The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-11-10
POLLY: A BEFORE-CHRISTMAS
STORY.

"Santa Claus" exclaimed Ned, half
mockingly.
" Yes" insisted Mamie, "whats he
going to bring you, Ned?"
don't know and don't care much, ="
he answered, for there isn't any Santa
Claus"
"Why, Nedm cried Mamie, in aston
ishment. Given my big brother Harry
believes in Santa Claus. He's coming
home from school tonight, and we're
going to hang up our stockings"
Pshaw~ said Ned, must go home.
Good-by." ........ ..-....
Merry little Mamie stood in amaze
ment, and then ran indoors to her moth
er with her perplexity.
Why, motherw she cried. "Ned
Huntley said there wasn't any Santa
Claus-and he was real cross about it,
too"
Well, Mamie" said her mother, "I
wouldn't take any notice of Ned's being
cross about Christmas-time. The Hunt
leys don't keep Christmas" ...
"Don't keep Christmas" exclaimed
Mamie, astonished beyond measure.
Seeing that her mother was busy, she
took her doll, Helena Margaret Constance
Victorine, in her arms and talked the
matter over with her.
"What do you think, my DEAR" said
She" they don't keep Christmas at Ned
Huntleys house! 1 don't know just what
mother means by not keeping it, for you
know Santa Claus comes down the chin
ney, and so that he can get in during the
night and leave Christmas there. o yes,
but they don't keep it. They turn it out,
l suppose, just like mother told me they
acted about the dear little baby Savior;
they hadn't any room for Him, and l
guess Mrs. Huntley hasn't any room to
keep Christmas in. l wonder what she
does with the Christmas things Santa
Claus brings? l wonder if she throws
'em away? mean to go and ask her.;
and, putting her child carefully in its
cradle, Mamie started.
There was some truth in what Mrs.
1nntie1 I'D d,t told her little danghter: the
ing, hearty way. They kept it in so far
that on this very afternoon Mrs. Hunt
ley was busy making the mince pie,
dressing the turkey, and doing all she
could to be beforehand with the extra
Christmas dinner. Mr. Huntley had just
stepped into the kitchen for moment to
say to his wife: What have you settled
on for Ned's Christmas?"
GIVE bought him a pair of arctics-
he needed 'em; and if you want to spend
more than common, you might get him
half dozen handkerchiefs."
Well, wife, was thinking that per-
haps"-the farmer tried to be particular
about his words, for Mrs. Huntley did
not seem in very good humor-" was
remembering how you used to enjoy Civ
ing the young ones candies and toys; SO,
perhaps"
Now, Noah Huntley, I'm surprised
at you! Buy candies and toys for great
numbering boy like Ned? Why, you
must be crazy, man! The next thing
will be that you'll want a Christmas tree
yourself"
"Well, it wouldn't be bad idea,"
thought the farmer. There's my man
Fritz, he has been to the woods and cut
little tree for his children, and he seems
to get heap of pleasure out of it. All!
if only little Polly had lived" Strangely
enough, the wife was thinking the same
thing, as she sliced and sifted and
weighed. "If little Polly mad lived it
would have been different, but we can't
throw away money on nonsense for Ned"
A little red cloak flashed by the win
dow, little bright face, just about the
age of ".our little Polly's," peeped in at
the door, and Mamie asked: May l
come in, Mrs. Huntley9"
Certainly, child Here's fresh
cookie. suppose you're full of Christ
mas over at your house?"
90 yes, ma'aml And Pm sorry you
don't keep it, What's the reason?"
Don't keep it! Why, we have reg
ular Christmas dinner as sure as the 25th
of December comes round, and pa gives
me new dress, or something that need,
and we give Ned a suit of clothes, OF
shoes, or something that he needs"
WELL" said Mamie, I" but l like our
way best. May tell you how we keep
Christmas?"
"Talk away. l can listen"
"Well, you see, a good while before
Christmas my mother begins to get ready
and often see her hide up something
quick when l come in, and then she
laughs, and think: 20 yes, something
coming and then mother takes me il
her lap and tells me how Jesus is coming
and how He did come. Do you know
Mrs. Huntley?"
You can tell me, child"
"You see, He came long, long TIM
ago as little baby. Mamma says tina
He began at the beginning, so that nj
little child could say: can't be lik
Jesus, for Jesus was never so little as me
That first birthday of His, there WASH
any room for Him at the tavern, ant
when that dear little baby Jesus wa
sleepy they laid Him right in stabl
manger, and the shepherds found Hin
lying there. Christmas is His birthday
and l suppose they give all the childEeI