The Bossier banner., 1882-01-12

Y -
around for his wrapping-paper and It's
sue Now was the time for him to in
terfere. Mr.. barrow stepped up to the
counter and laid his hand authoritative
ly on her shoulder
/. ''What are you buying, AbbyP" said
lhe.
Mrs Darrow started and turned scar
let, like detected burglar.
"The lady has selected a Noah's ark,
sir, said the shopman, smiling obse-
quio1sly, s'a work box and book Of
| fairy talesr'
'.Put them back" said Mr.. Darrow
sternly. ''The lady has changed her
Abbyr' Z.
And he led his wife out of the store.
"My DEAR" he said, grimly, when
they were out in the freezing, grav
twilight, with the flakes of snow al
ready beginning to futter in the air, ..r
told you l wouldn't have any of this
nonsense.
"lts my own money. Caleb, that /
saved out of the housekeeping allow
ance, said Mrs. Darrow, stung by a.
keen sense of injustice.
III the housekeeping allowance is so
much too ample for your requirements.
my dear, will see that it is cut down.
said her husband. '.When said that
the. children were not to have any
Christmas toys this year / meant it.''
Mrs. barrow went home and had q
good cry. How was she ever to make
the little ones believe that Christmas
was not to come for them this year?
They were dancing about the sitting
room when she came in, those wild
little elves.
Mamma" cried Adelaide, s. Bessie
wants to 60 to bed now absolutely now
$50 that Santa Claus will come quick
err
He never comes till little baby-girls
are asleep" said Bessie, pouting out
her red lips. decidedly, 'sOld nurse
Mamma!'' shouted Joe, g. I almost
know Santa Claus will bring me tool
chest! O. mamma, don't you wish it
was tomorrow morningp'
Childrenr' said the crisp. harsh
voice of their father, who had entered
from an opposite doorway, "this mornSs
ing or Tomorrow morning will make no
sort OF difference with you. Business
has been bad this year, and there is no
money to spend for such folly as toys.
And the sooner you makeu your minds
to that the better!''
The children stared incredulously at
him; then they turned their glances to
their mother, and perceived that she
had been crying. s''iE
Mr.. Darrow sat by the fire after
supper-a cheerful little heater.
whose red eyes of fire shone viyidly
through the darkened room, and whose
pipe carried the surplus heat into a
register in the nursery above.
Those children not in bed yet?''
said Mr.. barrow to himself, as he heard
the patter. of childish feet, the ring of
childish voices, above. :. What in the
world keeps them up at this time of
nightp''
Stepping softly, in his slippered feet,
he went up stairs, and peeped in at the
crack of the door.
Bessie wasstapding on tiptoe to hang
a little, red-stfped stocking on a nail
beside the chimney-piece. Addie was
helping her, while Joe stood sadly by.
+" It's no use,, chicks.'' said Joe.
/" Papa said we weren't to have any
Christmas presents this year!''
80 don't care" cried little Bessie.
excitedly. Don't you know, Joe, it
isn't papa that sends the Santa Claus
presents? It's Santa Claus ownself
And he never forgets good little girls
on a Christmas Eve-does he. AddiePn
g No. indeedn' said Addie, her inno-
cent face filed with undoubting faith.
e You'll see, Joe! Tomorrow morning
these stockings will be full. =
IF you really think so,' said Joe,
making for his own particular bureau
drawer, 81 may as well hang up mine,
too. For I'm sure I've tried to be a
good boy"
So the little ones crept to bed.
Caleb Darrow stood there, with a
pang of remorseful shame at his heart.
Did he not stand in the place of Provi-
dence to these childrenp Had Heaven
been as deaf to the prayers of his faith
as he was to these little ones, where
would he have been?
He went downstairs to the room
where his wife sat, sadly darniug
stockings.
abby" said he. .sputson your hat
and cloak. 1t is not nine yet," as he
saw her astonished glance at the clock.
II want to buy some Christmas toys for
the children"
s.Calebr' she cried, almost incredu-
lously.
..I'm ashamed of myselfr' said he.
sPve behaved like heathen Turk
Then he told her what he had over
heard. as
ssGod bless the little onesr' said she,
with tears in her eyes. "They are their
own best special pleaders. - s'+
And the last customers in the toy-
shop, that Christmas Eve, were Mr..
and Mrs. Darrow, buying tool-chests,
dolls, games, Noah's arks and music
boxes, with fruit, and nuts, and bon
bons.
'.They shall have a merry Christ
mas" said Mr.. Darrow, s'if don't
smoke another cigar for a month";"
And Mrs. barrow could only look up
in his face and say:
20, Caleb, am so happy!'
And almost before the crimson glory