The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1877-11-22

paper cornucopia, and a doll; but she
remembered that Christmas SO well!
Could it be that it was only three years
ago? How Polly. had laughed and
chattered over her stocking And Ned
now that she thought about it-she
remembered that they bought him a
pair of skates that year. He had made
great time over those skates, and had
taken his little sister out to see him try
to use them. Ned was so loving and
gentle in those days. And then tue
mothers heart reproached her. Could
she blame her boy because he
seemed to care so little for his
parents and his home, when she had
nursed her grief for the loss of her baby
girl, and taken no pains to be brighton
cheerful with him? She thought how
clearly Mamie had told the story of the
Savior's birthday. Could her boy, who
was six years older, do as wellp He
went to Sunday-School sometimes, but
she had never talked with him about
Jesus-never since God took her Polly.
And her eyes filled as she shut the
drawer.
Mrs. Huntley went back to the kitch-
en-, but the room seemed different to
her Ned brought in the milk, and
looked at his mother curiously at hear
ing her say, Thank you, Ned. Won
ders would never end, Ned thought,
when, after tea, she said, :. Father, it's
a moonlight night; couldn't you and ]
drive to the village? Ned will excuse
our leaving him alone
''Excuser' When had his mother
ever asked him to excuse herp And
then, rs mother waited for the wagon
to be got ready, she asked him to read
about the Savior's birth, and surely
there were tears in her eyes as father
came in, just as Ned read, "And they
came with haste and found Mary and
Joseph, and the babe lying in man.
ger"
Mr.. Huntley was bewildered, too.
To start of for the village at seven
o'clock in the evening! When had
such thing happened?
On the road Mrs. Huntley told
her husband what Mamiehad said to
her, and she added.
perhaps, as l tell it, it don't seem
much, but it made me think OF our Pol
", and''-the woman's voice broke,
and the father, saddened, too, said,
comfortingly, She's safe, my dear, in
Heaven
"Yes, father, but I'm thinking of
the one that's left, for all | cried lit
tie. l guess you were near right about
getting him something nice. He's but
boy yet, and he'd think more of
Christmas, and, perhaps, of the child
tbo+ ,,,ac horn on Cbr; ctmas If wp show
him that Jesus has made our hearts
little more tender.n
What it cost that hard, reserved
woman to say that, none knew. but l
think her husband felt dimly how she
must have fought with herself, and he
was silent for some time. AT last he
said, with tone of gladness in his
voice, " My dear, I'm glad to get him
something. He's good boy, Ned is. :
What pleasant time they had, and
how they caught the spirit of Christ
mas! They bought sled and skates
book or two, and candies, and. Mrs.
Huntley found a jack-knife that was
just the thing Ned wanted. Then she
said to her husband:
"rd like to buy something for
IL Will DC IlSC W wy q S5iiA
present.
Their hearts ached little, as they
chose wonderful little wash-tub and
board, with clothes-horse to match.
How Polly's eyes would have shone at
these!
Meantime, Ned mused over his moth
er's tears and her strangely kind tones,
and thought: 81 wonder if she's going
to be as good to me as she was to
Polly! | hated to hear Mamie talk
about Santa Claus. Polly used to
talk just that way, and we did have
such good times. l used to get skates
and things at Christmas, but now | get
some handkerchiefs or lot of shirts!
1t makes me madn Then Ned fell
asleep, and 80 the mother found him.
She woke him gently and he went off
to bed, bewildered by more kind words.
Morning dawned and Ned hurried
down to light the fire in the kitchen;
but he went no further than the sitting
room. There was a sled-a splendid
one-a pair of skates, and books! He
put his hands in his pockets to take d
long stare, and felt something strange
in one of them. Why! There was u
beautiful knife!
Mother came in and watched his
face, but at sight of her the boy fairly
broke down. Laying his head on her
shoulder, s'Its like Polly coming back, ;"
he said. tl
And so il was, and so it continued to
be.-Hope LedyaTd, IN 81. Nicholas.
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