Daily Republican., 1884-12-30
A CHRasrMAS STORY.

THE following estimable Christmas story
written by Mss Harriet II. p. Helt, was
read at u ACC NJ. E.. Sunday School Ohrift,
mas exercises. and as 1t was SO generally up
preciatsd by the INTELLIGENT audience who
heard It, 1t 10 with pleasure that We transfer
IT. " tn, columns Of the REpUBLIoAH, that
It may h ave q general reading by tho quo.
lic.l
The night OF December 22d was
gradually closing in around the old
Grover homestead, and the evening
shadows, Heightened by the probe citing
caves OF the house, filled all the sitting.
room, except one cosy spot where
the light Of bright wood fire shed
itself over three flushed faces. The baby
Of the family, little Belle. was begging
the elder sister to stop once more and
read the list OF pretty things they want
cd Santa Claus 10 bring them fol
Christmas.
"Oh no." cried Ned, hastily, wait
until mine is down. Addie, say wan
a chest of tools. too"
DO you think I'd better? faltered
the 10y Old sister. " Isu't 1t too much
to ask We will have such long list
Pm afraid we have asked too many. al
ready"
But can't take off any of mine
without wanting to ,"piteously said
Bellies little pursed up lips. Addie
looked In perplexity from the curly
headed pet sitting beside her to Mods
thoughtful, boy ish face, and sighed
Well, can't take 1t of any Of us,
and
And ii Santa Claus has a mind te
give them all to u.s." said Ned, "why
that's all right 'twould be very nice
to have all of them, and If he cam
spare all, he will have to take some
body's off, but hope it won't be mine
nor Belle's-nor yours either, Addie. y
joyful laugh, but Belle was counting
on her fingers to make perfectly sure.
A wax doll, with eyes and hands
and feet to move ; q bedstead, big
picture book, lots OF candy-and my
woolly white dog. Maybe | could do
withoutIny woolly dog, and that's all.
But you'd better put scrip" to the
letter and say
Dear Santa Claus, If l can't have
everything,P IN do without my doggy"
Write 1t quick, Addie, I've most
changed my mind"
"Sho ! Come now, don't let's say
what we'll do without" interposed Ned.
"It'smy idea that the more You AJAX
the more you get, and Christmas don't
come often. Santa Claus has got nc
end Of things, whole basketful at q
time is nothing to him."
Yes, but don't you remember, Ned
the story mamma read US last night
about Greedy Tom He couldn't ask
for enough, he was 30 greedy, and
when he went To eat the things that he
wanted they turned into snakes and
stung him."
Well, l don't believe thatit ever
happened. Mamma reads lots of stories
that aren't true, every word OF them,
and she says 30. She calls them fairy
stories, and don't like them any way.
Here Ned shifted himself to . cooler
position on the brick hearth and jump.
ed at his little sister, whose blue eyea
opened wildly at the mention of snakes.
Don't be 30 rough with Belle" Addie
demonstrated. She can't help 1t If she
il afraid of snakes" Belle climbed into
her sisters lap, while Addie continued:
That wasn't exactly true about the
snakes, but mamma told us that it WAS
intended to teach that greedy people
hurt themselves more than anyone else,
and II we ask too much from Santa
Claus we may be punished by getting
nothing
Blank, hopeless establishment filled
the faces of the two listening children,
then q nlotherly face, in tiny white
cap, appeared in the doorway.
"The letter is all done, mamma, !"
cried the three children at once.
i" Wou d you like to sae 1t %
And my scrip too" added Belle
said could do without my wOolly
dog, If had to-" =.
IL hope you won't have to, dear, !"
Mrs Grover smiled. 81 want my
good little pets to have happy Christ
mas"
!" Read the letter ont, read 1t out,
mamma" Ned pleaded. F" Let's hear
how 1t sounds"
The mother had read only as far as
the words I'VE are Belle, and Ned
and Addie Grover, on the West Park
Road. We try to be good always. /;
but sometimes we forget, you know"
When the reading was interrupted
by the banging of the kitchen door,
and without waiting to hear any
thing more, Ned PUSHES out into
the bright mp.light, and dragged
his father toward the circle which
had formed about the sitting-room
table.
Mr.. Grover was removing his great
coat when his W lie resumed the letter,
beginning over again because father
had come. Her husbands genial
face darkened slowly for q few mo-
mants, then he interrupted In stern
voice
What does all this mean ?"
"What, father, the letter p the wife
questioned.
"I know what the letter means l
have seen such before. What l want
to know ia why have you 1t Is It kind
to raise false hopes ?"
"False hopes ?" nervously echoed
the mother " False hopes, father2 1t Is
their annual custom they have never
been disappointed"
I" You won't be able TO say as much
this time next year When / give my
word mean to keep 1t. Have yon all
forgotten the last piece Of disobedi-