The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1883-12-21
5Misccll ancn,ls.
p O L LY.
A CHRISTMAS STORY.

"Santa Claus ?" exclaimed Ned, halfmock-
ing gE.. - ,n.;,,os u.n,,o .,.,,.,,. l.. .,
to bring you, Ned"
II don't know, and don't care much" he
answered, "tor there isn't any Santa Claus"
"Why, Ned !! cried Mamie, in astonish-
ment. Even my big brother Harry believes
in Santa Claus. He's coming home from
school tonight, and we're going to hang up
our stockings"
"Pshawp' said Ned,"I must go home.
Good bye"
Merry little Mamie stood in amazement,
and then ran indoors to her mother with her
perplexity
"Why, mother" she cried, "Ned Huntley
said there wasn't any Santa Claus-and he
was real cross about it, too"
well, Mamie" said her mother, II would
not take any notice of Ned's being cross
about Christmas time. Huntleys don't keep
Christmas"
Don't keep Christmas !" exclaimed Mamie,
astonished beyond measure.
Seeing that her mother was busy, she took
her doll, Helena Margaret Constance Victo-
rine, in her arms, and talked the matter over
with her.
"What do you think, my DEAR" said She
they don't keep Christmas at Ned Huntley's
house! | don't know just what mother
means by not keeping it, for you know Santa
Claus comes down the chimney, and so he
can get in during the night and leave Christ
mas there Oh, yes, but they don't keep it,
They turn it out, suppose, but like mother
told me they acted about the dear little baby
Saviour; they hadn't any room for him, and
| guess Mrs, Huntley hasn't any room to
keep Christmas in. | wonder what she does
with the Christmas things Santa Claus
brings? | wonder if she throws 'em away
| mean to go and ask her )" and putting her
child carefully in its cradle, Mamie started.
There was some truth in what Mrs. CASTOR
had told her little daughter; the Huntleys
did not keep Christmas in loving, hearty
| way They kept it so far that on this very
| afternoon Mrs Huntley was busy making
the mince pies, dressing the turkey, and do
| ing all she could to be beforehand with the
| extra Christmas dinner. Mr.. Huntley had
just stepped into the kitchen for moment
to say to his wife, What have you settled
on for Ned's Christmas?"
"Iye bought him q pair of arctics-he
needed EN-; and if you want to spend more
| than common, you might get him half doz-
en- handkerchiefs"
"Well wife, was thinking that perhaps"
the farmer tried to be particular about his
words, for Mrs Huntley did not seem in q
very good humor, ~ was remembering how l
used to enjoy giving the young ones candies
and toys; so, perhaps"
| Nov. Noah Huntey I'm surprised at
you Buy candies and toys for great lum-
bering boy like Ned? Why, you must be
crazy, man! The next thing will be that
you'll want Christmas tree yourselfr'
| "Well, and it wouldn't be bad idea"
thought the father. There's my man,
Fritz, he has been to the woods and cut q
| little tree for his children, and he seems to
get II heap of pleasure out of it. All if only
little Polly had livedp' Strangely enough,
sliced and sifted and weighed "If little Pol
| ly had lived it would have been different, but
we can't throw away money on nonsense for
Ned"
A little red cloak flashed by the window,
a little bright face, just about the age of "our
| little Polly" peeped in at the door, and
Mamie asked may come in, Mrs. Hunt
ley?"
"Certainly, child Here's fresh cookie, I
suppose you're full of Christmas over at your
houseg"
"Oh, yes ma'am! And I'm so sorry you
| don't keep it. What's the reason?"
Don't keep it. Why, we have a regular
Christmas dinner as sure as the Goth of De-
cember comes round, and Pa gives me new
dress, or something that need, and we give
Ned suit of clothes, or Shoes or something
that he needs"
"Well," said Mamie, "but like our way
best. May tell you how we keep Christ
mas I"
Talk away. ] can listen"
"Well, you see, a good while before Christ
mas my mother begins to get ready, and l
often see her hide up something quick when
come in, and then she laughs, and ! think,
mother takes me in her lap and tells me how
Jesus is coming and how He did come, Do
you know, Mrs Huntley"
"You can tell me, child"
"You see, He came long, long time ago as
| little baby. Mamma says that he began at
| the beginning, so that no little child could say,