other day have played too hard to -day." when the auto -truck was out of order, i "I've got to hang up my stockings, he gut right down on pia hands and , Mother.' Bobby reminded her re - knees and Axed it quicker; -quicker— DroachfullY• • why, quicker than Bobby ,could think 1 "Of course, you may hang them be - about it. Mother could cure bad cuts fore you go to bed." and black-and-blue spots by kissing li don't want any aepper. Mums e; them and could make wonderful things and you may hang up my stockings. 1 to eat but she did not seem to know only want one thing anyway and I one wee bit about automobiles. 'and wrote Santa ('taus about that." sometimes Robby thought sue acted and what was that. De irie'" as if she did not want, to know. Why, ' "A touring ear -areal one like the Bobby himself knew more about autos :one we saw in the window cif the big than Mother did' toy store. It has an engine and gears, For Ave long minutes he Listened and a dirrentiel. You remember'" outside the forbidden door. Well might Sea she remembered. Two weeks he pause: it was 'the first time in the ago she had taken Bobby to see the six years of his short life that he had wonderful 'espies- at the largest toy ever deliberately disobeyed those who ;shop in the city and he had had eyes had authority over him. But his mind' for only one thing, this little car, a was made up. He anis going to face marvellously intricate miniature of a Father as man to man. and, no matter grown-up's expensive plaything—the what resulted from it, ask him to fix ! kind of toy' t.h a extravagant age pro - the truck.vides for its pampered darlings. "Mother' Yon think Santa ('taus • He opened the door noiselessly and will bring me a littie car like that. • entered the room. For a moment the glare of light almost dazzled him. for don't you'"' he questioned wistfully.. "That was a:l 1 asked_ no candy, nor tt was as light as six flaring gas jets could make it. Blinking, he advanced i guns. nor anything. Some way if he doesn't bring me the car 1 stet:i i hick on tip -toe. Ata table in the middle Richie Davis knees." of the room teat Father—tall, :#Lim. his 'Knows what. Darling^" mrd of black hair thrown hack bk 'Nothing; only Richie is nice and dark eyes Il:ed on something he held in his band, and was adjusting with a he says there isn't any Santa Claes." fins tee. A� last he put the thing The mother slipped off his c:,apes, , gave some simple . home remedies, tucked her son into ped and turned out the light. Then she hastily put tho .frugal dinner on the t-thle and called her husband. He sat down with the far -away Look that Bobby had so resented. He was pale and 'the purple shadnaa under his eyes mile them look ltlreer and darker than they resile were He `icenie,l harllr to know there he was till a' hoarse conagh sent the mother hurrying to Bobby's room' '..tnythieg the matte well- Hobby?" „Ws a New Yea:. dears. And a Rooth •year, Still better years shall be, For the heart, of soar. goes for- ward • To wilder ei'cr-tree- 1'.' nieet the rays. the holy (lays 0" staiar*rr. Brotherhood. S'. i en each for all and all as one 1:1 fe r re the whole world', HERE WE ARE AGAIN! Bobby can't wait till next year for his Christmas. It is exactly like asking you to wait until eternity for your in- vebtion. You want it here and now. What do you think Bobby said to me to -night'" "Something tLt leered you. 111 'Like a burst of=ut:shiae ',n'a dark day was the sm.'e that itehte1. the father's sombre ecee. "'He said he should not , believe there was any Santa Claus, it he did not get a little touring car with' an engine and gears and a dif'rent ial What is a d ifere n:. a l . Robert"" The father laughed aloud. -Wants a car with, a different tal. does he' , The testing rascal knows more afield Care now than !calf the chauffeuis do. Wer, i mast get %ask to my work.' But be nal ea:. ee•king into space his brews er-'.o'•'- -*yeti set on his under ::p "i know :t she - :,i —'.. •;stip;e. ' be said at last: `just a trees :hit 'a could do. 1 am alw,irs on the v"rge of' getting it, and to -night. Art. just before Bobby- sr.terriipt ' i me. 1 was sure .1 had it at :As!' 1 s semen **0 :t slowly coming ou; betrer- r.:e just as mountain peak* rise telt i.f a fog. and f held me breach- cite. niomeet more one <'ngie s'ep- ani aid then hobby spoke and ;t wee erne, Thu! was the reason I we... too fieri en the poor liter beggar- For 'a :reracnt t could have knot'ked nim twee. 1 a<ar :lo furious. But ill mike •t t;. • tern and to von. tro,. 'r.nie She smi:ed ;and kiss•`rl l:.:.. . Puce atter he' had., roneehr.• k'' iti+ work sbe stili =aft ?st'.., a !:F-• el e 1 upon it and its guard was gone. The man looked still more puzzled for an intent. th'u started to his feet. "Your ring --bear- ?'• '"if has turned into red And green and yellow balls and a turkey. and a Christmas 'tree." Then, as he still looked dazed: she gave also a hysteri- caitiittle hug. "Goodie'" she lamed,. •'don't you understand ret". i pawned it." - ••Tou • Pawned - your engagement ring'" His tote could hardly have ex- pressed more cr►n' ternatter. had she confessed to petty !areen' She laughed again ."It's only pawned.' •Deareei . 1. can - get it hack age:^. 1f 1 ever have money eccntch. Bet +ul'r' se I never redeem t, what et it rafter ali' but a stone. A 1 very precious stone to me. he. lose it has .always been a symbol et our love i for eat h other but not ball no precious as' i.iir cher :jewel -our living little. son. t'r:w8 a;ong: Iet as trim the tree Leave your w.•rk for ore nigh' and OOtne •• The tree was aonaii,tiiit res er t and • when they head tlniehed it stone like a pitIa'r of Bre. Ann Ne toil smiled bapptiy as the 'art tinsel threads were spit's :Ike new ttnrred cobwebs from "'breech. to branch. where already hung the glitter're red- sre green\ ar.d v► :,,w•- halls. . Flow. comiee' a :t is • ' he: nasband 4ael, stepping •flat!. •••1 get • the tell f ttett. 'end ao i`t .i• t•' do a ith. ;Yea are a- words.; Li't, • Woman " Ile •fres• her h : one tery kissed 'ler lip%1 - • ehe �tii, iu*' " 'ip he mile e. .en .t ,coin", e.itig :•f h;m hie are- the: r ohne, her eonro.re •t' .:c,•t fn:.e- er She knew sae a' ' cr , " -fie rli"uhf tes..7 ,:,• a' .!... ;• lit eet;tt • 4'-nip:e• tt, . 1_• cis :,ba r He £tri:,cd. riE a 'itt:- ns `a • 14 ... z: . •tin :getter I •32-.,t• . ,-ter ; ,, •-• lay :.-.1 ;.. ' •' .,►''r •--1r 1 ,t' : c ae • •:.re's a t hail tie : at' .e -y- mire in eft• tee, . -sr f. ' :Lift. -i• at leek. a', tae tui,:;at i sari', ett• 1 hni-iht the otter Melt. nee I ':en 1 were ' Co- • the r ., west 11', eou think vtaa e • on-" on: re l ttallars' : 1 h i : ir'r:h;,:i t'e•s i be foil: gave a e i::see • 'It Bid The lad's Giftto His Lord. Two shepherds and a shepherd lad Came running from afar To greet the little new-born One Whose herald was a star. But empty were their toil -worn hands, And on the stable floor The Wise Men knelt with precious gifts The Saviqur to adore. "Oh, take my cloak," one shepherd cried, 'Twill keep 'the Babe frorn cold. • "And take my staff," the other said. 'Twill guide 'Him o'er. the wold." The shepherd lad looked sadly` clown; No gift at all had he, But only on his breast a Iamb He cherished tenderly. So young it was, so dear it was— The dearest of the flock—' For, days he had been guarding it, 'Cloe wrapped within his smock. Hetook the little, clinging thing And laid it by the Child, And all the place with glory shone— For lo! Lord Jesus smiled. come high, didn't it? -But Dobby 'rnigh.t have 'had, it and .wetccme," he added more to himself than to her; -"if. i had only got that last step in my -pro- cess." . — "If," his' wife repeated. ?Bitt, Rob- ert." ' she hurried now, realizing more and more the audacity of the, request she was about to make, '"y cu have a little car•'mcre perfect than any that Was ever is any toy shop, one with gears and a rubber tire and a 'dit'rtin- K other with fast beating .hearts. The child stood speechless, his lips parted, a took of ecstacy on loss Lace. At last with a sigh of supreme content, he reached out, his hand and tenderly. almo.st reverently, took the .littie car I and lifted it to his lips. Then he tytrn_ Ied and hid his face on his father;a knee. . ".Oh, there is a Santa Claus, there is!" he said. "Just see •my car' 'It's got . tires andgears and a dirrential. tial.' Bobby had .set lee whole child-, I'm glad • I-I—I'nt afraid I'm going ish heart on this. as much as' you have !- to cry. " set your man's heart ,onyour hreat'I The . teems day' aped on. All the in: ention. ar_;d he 1,. ill --oh. Rol.ert, morniug Father. arid Bobby played it 'frightens me to think hove ;11 he, -.with the iittle car., Father pointed oat might 'be! , *What would success orf all the complicated' mechanisms of the tiny machine add Bobby looked and listened and 'marveled. He could not he separated frotu it even for a mintt-e. It stood by his plate while the sacred ordina _ee of turkey and - cranberry "sauce was observed, and now. while Mother washed the dishes,. . he Lay on This s ch, chin in hand.. , with ey rivet: d oan his treasure. He was en Bing t t. a full one of the rarest experiences In life—the posses- sion of his heart's desire: --Farther-stood- at -the window, gazing moodily- at the .merry crowds in the streets tar below. He was trying to reconc!ie himself to the inevitable, to accept the yfully if he could, and at least bravely as he must. what the Year held for him. Suddenly his trained ear caught a new sound from .the little car—a peculiar buzz followed by a brief interval of silence. and then a second slighter different sound. He whirled sod crossed to'' where Bobby Iay. "That sou id! • What ru l c a that sound?" ••What sourde" Bobby asked placid- ly. lacid-l;. -• Father flung himself down on the floor by Bobby and gazed with 'tram - Mg eyes. every muscle tense, at the gyrating model: Bobby had set up part of an old toy train outfit. a mle- fature !ttl: wick a roadway winding up and down around it, and up and down with no sign of recognition. "Don't this hill the little car was speeding.-, you kpoe Father, dear?" bis mother As it reached the beginning et' the . questlonsee with mingled love and tweet there came . the momentary terror in her c•rooningacotce pause and then the chtage of sound as "Father is playing with the .little it began to climb The man watched .car." drowsily answered Bobby. Thep it with unwinking ,.yeP. perspiration sstarting up. "Santa! Please, Santa' starting n his forehead. After: rev'. • bring me a little car. Father wou't eral Eheathless minutes he snatch..l • let me play with his.** the model from the track and stared ' "Yes. he will,' broke in his father et it ae if his gaze could melt it part ' and hastened from the room to get from part. At last be drew e long, • the cherished model. but before he lsobb!ng breath • could return tt-e boy had droppethiL' i "1 lee it at last." he wh'snere,i "1 a restless sleep. see it at last!" Bobby's stocking had been hung be. Bobby 'scrambled to hts feet and ' aide the tree and r.ow, Father etuffed '' looked at Father with tronbied eyes. the model into the top of it. '•1 want ! Witte could he have done to' -the pre - him to see it the first thing In the F Notts car' He had never seen Father morning." be said 'wea.lth er life itself be without our darling boy? Rcbert, will you not give• Bobby your little car • • lie stared at heir, lionesily ignera.nt of ' her meaning. • "My little ear? I have no Iittle car." -- -The one you were `playing Kith' ' when Bobby found you Then 'he understood. Hie wife was asking him, seriously asking him. to give his working model --the model on Which he was trying to perfect, hie _w.onderlut4insetesien—to--h•issch• et -a- , Christmas plaything. Ther blood surg- ed purple to the roots of bis hair. This then was the measure of her faith in his power. He looked ns a man night look who has just been told be has a mortal disease, -You s aoi me to give Bobby my model!" e.• She did not reely at on -e. She saw she had wounded him beyond belief. Tho mother -love and the -wife-love' struggled within her. "Never --rind, Dearest," she said at. last. "':Believe me, I did not dream yon eared like that." Then she reached out her hand to him. "Come. let's bare a look at him.'. As they leaned above his bed. Bob- by opened his eyes and gazed about him with a startled look. "How are you. my man Feather asked gently. Tee wide nark eyes stared at bin •.r: •I look lite that before. The mother •wat. ped ft!m with brim- i "That's it: Oood heavens. of c tersw tug eyes, i scally »nie meet self -con- . that's !t' Rlockheed. not to harp i...3 trolled 'cf women. she redid not rru't that before'••• berself to speak. Ne eeugr.t A.rbhy up in his ems "After al:, tt is ben that wiy." ►he . "Let's fled Mother:- be shouted added hoarrelc - • l could tot have ' "What have You two boys been d<e- gf.en it up for anything bet love. To- : !re "'' MtAller askedr, before sLe caught m rrtrw I will enjc y Christn:aa with a gi m.pee et Father's 'face., Then she rc.0 red Betty. Luo 'las af•e- f will ; turned ;>a!! 'She who was indeed rt :a wart our try leant a _ w'ith him, untl.,r*tood. "Ob. Rr�bert'" -'Ola, Robert. s -ca doe • m.•:' you' she cried and his joy reflected tbrc,tgb bare given ftp"" t her face and voice. "I must Robby writ' 1 reek the model; T'iey- found each other's arms and the flied rias v...ti bare no Idea how Bober put hie arms around both :heir del.eate it S. Annie.. Well.. it will be , recks and bound them close tagether. 'h - breaking' et. nay idol and ' ere ; —Just to think...enn•!e," Fatter sale never Wal, a .r:•rarer :`ttie lad. twee ; at. lei, it .was Ikbby's tvnntne, the Bobby i little ear Up ani down the hills tbst Ann. Nc+rt.-•n haft :weeded to keep !finally put me ea the scent if 1' had v:isi: by her 44'0!•,.- N.41 (i,irats the en. ' 401 given it to him. 1 she'd be• pee tine night. but '`.:e Leers wore offs sling over it yet'' ,r leis roseola. , -• bogs se sed. his ` "1 Pm no there fee Teems': he c:eep tieeernt' r; :• 7 ate reared! aid I said. the happ: tears glaatenesg ir, her •►•p wea?' r:• th••. -••ant•^-•.d 'co ' ShR tender eves. Then 4te a,idel n:.,.• ;y , _ .. ,t 1 • . .- le i, 4 s. • e! cheek ' e•hleceea 4 f y - -. �I; :s a izi•eia•: " teeti-at , -- r:••is.c • I tali. .::. . !.'s ' ger, ..Ob.1is..'. , ' Norton ar.d ton'.. And se n•` ,, ere-, sae. •. k Sur,:stC;a:i!► has wt.. , eel :hat see'mear.i . ti ,:r . e tt .. The €it^R' rays - _ - t •'•p vee s ,tit• roe ,i. :P i1"Pc• 1 -� . eared ,.,r n : to ledge, .. it was alwa�c-s said Of him, ,r- •.-p Ale ee't le' •''.' tee," ••:rd et that he knew how to keep t,,.,., ..r . it. .s r. !,t.',. , `-.c eher.h man.' iChristmas well if any . . _ - - r.•,,.. alive possessed the know. -ledge. ' 413 a .-,,-'- *...e , filar thatbe trttl�- saki, of us.. . 1;• r,i ,. i ,1; .and all of us. ,---Dickens. • `r cbc• trat),.i;:ii• Q ', •,1 ' hr..‘,1i,,-1, -. ort. :1-t`.e,.1 SaClioi.i.- in idi. -•,.-- , if laic steckir;.t finale: d fry. -:n tangling 'folks, and rushed' toy si•..'•,` :_la. treisttrP tri' the siiense that ' ,-+..• ed. Flew?' alai totber,:,•Ate/ i•: • ie.%1