Daily Republican., 1884-12-30

A timid, downcast no" came from
Addie and Ned before Mrs. Grover
spoke In astonished question.
You were never in earnest about
that, father You did not really be-
lieve that Santa Claus would punish
them when they felt 80 sorry 2"
doubtedly Q kind-hearted man, who
meant to do everyth ing we'll for his
wife and children, but the loss of IF
teen Dorkings through his pets care
lessness blinded him somewhat as to
the proper way of doing his fatherly
duty.
To justify him and the children as
we'll must tell you that some city
cousins had been spending few days
at the farm. Mr.. Growers pride, the
pet Dorkings, were no small attraction
and charm Of the place. Two little
people whose entire experience en-
braced simply the raising of two
speckled grey hons, the flock Of seven
short.legged white Dorkings proudly
patrolling the poultry yard was a
tempting sight, and 1t Is quite certain
that roosting time came ton soon. 90
one night q stealthy excursion to the
chicken house, little before dark, re-
suited in much mischief. As usual
where 80 many are responsible, none
proved careful, and the following morn
Ing Thomas Grover was minus fifteen
white Dorkings and four Hamburg
hens.
Whether thief had been invited
| by the wide open door or the fowls
had strayed off and been overtaken by
fox, mono knew certainly, but 1t was
evident the children had not locked the
door, and Thompson Grover would
have considered himself guilty of
criminal neglect IL he failed TO make
| . lasting lesson OF this occasion. He
drew his three little ones around him
and solemnly pointed out to them their
dreadful disobedience, ending with the
assurance that their Christmas for this
year would be blank. Santa Claus
never overlooked such matters, and he
could not treat naughty children AZ be
did good ones.
After crying themselves to sleep one
night and humbly asking fathers for.
giveness the next day, the three chill.
Idrsn hal felt 80 relieved that natural
cheerfulness had soon returned, and at
the time Of writing the letter to Santa
Claus they had relied on his forgiveness
~ we'll. But their fathers words put
an end to this confidence, and when
three sorrowful young faces, filled with
wondering grief, appeared at the cheer
full table, Mrs. Growers motherly pride
In the dainty tea biscuits and jellied
apples had almost vanished. In silence,
broken only by necessary questions,
supper drew to its close, and before
long Mr.. aud Mrs. Grover alone sat in
front Of the dying fire.
Z" suppose you will be going to town
tomorrow for some Christmas things
the mother ,entured.
No." said Grover cOmplacently
" the children have relieved me OF the
pleasure of selling my Dorkings for o
good round sum, and there is nothing
to call me there. We must make the
most of our visit to Margaret, for
shall not spend one dollar on Christ
mas gifts. Then the mother remarked
:" have little money put by, and
I'll just tell Margaret to get some
trihes, SO the poor dears won't break
LheIr hearts"
" Break their hearts :" smiled her
husband, don't worry about that
,children's troubles are not very big
and they don't last long. only wan
to teach them lesson. ] think they
are getting off pretty easy, after al
they've cost me. But see here, mother
il you're going 10 spend money oil
them, you'll spoil 1t all. You mus
give In to me this once. I'll make i
up to them another year, il You say so
but will be master in my own boust
this time. forbid you to buy them
anything," Mrs. Grover was woman
singularly given to the fulfilment Of hel
marriage vow to obey, and If she KEEP
to her rule this time il was only because
her courage scarcely measured up to heI
indignation. She turned with tears Of
modification In her eyes, and taking
the lamp from the table, started for hel
own room. She trusted to her husbands
native goodness to make him relent al
the last moment, other wise she would
appeal to Margaret.
But when Margaret, who had been
married only year or two, and lived
on the South road In pretty little
cottage of her own, came to zee how
her mother was getting on with the
Christmas preparations, Mrs. Grover
found less sympathy than she had anti
cipated. To DO sure" Margaret said
/" Poor children ! how they must feel, "
and the mothers heart warmed at this
Tribute, but she also said +" What a
loss for father how careless those chill
dren were," and then Mrs. urover turn
ed YEARLY from the slender, womanly
daughter, who always thought her
fathers judgment beyond question.
" Oh, don't worry 20, mother, they IL
live through 1t, and we'll try to have
as jolly dinner at our house as posi-
BILE. Henry will be glad to entertain
the children and they are fond of him.
Perhaps it will all be for their own good
in the end"
1t was evident Margaret did not see
the crying shame of an uncelebrated
Christmas as her mother did, and
having assured the children that
they could have good time at her
home she departed cheerful as when
she came.
can't tell you how the two days
passed until Xmas, for the children
themselves scarcely knew, but Xmas
eve, having said an earnest, piteous
prayer. hoping that Santa Claus might
be told of their regret, they hung their
stockings up as usual, scarcely able
Overlooked. In the cold gray dawn Of
Christmas morning they crept to the
chimney piece and felt for the stock
ings. There they hung, limp, empty
and forlorn, and unable to keep down
the rising tears the children went
back to bed afflicted indeed
Even Ned's boyish courage found 1t
hard to bear, and Addie had no words
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