The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1881-12-24
HOW 1T ALL HAPPENED.
A Christmas story.

N thFtstmas StoTy'
1t was a small room, with nothing in
it but bed, two chairs and a big chest
A few little gowns hung on the wall,
and the only picture was the wintry
sky, sparkling with stars, framed by
the uncurtained window. But the
moon, pausing to peep, saw something
pretty and heard something pleasant.
Two heads in little round night-caps
lay on one pillow, two pairs of wide
awake blue eyes stared up at the light,
and two tongues were going like mill
clappers.
lin so glad we got our shirts done
in time! 1t seemed as if we never
should, and don't think six cents is
half enough for great red flannel
thing with three button holes-do
you?" said one little voice, rather
YEARLY.
mo, but then we each made four,
and fifty cents is good deal of money.
Are you sorry we didn't keep our quar-
tiers for ourselvesP" asked the other
voice, with an undertone of regret in
it.
"Yes, | am. till think how pleased
the children will be with our tree, for
they don't expect anything, and will
NC 81 sui JliSCUs WISH We lHOlO
toys to put on it, for it looks so small
and mean with only three or four
things"
alt won't hold any more, so
wouidn worry about it, The toys are
very red and yellow. and | guess the
babies won't know how cheap they are,
but like them as much as if they cost
heaps of money"
e. ri; III
spoke the four blue eyes turned toward
the chest under the window, and the
kind moon did her best TO light up the
tiny tree standing there. A very pitt
full little tree it was-only branch of
hemlock in an old hower-pot, propped
up with bits of coal, and hung with a
few penny toys, earned by the patient
fingers of the elder sisters, that the lit.
tie ones should not be disappointed.
But in spite of the magical moon
light, the broken branch, with its
.scanty supply of fruit, looked pathetic
ally poor. and one pair of eyes filled
slowly with tears, while the other pair
lost their happy look, as if a cloud had
come over the sunshine.
"Are you crying, DollyP"
"Not much, Polly"
y
81 didn't know how poor we were
till saw the tree, and then | couldn't
help it," sobbed the elder sister, for al
twelve she already knew something Of
the cares of poverty, and missed the
happiness that seemed to vanish out Of
all their lives when father died.
Its dreadful. | never thought we q
have to earn our tree, and only be able
to get broken branch, after all, with
nothing on it but three sticks of candy
two squeaking dogs, red COW, and al
ugly bird with one feather in its tall
and overcome by sudden sense of des
titution, Polly sobbed even more de
spairingly than Dolly
Hush. dear; we must cry softly, OF
mother will hear, and come up, auC
then we shall have to tell. You know
we said we wouldn't seem to mind not
having any Christmas, she felt so sorry
about it,
Unjust cry; but L Il be quiet"
So the two heads went under the pil
low for a few minutes, and not sounC
betrayed them as the little sisters crieC
softly in one another's arms, lest moth
er should discover that they were NJ
longer careless children, but brav,
young creatures trying TO bear thei
share OF the burden cheerfully.
When the shower was over, the faces
came out shining like roses after rain
and the voices went on again as before
Don't you wish there really was
Santa Claus, who knew what we want
ed, and would come and put two silve
half-dollars in our stockings, so W,
could go and see "Puss in Boots at tn,
Museum to morrow afternoonp'
Eyes, indeed; but we didn't hang VI
any stockings, you know, because
mother had nothing to put in them,
does seem as if rich people might thinI
of poor people now and then. Sucl
little bits of things would make Us hap
Ply, and it couldn't be much trouble t,
take two small girls to the play, an,
give them candy now and then"
~ shall when I'm rich, like Mr.