The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-11-29

Santa Claus leaves here, can't / come
over and get 'em? Only I'd rather Ned
should have EN-
"ChildaIive / How your tonguerqnsj
Here, now, take these cookies homes Waditll
you. Z guess Ned's too busy to play with
you"
"Thank you, ma'am. And you'll re-
member about Santa Claus % said little
Mamie, as she walked a1a4 with ghsr
cookies. ~ skk44Ss, H. ~
Mrs. Huntley worked on for a
few minutes longer, and then, leav-
ing her dishes, she went to her
own room and opened 2 bureau
drawer. There LAY e bfigh little dysgs
and pretty white apron-Po1lyyTs best
things-the little clothes in which she
used te.look SO lovely. There We're the
last Christmas toys the mother had ever
bought-only little tin bank, paper
cornucopia, and doll but she remem-
bered that Christmas SO well Gould it
be that it was only .threes years ago !?
How Polly had laughed ancd1. chattefed
over her stocking! And Ned-now that
she thought about it 44she remembered
that they bought him pair of skates,
and had taken his little sister out to see
him try to use them. Ned was SO low
| ing and gentle in those. days. And then
| the. mothers heart Nrer5roaclied her
Gould she blame her BOY because lie
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 Astorysof the SaFierIs
\, birthday. 6GoaldS RerIHoyS ~hp WAY 5
years older,edo as HeI?N HeEHwsnt stb
Sunday-school sometimes, but she had
never talked with him abo-t Jesus
never since Cookbook r lllF.e.aAnd her
eyes filed as she shut the drawer.
i Mrs. slHuntley went. back to the kiteh-
en-, but tie room seemed different t6 her.
Ned brought in the, milk; and 'loeked
at his mother curiodsly at hearing her
say, HlThank you,. Ned" Wonders
would never end, Ned thought, when.
after tea, she sale, Father, it's moon
light night; couldn't you and I.driye 4to
the village? Ned will Sexcuse our ileay-
ing him a1one..aa' h If %-<& " rs5Ss
."Excuse p When had his mother
ever asked him to excuse her p. 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 great haste and
found Mary and Joseph. and the babe
lying in a .manger.' ! ~ -
MI. Hqntley was bewilderea, too. To
start off for the village at 74o'clock in
the evening !. When had such a thing
happened? go . ,~ '.-~
On the road Mrs. Huntley told her
husband what : Mamie had said to her,
and she added, :: Perhaps, as 7 tell it, it
don't seem much, but it. made me think
OF our Polly, and'-the woman's voice
broke, and the father, saddened too,
said, !oomfortingly,I l'she's' safe, ny
dear, in heaven. " > =. = ! I f0f
eyes, father, but I'm thinking of the
one that's left for all I cried little. T
guess you were near right about getting
him something nice. He's but a boy
yet, and he'd think more of Christmas.
and perhap ssof the child That was born
on Christmas, f we showAhi1a that Je-
sus has made oarmhearts8 little more
tender"
Whatit cost that hard, reserved woman
to say that. none knew, but 7 think her
husband felt dinnly how she must have
fought with herself, and" he was silent
for some times. AT last he said, with a
tone of5gladnAssin his voice, sffMy deaf,
I'm glad to get him something. He's
q good5boy, 1Ned!ispF|s j
What a,pleasant time, they had, and
how they caught the spirit Of Christmas
They bought.a>sled and skates, a. 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 :: ~. ~:...:s ....e.. ~ - I'D
I'D like to buy something for Mamie.
It will be nice to buy girls. present. y ..
| Their hearts ached a. little, as they
chose a wonderful little wash-tub and
board. with clothes-horse to match. How
Polly's eyes would have shone at these!
Meantime, Ned unused over:his moth
er1s tears and, her strangely kind
tones, and thought: ct wonder if
she's going to be as good to me as
she was to Pony!aI hated to hear
Mamie talk about Santa Claus. Polly
used to talk just that way and we did
have such good timesaYI used to get
skates and things At Christmas5 but now
IS get some handkerchiefss 8" a 'iot' 81
shirts h.. 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
Morning aa4vnsd ANA III Ned. hurried
down to light the fire in the kitchen, but
he went no further than the sitting.
room. There was sled, Ia splendid
one, pair of skates, and books! H
put his hands in his pockets to take 6
long stare, and felt something strange
in one of them. Why! There was &
beautiful knife !! @
Mother came in and watched his face
but at the sight of her the boy fairly