The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1873-12-12

five children"
81 know if will not be very grand,
motler," said Hope earnestly "but
it'll DO grand to them-poor things.
Andyou know the presents won't cost
much, L can make such lots of things,
and I've got plenty of time I; and Aunt
Janell hel p you about the supper, and
Phil will get the tree and fix it. I've
thought 1T all out, and know can do
it do let me, mother %
Mrs. Laurie thought it was a great
undertaking, and she disliked to have
Hope try to do it but when she looked
into her eager, glowing face-brighter
and happier than since her injury-she
had not the heart to refuse SO, after
few moments hesitation she said:
Well, dear, if the doctor thinks SO
much excitement good for you, 1 won't
object. But you'll find it hard to do
without presents yourself, I'm afraid ="
=" Oh, shall enjoy getting it ready
better than the presents, know" said
Hope, eagerly; "and think you, mo-
ther f; the trouble of it will all be yours,
after ALL"
"Indeed it will not % said Mrs.
Laurie you'll have to do every bit of
your own planning, and make all your
own presents I'll only have to wait on
you, and obey orders, and everybody
mows that isn't very hard"
Well" said Hope, laughing, "the
first order | give is that after breakfast
you send Phil to me-Ive got to have
MS help-while you go up to the asylum
AM get list of the children, names
AMI ages, and if there's anything
special they like, such as dolls, or books,
or andies, you know"
who began to take an interest in the
plan herself.
Alter breakfast Hope sat up in bed
and vas dressed, as usual, in soft,
quilted scarlet sack. Her night things
waer taken away, the bedmade up fresh,
the pillows piled up behind her, and
she vas ready for company. Mrs.
Laurie started for the asylum, and
Hope proceeded to try and interest Phil
i'll her plan. Phil was her brother, and
one year older than herself, and it was
through his carelessness that she had
fallen and hurt her knee. Feeling re-
sponsible, therefore, and suffering
pangs otself-reproach, he had been her
most devoted servant since that day
and when the new plan was unfolded to
him, he entered into it with zeal.
"Not that L care a fig for the little
beggars," he said carelessly "but if
you've set your heart on it, Sis, I'm
bound to help you through"
81 have setmy heart on it, said Hope
and | want you to make every
thing You can think of that's nice
for boys-t's hardest to make things
for them-arts, and tops, and whips,
and Jumping jacks. Oh, isn't it
nice? you can white so beautiful,
and can pant them, you know. Dear,
how we shall muss up mothers nice
bedroom! and she fairly laughed in
glee.
The doctor Just coming in heard that
laugh, and at once decided that getting
up Christmas tree was the very best
medicine she Gould take.
Mrs. Laurie handed over the money
and the list of names, and business be.
gan that very day, with the purchase OF
dolls, gilt and silver paper, glue, and
so forth, and the searching of the piece.
trunk for bits oisilk and ribbon. Hope
was busy and eager from morning tc
night, and Phil pent every evening al
her side, whiting and hammering and
glueing, and gradually getting together
n goodly array OF strong, practical toys
At every odd moment Hope puzzled
over her list of names, and wrote after
each the special PRESENT designed for it.
And rapidly the loliIays drew near
the large trunk placed AZ the side o.
Hopes bed was aboCt full of completed
presents, and Phil Was looking out for
tree.
Word OF what was going on had some
how got out, and by the efforts of a few
sympathetic ladies every child at tn,
asylum was provided With dress suitable
to the occasion, colleced from the out
grown garments of the children of the
village. Not only Aunt Jane. but othe]
friends, came in to hep about supper
and when the night arrived, Mr.. Brown
the livery stable man. offered TO senC
his long sleigh up to bling the whole
: troop down.
1t was really a beautiful entertain
ment that awaited them. A very prett,
tree, loaded with nicelylressed dolls
cradles, made of cigar-box wood. fur
nished with comfortable bedding set,
of dolls furniture, made o, pasteboard
dogs of rough gray flannel tops, Jump
: ing-jaclls, elephants of gray Canton flan
mel, rabbits and ducks of White Cantor
flannel, soft yarn balls, covered witt
crochet-work, sets of grac-hoops ant
, sticks, to play in the long halls. small
wagons, with button-molds FOR wheels
trains of cars made of blocks, md dozens
of other things, and for each child ,
cornucopia of candies, and facy box Of
nuts and raisins.
The supper-already spreadout in the
5 dining-room-was nice enouga for any
} body, Hope said, and provided will
special reference to young tastes
e Plenty of tarts, and cakes, and fruit
e and ice cream, with milk to drink an,
seats, that they might eat Mt their ease
), and last of all, an orange and packag,
9 of goodies for each to take home
=, The party was grand success. Tn,
children-most OF whom had never seer
0 anything SO beautiful-werei in raptures
and Hope, lying On the sofa looking a
), them, was almost too happy 10 speak.
During all these weeks her knee hat
0 been getting well, and the docto, ha,
d reserved for her Christmas presen tn,
news that she might bepin TO u,o II