The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1882-01-07


fairy talesr'
s.Put them back,r said Mr.. barrow
sternly. 1.-The lady has changed her
mind. She will not take them. Come,
Abbyr'
And he led his wife out Of the store.
my DEAR" he said, grimly, when
they were out in the freezing, gray
twilight. with the flakes of snow al
ready beginning to fiutter in the air, II
told you wouldn't have any OF this
nonsense"
sits my own money, Caleb. that
saved out of the housekeeping allow
ance," said Mrs. barrow, stung by .
keen sense Of injustice.
s.If the housekeeping allowance is so
much too ample for your requirements,
nv 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
good cry. How was she ever to make
the little ones believe that Christmas
was not to come for them this yeare
They were dancing about the sitting
room when she came in, those wild
little elves.
Mamma" cried Adelaide, /" Bessie
wants to go to bed now absolutely now
so that Santa Claus will come quick
err
"Hc never comes till little baby-girls
are asleep" said Bessie, pouting out
her red lips, decidedly. "Old nurse
said So"
Mammal shouted Joe, " I almost
know Santa Claus will bring me tool
chest! 0. mamma, don't you wish 1t
was tomorrow morningP"
Children" said the crisp, harsh
voice of their father, who had entered
from an opposite doorway, "this morn
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 make up your minds
to that the betterr'
The children stared incredulously at
him; then they turned their chances to
their mother, and perceived that she
had been crying.
Mr.. barrow sat by the fire after
supper-a cheerful little heater,
whose red eyes of fire shone wildly
through the darkened room. and whose
pipe carried the surplus heat into q
register in the nursery above.
.Those children not in bed YETI"
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
night?"
| Stepping softly. in his slippered feet.
he went up stairs, and peeped in at the
crack of the door.
Bessie was standing on tiptoe to hang
little, red-striped stocking on nail
beside the chimney-piece. Addie was
helping her, while Joe stood sadly by.
ITS no use, Chicks said Joe.
Papa said we weren't to have any
Christmas presents this year!'
81 don't care" cried little Bessie,
excitedly. Don't you know, Joe, il
isn't papa that sends the Santa Claus
presents? It's Santa Claus ownself.
And he never forgets good little girls
on Christmas Eve-does he. Addie?'
No, indeedr' said Addie, her limo
cent face filed with undoubting faith.
#" 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, II may as well hang up mine
too. For I'm sure I've tried to be {
good boy"
So the little ones crept to bed.
Caleb barrow stood there, with 9
, pano of remorseful shame at his heart
did he not stand in the place of Provi
, dence to these children? Had HEAVIER
/ been as deaf to the prayers OF his faitf
, as he was to these little ones, wher'
/ would he have been?
. He went downs stairs to the room
where his wife sat, sadly darnius
1 stockings.
a .Abby," said he, "put on your ha
: and cloak. 1t is not nine yet" as HI
saw her astonished glance at the clock
Il want to buy some Christmas toys TO-
, the children"
ssCalebr' she cried, almost incredu
E lousy.
.I'm ashamed of myselfr' said he
!. ssPve behaved like heather Turk"
Then he told her what he had over
: heard.
"God bless the little onesr' said she
a with tears in her eyes. "They are thei
r own best special pleaders."
And the last customers in the toy
shop, that Christmas Eve, were MI
n and Mrs. barrow, buying tool-chests
E dolls, games, Noah's arks and music
: boxes, with fruit, and nuts, and bon
4 bons.
r "They shall have merry Christ
! mas" said Mr.. barrow, ''if DON
h smoke another cigar for month"
r. And Mrs. barrow could only look u
Il in his face and say:
O 20, Caleb, am SO happy!"
v And almost before the crimson glor
4 of the Christmas morning irradiate
the east. they heard the children shrieh
n ing and shouting with Joy. in the I'D
r joining room.
). didn't me tell you, Joew said Al
st die, exultantly.
,e Santa Claus never forgets little chi