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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance, 1922-12-21, Page 12paternal, She liked him for R. iii fact She had always liked him. She had felt sorry for him when she heard of the other affair, and, bow the girl had treated WM, and though he 'generally behaved toward her With an abstracted sort of politeness, slie had it warm place in her heart for him. So s•hmrejoiced that the spirit, of the season seemed to. have crept with comforting influence into his soal, The sight of the ehildren's happy faces had turned his thoughts from. himself to others, and Elizabeth was enough of a philosopher to know that this was the beginning of his cure. H.And you'll let me help pick plums from the tree?" He again addressed himself to Anne; though his glance kept turning to the back seat. "I don't think there'll be any plums, sir." The child was eVid- , ently a matter-of-fact littlesoul and did not want the nice man to be disappointed, "No Plums," her companion frowned a little, "Well, perhaps there'll be candy, and help you hunt for that," •• ••• True te.'biS proMise, and somewhat; to the surprise of both Eliz- abeth Ht?sit and his mother, 'Vincent appeared just as the children were being :Ushered int the drawing -room. He was impressed with the beauty of the tree, .A. breathless hush fell upon the little group, and then, suddenly, 'Anne exclaimed in awestruck tones—. • "The plums, the plums!" Following her eyes, Vincent saw a dozen small, oblong balls • glistening with their frosted surface, "Why, they do look like green -gages," he exclaimed, and in another moment he had Anne in his'arms and was crossing the thresh- . hold. "Oh, you Must wait!" The rest had trooped in, but Elizabeth raised a protesting hand. "There's to be a song first. Will the audience please be seat- ed?" With a laugh Vincent and his mother settled themselves upon a divan. In another moment, the children's voices began— "There's a song in the air this Christmas Day, A sweet old song that seems to say, Let us live and love the whilk we may." It was a pretty scene. Vincent half closed his eyes and let the • child voices sing deep .into his soul, while the picture etched itself upon his memory—a picture of a sweet-faced girl, surrounded by a group of merry children. He found himself strangely moved. He had never cared much for children, but the sight of these eager little faces about the big green, tree, and of this gracious, womanly girl in their midst, ss'vept his soul with a flood of emotions. • Be'canse one woman had been false, was there to be no home for him, With the patter of children's. feet and the sound of children's voices? He shook himself a little as the singing ceased and Elizabeth exclainied "If you would only encore us, we might sing you another song. "Let us hare that later," he heard his mother say. I know the children want their presents. Come, Vincent, you must help." "Cif course I'll help." He jumped to his feet and, lifting Anne to his shoulder, exclaimed, "Now for our plums, little girl." For the next few minutes an. excited stillness prevaded the room, While the tree was yielding its • varied fruits. Then there was clapping of childish hands, and gurgles of childish approval and screams of childish laughter. At last in a very surfeit of 'content little Nell crept into Elizabeth.'s arms a she sat resting for a int:talent while • Vincent reached for smile of the final things. In a moment another child slipped its little hand in Elizabeth's and stood leaning against her. .• Elizabeth passed an arm around the child, while she still held the other. : -. • • Vincent caught his breath as he looked at the group, Various •.:eraiotions had gripped him bard at one time or another during this •-•6•17-ening, but none had laid so Stronga hold • Upon him. He Was enough of an artist .to appreciate the beauty of the picture; and he • Was also enough of a man to be moved by its symbOlisrn. The beaut- (Continued on last column.) • 411e wish out malv2frienbs anb customers a Merry Christmas aub a 'Prosperous anb 1bapp Pew dear • •••-:•": " ,-- • N+4•4•*+,104-1414-44.404.40+++++++++4444,144++++**++-140144+-1•44,nbitsirii•-•144,4044444++I•44+++*****34 .14 Vt 4÷1.44+4444.44414144444444.14449"14+++++++144+4944444+444144444÷1444444+44444444014`140+S Christmas N flatness 4++++++,' 'UR Savior was born in a stable in order to rivE 0/CLOCK IN THE MORNING. teach us something. We must . look for a Someane—ah, miraculous day--sorneone has turned on reason and a meaning in everything which the lights! Out of the dim aisles of sleep they are drawn— He did, for while He was here on earth each "Christixias—l" exclaims a squeaky, •excited voice. of His acts, as well as each of His words, had And little minds leap at one great, effortless instant to a deep significance. What did Christ mean to teach us, full consciousness, Hanna & Co'y. Limited wish their many friends and customers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. . . • . SANTA CLAUS UNMASKED then by being laid in a manger in the home of meek and lowly animals? It was because He Himself was meek and lowly of heart, and loved to be with the meek, lowly, sinless creatures. The lesson is perfectly clear and plain. Christ loved animals, gave them a share of His great loving heart, and wanted us to love them for His sake, says a writer in "Our Animal Brothers." Animals are very easy to please. Kind words are much to them, and small gifts go a great way. Why should not every horse, donkey, dog and cat, yes and all the farm creatures, too, have a Christmas treat, and share our joy? Horses and donkeys love sweets, apples, carrots and bits of bread. How sad to think that many spend Christmas alone and forgotten, wandering about in the bitter weather! Tumble out of bed. Collide at the bedroom door. Streak headlong down the staircase. Pause one tremendous, holy moment at the entrance to the gorgeous treasure cham- ber. Then only inarticulate shouts and cries, as paper coverings, ribbons, and cards fly in every direction, starry eyes widen with joy, and pan-demonium descends. But none more joyful than the Mamas and Daddies, dear old sleepy -heads and stay-abeds, who come.down be- hind all the rest and are filled with wonder at the goodness of Saint Nick to these dear little ones of theirs— Gifts at the feet of the little oncs. Gold, frank -incense, nd myrrh at the feet of the babes: Behold, a symbol, a sacra- ment in remembrance of three wise men who came from out the East to lay gifts at the feet of a Babe in Bethlehem. aurortE anustx,is COMM? THE LIGHTS ON THE CHRISTMAS TREE (Concluded.). iful children touched his fancy, but it was upon Elizabeth that his eyes lingered longest. He rejoiced in the warmth of her colouring, that suggested vitality—vivid, abounding vitality. He admiredher simple, closely -fitting, ;white gown. He could not help comparing her with .• that other girl, and for the first time in many weeks 4e.t1.1.9ttglit of the Other calmly. She had been exquisitely, daintily beat:it:1W; She had been slender and frail and. helpless. He had longed to spend and be spent in ever-increasing attempts to minister to her pleasures: F01 - the first time it occurred to him that years of service might prove monotonous; that life, with a more responsive comrade, might be sweeter and more satisfying. Such thoughts, mere abstractions at first, followed close at his heels the whole evening. His mother's words, "She is fine, and kind"; repeated themselves to him insistently. How happy his mother world be—if But he would not let his thoitghts carry bim further in that direction. Unless that other image were completely destroyed, unless he could. tell Elizabeth that he-::'Catt-er:for her ;supremely, he would not do her such an injustice—iiiidwas not sure. Even while he and Elizabeth watched the children devour their sweets, even while they btmclied them up, packed them again into the car and un- packe&them at their own doors, he was not sure whether it was Eliz- abeth the type of Elizabeth the indiyidnalthat Seemed so sweet and lovable. And even when he had broughtber batic-,liorne„ and they stood before the dismantled tree, he was not positive w1ittier it was Elizabeth herself or an ideal he had cheated in his own mind that stirred him so. "Do you know," he said, breaking the silence that had:fallen between them, "there wasn't even a plum for ine'on•this whole tree?" • "That wasn't nice of Santa Claus, was it?" Elizabeth returned, "especially when you've, been so kind," "Oh, that's all right," Vincent interrupted, "bat," he looked to- ward the tree, " I should think I might, at least, have it souvenir of this happy occasion.". "And so you shall. :Do you prefer,the moon or the sun?" As she spoke Elizabeth moved nearer the tree and pointed to two balls, one silver, the other gilt, that dangled just above her head. • "Neither," the man replied 'Promptly. "They say I did cry for the moon once, but that was long ago. I'll take the earth now, if yott please. Nothing else will satisfy me." •• "Why, yes, of course," Elizabeth laughed a little, and, before he could hinder, the sprang lightly to a chair and was reaching toward large, round ornament that hung almost at the top of the tree. • • "Take care, Elizabeth," Vincent cried, dashing toward her. "The wire—up there—it's alive—" In an instant he had her down and in his arms. His yolee shook. • "Are you hurt? Tell ins, Elizabeth." "No—" Elizabeth's voice was muffled. "Not--itttless—I'm—s ernahed—to death—" The words were half a laugh; half a sob. Elizabeth, Sweetheart," Vincent exclaimed passionately, "don't 3iirariatntcd erstan—il would kill me, if anything happened-," With oto ndhel lifted her face and looked into her :eyes. The girl gazed at him in bewilderment, and then suddenly a flood of colour swept her face. H.er eyes fell and she trembled a little. "You are not afraid of me, Elizabeth?" He bent nearer, "Look at me, dear." His voice Was compelling, and the lifted her eyes again. .• ,• . "I believe 1 .can make you care," hewent on gently, "if you wil give me it chance—" "tat" --,•Elizabeth had freed herielf a little and was gazing at " him eartteStly—"there was someone "Yes, you're right There was someone else, but not now, Now there is no one bat yon—an— : • • Something be saw in bet eyes set his poises tbrobbing inadlv mid he boot till Ms lips were close to. hers. "Amt now be whispered, "I know it was pot the earth T wafited—but lielryep44914 ,yop've give it to 101 .