LG dT Christmas | Da id - £3 he little old be reason- she conclud- “and see us Edwin de couldn't do differently. that, needing now, he When pa died and Edwin bought this house of you to notion of , 18 he told need- again-—-and now ‘twas | the | Honey ws right hol Hen lett You out, he ha very ing you stay i; but the £1 .000 is absolutely ed to us on our feet Istolner turni set with a « and wil nothir : up right well, 1g short of pros ntial, and deed was made out last n She bit her lip and reddened as she shot a furtive gl bent fig- ure, thdn rushes n, nervously: “Of course you’ ght over with Pack- vou'd furni- ince at t to con Us as soon as Chris i Il be easy { have no further uy ture, Edwin's ] ustomer he could buy it dd. of COUrse, tidy the mones’]] | ! nice, n—for Mr. Craig w I ear. with your 1 igs and | shes and furniture - t made him think “He's over to the Gle um of his boy hood i " sanitart- nervous | dyspepsia, or some = ich thing, Well, I must he rushing salon Haiting In the doory 1¥, she eanlled back sharply: “If that good-for-noth ing brother of Edwin's round here tomorrow asking for us, you send him about his business lively. He ean smell a Christmas dinner a mile off.” The door closed resoundingly. Sunshine poured into the spotless kitchen In a golden flood, lingered lov. ingly on the bright braided rugs and china closets laden with willowware, china and pewter, The grandfather clock ticked contentedly in a corner, The kettle hummed drowsily. Gleefnl, the canary sang one exultant song aft. er another, The table with its cheerful red cloth had been drawn Up to the window, daintily set for grandma's luncheon. It was the same tranquil scene upon which her eyes had rested on hun- dreds of other days, and upon which, after tomorrow, they would never rest again. And tomorrow was Christmas! ~f day when the friendly ghosts of all the Christmases that were would stead lovingly back, only to flee in horror at lack of festal board and Christmas cheer! It must have been the affecting ple ture of those disappointed ghosts of other Christmases that impelled grand. mother to sit erect, swab her red eye. Hds, stiffen her trembling chin and resolve to thrust her troubles into the background ‘th Christmas should be over. “I'll have a Christmas dinner,” she planned, “just as if nothing had happened and—why, I'll Invite Edwin's brother I” Feverish with excitement, grand. mother hurried to do her marketing, and for the rest of the day the old kitchen abounded with tantalizing vooking odors. Christmns now for his health Hnnes morning grandmother me————— Sell —— Was early astir. Sprigs of holly graced the many-paned windows. The deep armchair had been drawn invit ingly before the fireplace. The plump and tender turkey was turning an ir resistible brown. Onions, turnips, squash and potatoes — white and “sweets '—weore cooking merrily. The cranberry sauce had been strained and set to cool upon the pantry window sill, and, adhering to =a long-estaly lished preceden grandmother slipped away to don her black silk dress, lace cap and snowy apron. She was becoming a trifle her guest when she gure ¢ anxious gpled a up the walk, the and beamed at the visitor, fi She fluttered hospitably to doorway away me. I'l dish it right up.” The visi fas nm the loaded tor's gaze table, wh seemed to desert request urkey, grandmother's carved the t “The Money'll Be Yours—a Nice Tidy Sum™ ing served his hostess, devoted self unreservedly to eating. “My land,” mused grandmother, aghast, “that poor Creature must have been fasting for a week | jut when the Indian pudding, pump. in ple and fruit cake had been eaten and they were picking placidly at the nuts, the guest waxed talkative, “How this all reminds me of home when I was a little boy-this room ——g facsimile !—and you—how you remind me of mother! It must be great,” he broke off sharply, “for you to have your own little home all to yourself— eh? The Christmas sun was already set ting, reminding grandmother that her last day was almost over. With a sudden sob she shed her gallant gar ment of pretense, and in an over powering hunger for Sympathy, she quavered out her sad little story, The gaunt visitor came around to her side and took her hand with clumsy tenderness, “I'm not the guest you were expect ing but when I saw that dinner—well, you couldn't understand unless you'd lived for three weeks on prunes and tonst and skim milk, Anyway, 1 was ravenous from hunger and 1 haven't had a dinner of such pure, unadulter. ated bliss since mother cooked It, What | came over for today was to say-~er-—that-—er—why, my wife finds she wants to live nearer the city, so 1 want you to consider this house abso. lutely yours as long as you need it, I'll have it put In writing tomorrow.” He shouldered hurriedly into his erut, then halted Irresolutely In the doorway. “Maybe, some time,” he ventured, uncertainly, “you'd be wil. ling to teach my wife to cook.” OT MeO Ra, avncisete) him igner in Now hushand, uch about” *How do you Sorry I can't “Of course ‘m so glad to wr, Mr.—n iy tll you Helen has told “And oh, meot Foster? me 80 much about you Pauline,” Helen rug “here is our baby, adorable? Then in a whisper, “Do look more cheerful, darling! If you don’t I'll ery and 1 mustn't do that “The doctors give you no hope?” “None whatever, But we'll got along-—somehow —" Helen dabbed at her eyes with her handkerchief, “Fos. ter, dear,” she said aloud, singing as we came in, sing for Pauline?” “Yes, please do.” “I'm afraid I can't” “Yes, you can, dear. you." And so he sang. At last their guest rose to go. can’t tell you how I've enjoyed your songs,” she sald. “I'm so glad |} stopped off on my way home for the holidays.” “You must come again” swered, much.” “I'm pleased to have met you, ter, and I wish Christmastide.” Days passed, and it was Christmas Bright and early came a gpecial de livery letter, “Dearest Helen,” it began. “I have the grandest news for you! As soon as I got home I phoned to Jud Myers In New York. He's staging a new show that I'm designing the costumes for and has been simply wild for some act to put in the heart throbs, “Well, I talked him into seeing that a bling singer would RO over big, and raved about Foster's voice, so it's all arranged. 1 am enclosing his check for $500, and If you can be ready we'll all go back to New York to gether, “With love for a Merry Christmas. Pauline.” ©. 1922, Western Newspaper Union, inter ted, Isn't he “you were Won't you I'll play for Helen an. “I've enjoyed seeing you so Fos. you both a blessed Dvn $n ARMIES pe Ame RL #, 2 od HERE are a lot of men out in the lumber camps that uren’t going to get home for Christmas,” Margaret Tomp- king told a group of young and women at the country club early in No- vember, “I want to get a Uhiristwus bag for every one of them. Who'll promise a Christmas bag?’ “I'd help,” sald Nick ring, “only thing is I'm green at of Do suppose could get someone to make n and 61 it if 1 paid for 17" “Yes; I've thought of that,” sald Margaret, “I've figured out that a nice bag be got up for three dol- lars.” A little later found Margaret wanted to n.en Lor that You bag like to sort thing you can when Nick nione Lorring told her he for ten of “I'll send you the check in morning.” he be responsible the bags the Margaret presse Nick's hand into his generous man in and looked EYER, “ the You're this Just a love for now, it seemed, would take Margaret oppor- little of i her, but to do It be to taint with se his ever-in¢ reasing of his generosity The Margaret office “1 want to tell you, Nick.” sald Mar Ruaret., “that | filled all the bags and Each Now | afternoon before telephoned to Nick at his wonderful. dolinrs they Cont were so Just three been can't may- the men at the camp have supplied. As It is all filled. 1 return the money, but 1 thought be you knew of some poor fellow who ght like one ™ thought a moment as he held the ! receiver. “1 do know a fellow ™ telephone sald he, Then he quit and went to farm next county. Sort of Suppose | take that ing over in the uckliess fellow Bg over to him.™ So after Nick en} He ped around I more sue iy frozen fingers HNngs from the and found, \ » 1 FAG ald 81 AVR EN | Thought of That” Said Margaret, “Yes; Vve 8 he had hoped, a box of matches with the cigarettes and tobacco in the By the time he had lighted a lamp, found fuel and warmed himself, the storm had covered the roads so that to attempt to return that night would be an act of folly. So Nick spent Christmas In poor Barry's for lorn cabin, Fortunately for Nick. he carried, In In his car, a box of groceries, bacon. bread and butter as a present to Barry to help through the winter, Much of this he left for Barry on his return ; from the rest he made his own rather meager Christmas dinner, But if i hadn't been for Margaret's bag, Christ. mas would have been a doleful day, In deed, When Nick went to see Margaret on his way home on December 26, he found ber In a state of real agitation. "Somehow 1 felt responsible for the whole thing,” sald Margaret. “You were responsible for the fact that | had a rather pleasant Christ mas after all. You kept me from freezing and starving to death, you cheered me with a good book, smokes and a mouth organ, and kept me from degradation by means of soap afd a comb. That bag was a godsend.” "Oh, Nick,” sald Margaret, with eyes very tender. “I feel as if | knew you so much better because of this" “Margaret,” sald Nick, “I've been trying to get up nerve for three months to tell you 1 love you-—to dis traction.” "And ever since you sent me the check for the bags I've known I want ed to hear you tell me." answered bag. cH F - ro / OIL wnt smmpnnche / Gris ENN FIN CAA] Good And Pesce on sarth seerng Though learned doctors think th The gospel stories are not so; i ey know ve got! Whate'sr our speculations are, We're dull indeed if we can't see What Christmas feelings ought + And dull again ¥ we can doubt ® be, Christmas, good old cheer us, say your aa too eager Soften we, In bonds, day, y » koeps We love you, too! Lift us above Owr cares err iis sister, “will little favor?” “Possibly . dra Blaine to do me Mol willed began to give Jerry, “1 ttle party imag eve! party, Jerry. P of being ir F stubbornls right. be, old obstinate. busy insisted 1ppose the As all unmarried. “Why not house ? “Molly.” already have have that the the old home.” “How many Jerry are asking, comfortable dinner party.” his Bisler's ire left Jerry to his ruck with a sur. two of them ma ie eal Chriets an aside ne with “I Love You, Phyllis, and Want Yow for My Wife” his sister as Peter was discussing a recent play with Phyllis, “Molly,” he said persuasively, “coax Peter into the study and see If yom can't stay there for a little. Run the radio, poke over my treasures, any- thing.” Then he turned to Phyllis. “Come,” he invited, “let's sit by the fire and tell secrets. I'll tell mine first! he promised, “1 love you, Phyllis” he sald at last, “and I want you for my wife 1 have imagined you again and again sitting here In just this way beside me. Have | any chance, dear? Phyllis did not speak for a mo- ment and Jerry's heart sank like a plummet. Then, softly, there stole from the study the sweet strains of “Silent night, holy night” Phyliis lifted her pansy eyes to Jerry's and laid her slender hand on the arm of his chair where it was in. stantly grasped. “Every chance in the world,” she whispered, Later, Molly took Jerry to task. “3 believe,” she said accusingly, “yom asked those people on Christmas eve Just hoping they wouldn't come.” Her brother looked sheepish. Then, “Right you are,” he admitted. “1 got an acceptance from Phyllls first. how. ever, and gambled on the others be Ing too busy.” “You're a fraud!” said Molly. “Merry Christmas!” sald Jerry. evr Br Syndleate)
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers