The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-11-10

dren, and then Santa Claus--O Mrs.
Huntley, that's what came about, and
| most forgot! If you don't keep Christ
mas-l mean as we do" she added, as
Mrs Huntley frowned-" and if you don't
use the things that Santa Claus leaves
here, can't come over and get 'em?
Only I'd rather Ned should have 'em."
:" Child alive! How your tongue runs!
Here, now, take these cookies home with
you. guess Ned's too busy to play with
you"
Thank you, ma'am. And you'll re-
member about Santa CLAUSE" said little
Mamie, as she walked away with her
cookies.
Mrs. Huntley worked on few minutes
longer, and then, leaving her dishes, she
went to her own room and opened a
bureau drawer. There lay bright little
dress and pretty white apron -Polly's
best things-the little clothes in which
she used to look so lovely. There were
the last Christmas toys the mother had
ever bought-only little tin bank, a
paper cornucopia and DOLL but she re-
membered that Christmas so well! Could
1T be that it was only three years ago?
How Polly had laughed and chartered
over her stocking! And Ned-now that
she thought about it-she remembered
that they bought him pair of skates.
He had made a great time over those
skates, and had taken his sister out to
see him try to use them. Ned was so
loving and gentle in those days. And
then the 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 bright or 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 we'll? 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 kitchen,
but the room seemed different to her.
Ned brought in the milk, and looked at
his mother curiously at hearing her say,
Thank you, Ned" Wonders would
never end, Ned thought, when, after tea,
she said: Father, it's moonlight night;
couldn't you and l drive to the village?
Ned will excuse our leaving him alone"
Excuse" When had his mother ever
asked him to excuse her? And then, as
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 Manager" ..... ........
Mr.. Huntley was bewildered, too. To
start off for the village at seven o'clock
in the evening! When had such thing
happened? ..
On the road Mrs. Huntley told her hus-
band what Mamie had said to her, and
she added: Perhaps, as tell it, it don't
seem much, but it made me think of our
Polly, and"-the woman's voice broke,
and the father, saddehed too" said COM
fortingly: "She's safe, my dear, in
heaven"
Yes, father, but Pm thinking of the
one that's left, for all cried a little. 1
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 that was born on
mSa Fdss8@hs i We shQy bin treatte fSfe h@'
What it cost that hard reserved woman
to say that none knew, but | think her
husband felt dimly how she must have
fought with herself, and he was silent
for some time. At last he said, with a
tone of gladness in his voice: g 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 Christmasl
They bought sled and skates, book or
two, and candies, and Mrs. Huntley
found a jackknife that was just the
thing Ned wanted. Then she said to her
husband:
"Pd like to buy something for Mamie.
1t will be nice to buy girls present"
Their hearts ached little as they
chose wonderful little wash.tub and
board, with a clothes-horse to match.
How Polly's eyes would have shone at
these!
Meantime Ned unused over his mothers
tears and her strangely-kind tones, and
thought: q wonder if she's going to be
as good to me as she was to Pollyl l
hated to hear Mamie talk about Santa
Claus. Polly used to talk just that way,
and we did have such good times. used
to get skates and things at Christmas,
but now get some handkerchiefs or a
lot of shirts 1t makes me mad" Then
Ned fell asleep, and so the mother found
him. She woke him gently and he went
off to bed, bewildered by more kind
words. .a-
Morning dawned and Ned hurried
down to light the fire in the kitchen, but
he went no further than the sitting room.
There was sled splendid one-a
pair of skates and books! He put his
hands in his pockets to take long stare,
and felt something strange in one of
them. Why! There was beautiful
knife!
Mother came in and watched his face,
but at sight of her boy fairly broke down.
Laying his head on her shoulder: " It's
like Polly coming back" he said. u
And so it was, and so it continued to
be.-Hope Ledydrd, in 81. Nicholas for
Nogember
A = IL. ~ 10 Mo-