HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Clinton News Record, 1921-12-15, Page 7,a ,...,...mow., ..._._
Christmas
For
Rent
By Mary Carolyn Davies
C
"e l a tkelly wanted, ere w'ay,, Detlai }s wae.
the only person wee knew what it was,
and, as it wasn't !lowers or books or
tandet, of toµrse it didn't .c Io hint the
least bit of 1,o'ad to Imam Whc•t Thee -
dere „wanted was a wrist watch an
1nAnitesintalle small, queer shaped,
gold ono, tike had s'cbn just Lhe very
on in a jewcor's win;law on Yonge
sheet .when rhe hacl been windrow-
shopping with Douglas, and had point-
ed rt out to him:. --
,As Chrietre.s came easaitingle near;
'whatever Theodora might be doing
with her lends and eyes, her brain
i was May evory inome•''' thinking of
the Christmas day to be, At Thee, in
her anticipatiene, it seemed perfect;
but soon, to her dismay, she found
that there was ,something 1,atkinu'. It
wasn't quite a complete Christmas
after all, this one that the had ton -
aired up, What could it be that it
needel? Snow, a farmhouse, a moth-
er, what else seou'1d Che!stmas have??
Why, the n'iost neioessary thing of all,
of course—children! Why hadn't she
thought of that before? She seized
a hat and wraps and went tearing
down the stairs.
She. lett Yonge street and walked
up to the "Ward." Now she was on
familiae;'-ground. She had once- done
soeiareerviee work in this neighbor-
hood,, She expected to find dozens of
children she Mimes,
The trouble was, she did! Almost
es soon as she appeared, little brown-
eyed, black -haired ragamuffins darted
out from nowhere ante flung' their arias
about ,her. "Teacher! Teacher!" the
adoring'cry went up. To these chil-
dren every woman from "the outside"
was a teacher.
"Childree! Pm not a teacher! I'v
never been a teacher! Didn't I us
to tell you that three times a day?
Hello, Mary! Hello, Tony! -And here'
Angela! eMy, how the baby ha
grown!"
Theodora soon resembled the middl
bee in a swarm, or the undermost m•an
in a football scrimmage. Children
were clinging to each arra, to he
skirts.
By ,a judicious questioning she found
out which ones were to go to a Sunday
school or .settlement. Christmas tree,
which ones night have .some other bit
of Christmas, and from the remainder
she chose, as she had intended, the
ten that seemed doomed tobe the most
Christmas -less.
She accompanied each of the ecsta-
tic ten; hone to get the parental con-
sent to her borrowing. She knew the
mothers of this district as well as she
did the children; and all the mothers
proved wiling, eves! anxious, to lend
their children to Theodora. Everything
was arranged. They were to be ready
promptly, and she was to call for
thein Chs'istmas morning. She wrote
Mrs. Ferguson to explain about the
cei'ldren and to say that the cheque
would be enlarged conn'en•surately.
Christmas morning! And such a
motningl Sun and snow all •a -sparkle!
If it was so lovely in town, what would
it 'bean the country? Theodora mar-
shaled her children and led' them to
the -station.. It wasn't so hard to get
them into the train as she had feared,
for the older children instinctively took
possession of the younger and drag-
ged, pushed, peeled and carried them
into their seats. As, the train started
Theodora looked at her charges.
"Have you ever been in a train be-
fore?" 'None of them had.
"Like it?" asked Theodora.
Did they?
"Wait till we get into the country!
You'll like that even better."
Her prophecy was correct. There
was a farmer neiglcbor at the station
with a .sleigh to drive then to the
farm. How the children reveled in the
sleigh -bells and marveled at the
smooth fields of snow, and at the
horses, and at everything they saw!
As they neared their destination,
Theodora realized that she was fright-
ened. What if Mrs. Ferguson shouldn't
like her?
"Here's the place," the farrier
pointed• his mittened. hand, and almost
at the same instant they •stopped.
the children were out at once.
Theodora marshaled thein into line
and advanced tarpon Mrs. Ferguson-.
"Merry Christmas! Merry Christ-
mas!" the children shrieked. They had
been Merry Christmas-ing the conduc-
tor, the other passengers and every
one they had seen all morning.
"Merry Christmas, grandma!" cried
out the poet remembering one. And
the others took it up.
"Yes, I told them you were to be
their grandam to -day and they could
all •call you 'grandma'!" announced the
personal conductor of the group. "I
hope you don't mind?"
For a moment Mrs. Ferguson gazed
in stern consternation at her swarthy-
cheeked progeny; then she melted.
Suddenly all the stiffness went out of
her and she beatnedet•pon the invaders•.
.-"Mind? I'll love it!" she said. Some -
A studio is half -way •betw,en a ;room
and an'apartment. To live ion a studio
one need not'necessiiri•ly be aim. lutist;
one need only have ail income half-
way between the income of roont
dwellers and '+apartment 'dwellers, as
Theodora had at times.
At other tinter she 'h.ad nothing at
all. Her chescn profession involved
cheques, else long intervals of cheque-
les'sness. She had just lived throegib
an interval. And today had'eome e
cheque.
It was a stupendous eheque;'stupen-
doue, that is, to Theodora, for_ it was
the largest she .had ever had; As she
WAS looking with round eyes at her
cheque, somebody knocked.
She •sprang to turn the key in -the
lock, but she was too late. The in-
truder had already entered'.
He shtick', the. snow off this hat into
her fireplace. . •`
"I saw the' sign on your doer 'Busy.
Keep out,' so I came in," he explained
easily. .
"Because you knew that you'd bo
bothering me," she cried' wrathfully.
"Because I- knew no one else would
be here," he corrected. "There are
nine men and- tea here. every time I
get away from work and come to call.
One never sees you alone!" ''''
"Douglas, tee busy."
"Being an advertising man, I'm used
to dealing with busy people who don't
weld to see Inc. Have a chair, Theo-
dora."
Douglas adjusted a weird- Russian
purple and blue sofa cushion 'behind'.
his own curly head. "Your house is
ever so much more hospitable than
you," .he grinned as he settled . him-
self comfortably. "But what's that
in your hand?"
"Oh, I'd forgotten; Look! A
cheque!"
He looked. "Thank the fates'!
You've -been getting thinner ale fall
until now you're cadaverous. It's time
you were getting something mobster'.
tial to eat. I hope, Theodora," lie
edded sternly as if warned''by some
memory, "that you won't spend this
one foolishly.''
`,`But it's never any fun to spend
money the other way!" she 'declared.
"Fun!„
"Besides," she stood up defiantly, "I
jcnow exactly what I intent to spend
part of this, cheque on, and nothing.
is going to stop me!"
"Nevr..*theless—"
—eel -Vele may as well stop there, Doug-
. las. It went do you' any good. I
never did like any sentence that began
with `nevertheless.' And besides, I've
decided what I'nr going to 'have! And
I'll never tell!"
"Why not?"
-"You'd .say it was extravagant!"
"Is it?"
"I want it!"
"Look here, Theodora—" he swung
an arm argumentatively.
Theodora explained a little further.
"I'm going to spend it selfishly. Do
you realize that two weeks front to-
snorrow's Chr'istmee? And, Doug-
las—" she hesitated, looked fearfully
around, and then confessed in a gush
of confidence, "I'm afraid of Christ-
mas!"
'"Afraid of Christmas'!"
"Yes, just plain afraid," she said,
"Any other day of the year I can
work and laugh 'and. talk. Any other
evoivng of ,the year I can go to The
Little Dutch Inn, or to the Diet Kit-
chen. or to the Brown Betty, or to half
a dozen other restabrants on Yonge
or Bloor streets --and be happy. But
on Christmas I can't he happy any-
where! On Christmas I'm hornesiek!"
Douglas couldn't speak. "Poor little
kid,," he thought. "It's tough to be an
orphan, to have always been an
orphan., and to have no relatives near-
er than third cousins and the Fatale
coast?' •
"Isn't this' your home?" he asked.
"This ? This is a battle -ground
;yhero I daily fight oil' the invading
host of callers, so that I can get a
bit of work deme! Whoever 'heard of a
home in the city at Christmas? Christ-
mas doesn't hopper, in cities anyway;
only in the country!"
"But--"
"I've always been afraid of Christ-
- mac m Toronto. Christmas hart me
east year and the year •before. It isn't
thoughts or .consciences alone taloa can
torture. Days can, That day did. So
this year I'm afraid of Christmas, and
fax .a shield I'm going to get myself
Chgleteeas :present!"
_f"leaned forward, all attention.
""I'm perfectly •grown cep enough to
wasto my own money!"
"Well, get yourself whatever you
want for Christmas, child. If this
weather holds out the ice wiltl'be great
by Christmas Day."
Theodora drew her typewriter on
its footstool toward het'. "Clive the
door a little slant ea you go out," she
said. "Therc'e something wrong with
the hook."
CheiSemas-Tiaite..
Jingle of tee sleigh -bells,
Little feet astir,
-Scarlet of the holly,
Green of pins and fir,
Gleam of gilt anti siivor
Where the cancll'es glow,
Little trees aglitter,'
Breeches bending low!
Jingle of the sleigh•holls-,
SLarliget`on the snow,
Stockings by tiro firesido,
Stvingang to and fro,
l Repose hoods adreatning,
L av]xig area near,
'Taw, ea all the taperer know,
Christmas• lnie is hero!
"',Che ice seta bo fine by Christina
D ouglas repcetede
"I'm sure i•t will," site answer
sweetly interested.
"Will you go skating with me?"
"No, thanks," she said absen't'ly.
"Will you marry me?"
"No• thanks."
"Perseverance brings success,"
quoted. • .
"Does it?" see .was quite, willing
be •convinced, but at the same ti
faintly ironioa'1.
He flushed, then laughed, "Wel'!,
hasn't seemed to so far," he admit
"Bat, Theodora! I can't go on 1'
this! Dont you care'at all'? I've''
a •crazy fool to even with fax it-
I've had•dreams of your marrying
some day—"
"You promised not to speak of th
"I • know. I'm sorry." P11 be c
fur
Theodoi;a,noisily inserted a piece
paper and began typing. As fax
she was concerned he had already d
tended• eel the flights of stairs and
fax down the street. Still the lingere
"Anytyay, tell me, what you're g<i
to buy," he insisted.
"A selfish Christmas present. Sort
thing' I've wanted' every 'Christen
I've been in Toronto—and anyway, I
not going •to buy it, I'm going to re
it."
"Rent it!"
Theodora X'd out a word with •h
typewriter and wios'hed him anywh
else.
"Tell me!"
She whirled on him. "If I do,
you go away?"
"Gracious and hospitable hostess,
promise. What are you going to
with that money?"
"I'm going to rent a mother.!" -''
"Rent? A mother?"
"By the day."
He clutched at a chair fax suppo
"Just over Christmas. A moth
and a farm and memories and a r
Christmas, the right things to est
:don't know what they are. How
I, when I've been eating Christie
dinners in restaurants so long? B
old ladies in the country knew. An
gray=haired' mother to eat thea
with and snow outside the window
"But where under the suer are yo
going to get them•?"
. Theodora looked a.t him• in scorn f
his ignorance. "Advertise," said. soh
He 'burst into a shout of uncontro
!ribby merry laughter.
She regarded him with cool dignit
then turned again to her typewriter.
"You're going to advertise?'
"Weil, it really. isn't the right w'a
to de," she admitted. "I ought to bay
only to choose. They ought to adve
tise'! There are hundreds of lonel
old ladies in the country at Christina
One reads about then in stories! Th
know how to make cranberry sane
They have snow outside their win
dos. They should hang out signs o
their front porches. 'Christmas fo
Rent!' They should put that node
in the papers, anyway; but the
don't." She looked immeasumabl
grieved.
"Se you're looking foe a'Christma
for Rent'?"
He still hesitated about goin
"Then l shan't see you Chxiutm•as Da
at all?"
"Noe Will you take •my, ed to sons
newspaper or other?'.'
"Theodora, you slave driver! Ye
I will." Douglas still had his hat i
hand but did not seem at all anxiou
to use it.
Sire waved her hand toward th
door. "I've a lot to do before I g
home. for Christmas!"
And when he had goon, she lecke.
the door. Douglas was always abou
when she wanted to work, anyway. I
WAS really annoying.
Fax the next few days Theodor
hardly left her room, except to scurr
round the corner to eat. In fact, soh
had her rrreals at places where sh
knew' the coffee and the tab?eclotl
were execrable, simply in. order the
she might get ba.cic to her room sooner
and go on reading the letters. Ever
tate postman was interested in th
quantity of them. But when the ren
one same, she knew it, There was n
doubt, no weighing of two or three
favoritee. She would rent Mrs. Per
guson or no mother at all! She wrote
Iter answer., clinching the natter and
settling the little questions of !hours
Douglas himself mailed the letter
though she did not consider it neces-
sary to tell hint that it had anything
to do with her Christmas plane;
These last two weeks before Christ-
mas were radiant ones. See found site
was ea -welly looking forwaed to
Christmas. She could see people wear-
ing holly without feeling •a pang of
envy for their happiness. She was
happy, too. She smiled at children,
she sang as she worked, until the peo-
ple next door„ on both sides of hoer,
banged en the wall.
Her -chief worry was uncertainty as
to what see should buy her mother fax
Christmas. Mie read Nees published
in magazines, she asked the advice of
cierks, she even read Chris'tinas'•ster-
lee to see what fictitious daughters did
about it, She had (mite gotten over
any feeling that she wase fictitious
daughter herself..
/is between tinier; site wondered what
her another, with the stipulated sons
elle cited set a.sido fax .that prrpoee
would buy for :her Christmas present.
?wimps the would buy her mittens
and mufflers and geed stoat shoes.
There was no telling, Theodora really
didn't at ail]• mind' What the pros'ent
was. The point was. that it would be
a secret, •find merge me so noeossary
to Clsrietm•as,
rel'" "..,:,,s
ed,
he
to
me
it
ed.
ice
been
but
me
h• at
are -
of
as
es -
was
do
tag
e -
as
nt
er
ere
wi•11
I
do
rt.
er
cal
t—I
oar
tittle ti of
o
•
:a ' i( tie taitilt ot< trietbietjellt';
'' ;'1,,6toba Ztill tut stet Ott ifet
s ,bode tfjlt tiM,1 anti breatnlcit :leep
Tin fstientstrir ga bp;
i" et fn tfjp baht otreet fj ttetb
�Gfje' ebertastitty �igljt;
t ije tjailes 1I&1 gem of alt tin Carl'
he met in deg to itiltbt,
ctblebein,
c zee tine
e ' CVO of &etljlefjetu t' .
eoceltb to no, rue pray ;
Elia out our tftn, ait0 enter itt,
3e born (n 00 to -bap.
Vale fjear rile (Cfjrrilttnas .angel,
gibe great glob tibfngs tell;
lj, conte to u0, abibe luftij ui,
Our 3t orb Cilium -tali
*taiga i trsot ,
ur
IIRISTMAS is the great geeasion when we
are all supposed to renew our allegiance to
the Christ, to put the Christ teaching of
the brotherhood of man in practice, Christmas
ought to be a great heart -mellowing, -affection-
quickening, friendship -renewing occasion. It
is the time of all others when we should realize
that we are all brothers; that we are all • mem-
bers.of the same great human family, children
of the'same great. Father -Mother -God. It is
the time, if ever, when we should recognize.
that though oceans and continents divide us,
though we speak different tongue"s,' may differ'
in race, color and creed, yet we, are so 4IeSely
related in thought and motive that our deepest,
most vital interests are identical.
s the queer sihape that she lead yearned
for! , But she had no time to puzzle
aver this, for the children claimed' her
'again,
By the time the hubbub was over,
they all suddenly discovered' that it
was alarmingly late and the winter
dusk was upon them, so it woe de -
aided to give the children 'a light sup-
per of ;bread' and butter at once before
they set out fax their train.
Theodora herself wasnt luungry.
"You sit belie and rest, thep," coma
mended Mrs. Ferguson, "while I. give
them their supper."
Theodora rather gladly sank down
into one of the plush chairs in the now
aisnost dust -captured parlor.
"Merry Christmas!" said a voice
from the simr corner of the room, from
behind the Chris -tines tree, it seemed.
"What—who is there?" Theodora
half rose in startled oaanazement.
Out of the dusk stepped Santa
Claus.
"Ohl" she was relieved. Only the
neighbor—but what was the matter
With her? Was she imagining things'?
His voice had' sounded so Pike some
One else's.
"Merry Chrslznas!" repeated Santa
Claus, Corning a step nearer.
"Merry Christmas!" answered Theo-
dora, "and thank you." Then, "Doug-
las!" she ehrielced, as the neighbor
took off his mask; for under the mask
she saw the familiar, teasing face.
"You're welcome -Theodora"
"How did you get here?"
"Same train you did. Smoking car.
Watched you."
"But how did you know? I didn't
tell you where Mrs. Ferguson lived,
I didn't tell you anything. }Iow—"
"Are you angry?"
"Yes, I ant!"
"It's just as Mrs. Ferguson says.
I'm her neighbor, or used to be about
twenty years ago.. You never happen-
ed to ask for the :latitudo and longi-
tude of the farm I used to tell you
about, where I lived when I was a
youngster. Come to fhe window and
I can point it out to you. Mrs. Fer-
guson was our nearest neighbor -and
I knew she still !Hued ]here, I wrote
her and sent -her your ad. I dictated
her letter to you."
"Oh!" There was. no other word big
enough to hold her wrath.
"Why? Wasn't it a good letter?
Wasn't it effective?" •
"It was the best of then• all," she
groaned.
"It was meant to be, I saw my
dbsnce and I took it. What's the use
of spending years learning to write
•an ad if you can't write a winning
one at a •pinch? You had no right to
refuse to entertain a lonesome person
on Christmas. So I decided, to make
you do it anyway, and I did."
"I hope. you're satisfied;" snapped
Theodora.
"Not quite," snapped Douglas.
It- had never been like this before.
In town Theodora had always felt so
capable of living alone foe the rest
of her life. She liked to be free; she
liked' to be sufficient unto Theodora,
tiring of Theodora's happy-go-lucky
e fellowship with the comers seemed to
e have enveloped her already.
"How are you, daughter?" Mrs.
s Ferguson kissed- Theodora as natural-
s ly as if she had sem'her before. "Del
you have a good trip?"
e "A splendid trip, And how well
you're looking, mother! You've gained
since I was home bast, haven't you?"
r She lowered her voice, "How ran I do-
ing it? All right?" They laughed as
gleefully as two echoolgirl conspira-
tors.
"Would you children like to have
snowman? Would you like to buil
forts and have a snowball fight he
in the yard? They may, mayn't they?
It's not noon yet." Theodora turned
to her mother."Just the thing! It will take them
off our hands and they'll have a fine
time. I'11.get anted coat and a stove-
pipe hat fax the snowman!"
"It's good, of you to take so much
trouble."
"Trouble! For my grandchildren!"
There was no doubt about it, Mrs.
Ferguson had a sense of humor.
"How glorious Christmas is," sigh-
ed Theodora. "Since I've been in the
city, I've wished it carne once in ten -mane years. Now I wish it ane every
month!
She wished it more than ever, as the
two women• in the kitchen did the ini-
memorial ]last things to the Christmas
dinner, with all the tastings and ad-
ventures of holiday coolcing. Theodora
was wearing a big bate apron of Mrs.
,Ferguson's and felt like a real woman,
she explained, instead of only a city
tome. "I told some of the neighbors
about the children corning, Mrs. Fer-
guson confessed,, "and they all were
very much interested. 'Several of them
begged to come to the tree this after-
noon, but I wouldn't let any of them;
except that I did' think that we should
have a Santa Claus, so I promised ono -
of the neighbors that he might be
that.".
"Splendid! I'd forgotten about a
Santa Claus!" This last had beenunder their breaths, as the last child
died into the dining-rcom.
"Such a dinner'! And such a din!"
as Theodora said,
Turkey and cranberry sauce and
mince pie and p•tunpkin pie and apple
pie, and "everything," as the Meekest -
eyed grandohild put it.
The borrowed children were having
a wonderful time, and alter dinner the
wonderfulness increased.
"'net -would you like to do now?"
asked Theodora.
"Fairy stories!"
"Tell us fairy Merles!"` Tell us a sexy, teacher!"
Theodora pounce; upon the lucklesstenth that had soil "teacher." "I'm
not a teacher, honey!" she protested.
"But I'll tell you, sir ce we're pretend -
mg fo•d:ay, let's pretend—how would
you like' to play that you're all my
nieces .and nephews anti that I'm your
aunt? You see yon uan call me 'Aunt
Theodora'."
"You don't look like my aunt," said
one. "It isn't so fat with you." Public
school bed heliport the races to mingle
their idioms bewilderingly
But the children accepted time idea
avidly..'
Most of them kissed her, and
they alt tried the new terns on their
tongues, and found it sweet.
`r.,Vit,
ti
Theodora loved the feeling of being
surrounded by xelatives. _ She was sur-
prised at herself for loving it. She bad
thought she was happy, being inde-
pendent, being alone., But this day
was doing something for her. It was
inaking her over, or at least trying to.
She was in a fright 'lest it succeed.,
After the twelfth fairy story, the
rented mother answered: Theodora's
glance. "I think we might have it
now," she said. So they all trooped
into the parlor, where a ;beaming
Christmas tree caught their breath
• with its glitter and color and :the
d mysteriousness of its pendant smok-
e ages.
"Oh, Aunt Theodora!"
"Look, grandmother! A Christmas
tree!"
"A Christmas tree!"
C / y
�C din- as Card
It is easy, 0 my masters, to find the best of ways
To please the Lord in using the holiest of days.
"No!" says the rich man, "I ala filled with care,
Sables for my wife—diamonds fine and rare?
Pearls for my daughters, swift cars for my sons ?—
I shall be mad from worrying before the great Eve runs!"
"Ah," says his brother, " I know the Gift He gave;
I know that' He redeemed me—I was once a slave.
I wish I had a chalice set with rubies red
As the blood of pigeons, or sapphires for His Head."
But—oh—seek out the sad man to whom all .urns are closed,
Who knocked in vain at every door where honest folk reposed.
Oh, cheer the widowed woman and dry the children's tears,
And drive away for one whole year the wolf the orphan fears!
It is easy, 0 my masters, to find the best of Ways
To please the Lord in using the holiest of days!
—Maurice Francis Egan.
"A Christmas tree!"
"Oh, and a doll!"
At this moom'ent there was the sound
of slough -bells. They cure nearer,
they seemed to bo en the side veran-
dah. There was a loud whoa! and a
snowy person in red leaped through
the.window grandmother had opened
in order to look out a bit worriedly.
"I was afraid he wasn't coming,"
she confided to Theodora. "He is a
little late. It's the neighbor I told
you about"
"Santa Claus! Santa Claus!"
"Look! He'•s got 'a pack!"
"Oh, oh!"
Then the real climax of the day
was upon them, .and the ten were de-
lirious with joy. Santa showered
randy and apples and oranges on
them, he cut tate strings of the pack-
a'ges on the tree, and handed about
the packages at the foot of it, and
each child found himsellf a bewildered
little Aladdin in a cave of treasures.
Theodora was so busy winding up
toys that would wind, and admiring
dolts to order, that she had, no time
for anything else. For the moment
she almost forgot to give Mrs. Fer-
guson the polar bear bathrobe she had
;bought for her. When she had pre-
sented it and been duly kissed she me-
ted the package which Mrs. Ferguson
pressed into her ]nand. When she saw
what • It contained-, she almost cried
.out. It was a wrist watch of precisely
r,
Give me the hearthstone
with the glow that warms
the soul wijthin.
I choose the gift of kindly
seniles, that wealth can
never win;
The laugh that ripples to
the lips from hearts
where peace sublime .
Reigns in the fullness of
content to bless the
'Christmas -time.
and to need no one, not even. Douglas
Biot 'here, In this snow-neotled farm-
house, where she had felt the Pull of
home :and dependence, 'and had. known
the sweetness of some things she had
forgotten for tate last few busy years
—,here, it was different,
"Theodore?"
"0, Daruglae!"
His arms were about her, snot she
put her head down on leis shoulder
with as much the roamer of the tra-
estimate oiinging vine as if she had
never owned a studio or seen a' e!ty
street. It was n complete surrender,
and Douglas knew that his siege of
many months was over at last.
The snowy silence without was bro-
ken'by the quick passing of some fes-
tive team. At the sound of the bells,
Theodora, startled, remembered the
day.
She raised her head from his shoul-
der. "It's over, Christmas! And it
didn't hurt :me •at all! I'11'never, never
be afraid of Christmas again!"
And together they went haptpily out
into the dining -room where the rented
mother and the borrowed ten were stile
revelling in the high tide of Christmas.
A Polish Folk Song.
Lullaby, my little. pearl,
Jesu, my darling!
Lullabi, • my little pearl,
Dear Baby sleeping!
Lullaby, little one,
Jesu, my darling!
Mary is holding you,
Guarding and keeping.
Close your eyes, my little man,
Your tears to cover;
Close your eyes, my little man,
Heavy with crying;
Calm your lips, little one,
Where joy should hover;
Resting in Mary's arms,
Hush all your sighing.
Bring for the dear Little man
Good things and pleasant;
Bring for the dear little man
Every sweet berry;
Il the garden go
W•tohere all is pleasant;
Mary, will quiet Ilim,
Keeping Him merry.
Lullaby, my Tittle love,
Star kindly twinkling!
Lullaby, my little love,
Suri shining brightly!
Lullaby, little one,
Star kindly twinkling!
Mary is watching you,
0, Sweet and Sprightly!
A good magazine ora good
book is a fine Christmas present
for the young folks, as well as
the grown-ups.
In making your Christmas,.
caramels, it is well to remember
that e pinch of yeast powder put
into caramels after they have
begin to boil will make them
smoother and more creamy.
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It was Christmas eve and past
Billy's regular bed time, but he linger-
ed before the sitting -room fire, telkking
with Mother atoeut Santa Clens' and
the many visits that he would have
to make. Mother said that Billy he'd
been a good boy so Santa Claus would
surely bring hint his new trans.
"I hope he got my letter," 'said Billy
as he thought of the happines-s that
Christmas would bring bin. Then he
began to think about his little friends
Tom and Louise, and he felt troubled
about ;item„ for they both had said
that Santa Claus could not come to
,them this year. They were his little
neighbors and playmates; he liked
them and he knew that they /too, had
been good..
Bi-lly sat thinking foe a few min-
utes, then he jumped up and ran to
his room and took his little battik from
the top bureau chewer end shook out
his savings, He had $2.50 and he
slipped it into. his pocket, hurriedly
put oil .his• overcoat and mittens, and,
cap in hand, rata beck to the sitting -
room. "Mother," he sail, "let's -petty
Santa Claus! Let's go to the big toy
shop and buy a present for Tom and
one foe Louise. I have some, money of
my own to spend'!" Mother was sur-
prised art his plan, but site vas OW to
join in the fun, so, together they were
soon: hurs•ying down the street to the
big tuy shop. There Billy bought,a
beautiful doll Inc• Louise and a toy
automobile for Tom:. On one package
he wrote; "To Louise from Santa
Claus," and on the other, "To Tout
from Santa Claus."
How happy Billy and Mother felt
as they went along the street to
Louise',s home. Thera wee a light in
the kitchen and theycollid see Lauise's
mother working there, so while Moth-
er waited outside, Billy seeped quietly
in by the (rant door, From the sitting -
room mantle hung Louise's empty
stocking! Billy put the new doll ie
the top of it and in, his hurry to got
out before he was discovered, he tip-
ped aver a chair! "Is that yea,
Louise?'; called her mother, But Billy
was 'soon safely outside of the house
and .heard no more,
Then Billy rejoined Mother and
they went around the corner to Tom's
!tome --the tiniest cottage in, the neigh-
borhood. As he did not care to risk
being eliseovered at TOM'S • he did' not
attempt to enter, 'but slipped quiatlpr
around the cottage to Tom's bed'reom
window. It was open! Billy Was just
about to -climb in w'hon Tenon deg
;larked anal soauobtody stirred in' bed, so
Billy putt the toy on a'rhair near the
window and; 5.1011 back to Mother were
was waiting en the comer.
When they rea'e1, cl their ewe: home
they found that Father had; finished
trimming the beautiful Christmas
tree. .They all adhered et, oath one 1�
put on a few finishing touches sad
then B :ly hung up hie stocking and
went upstairs to bed. M^t , t came
and arcked him in snugly for rho night
and, fancying that he creed liar the
jingle of bells and the beat of tiny
reindeer 'hoofs, hr Soon f sd neaten..
When he awoke in the morning he
found Mother bending orcr hint.
"Billy," elle said. "I have time ht cf
a Ulrike -les plan a'imest as nice a.4
yours. How would you like to Meet
our Christmas tree thio after"o:m end
invite Tom and Louise?"
Billy clapped his hcm'is and showed,
"I would love to invite them. M; '^er,
anti may 11•.e Santa C1sus h"
In the afternoon Billy's friciele ar-
rived to enjoy his Christmas tree.
What happy faces they !rade What
Merry laughter was 'heard! And no
one was happier than Billy, who,
dressed like Sent:a Claus, Moder! .:ut
the gifts.
To give gifts which are
so elaborate that one must
economize for a whole; year
afterward in order to get
square With the world, ie to
lose sight of the true spirit
of Christmas. Gifts should
be' appraised on the basis
of their spiritua'1, not their
material, valuation, Not
even the high cost orf living
can rob Christmas of its
hale spirit if one's heart is .
right. The best pari; of
Christmas is not in the
gifts which are given, but
the love which prompts
giving,