The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-12-25

and there was very similar state o
affairs in half the elegant mansions il
which fashionable persons were deco
rating their Christmas trees with profus'
and elegant display.
"Ah," thought the doctor, as he notet
the constant array of parcels in tn
streets. the whining of express teams
the gayety of the shop windows. thu
glimpses of Christmas trees, "this i
one reason folks are so 10th to pay thei
doctors bills about this time"
As he was passing a toy-shop ,
CHEEKY young voice called out: "Goot
afternoon, doctor!' The speaker was
plainly-dressed boy. He stood on thu
steps of the top-shop, and he, too, ha,
a bundle under his arm.
"How are you, Robert, and how i
Willie getting along?" said the doctor
after pausing moment.
"Oh, he's most as well as ever, anl
we're going to have a nice Christina.
for him. I've got some things in thil
bundle to put on the tree"
"a merry Christmas to you ALL" sale
the doctor, passing on.
.'Umphr' the doctor soliloquized
''It's Just the same with the poorest o
them; that friendless widow who sew.
for her living viii deny herself anc
her family necessary articles, Ipresume
to get up Christmas tree; and as fol
her doctors bill-oh well, that is the
least of the mischief; I've been toe
much of fool myself, in giving way tt
this modern extravaganza, to say any
thing about Others"
| While the family were busy that after
noon over Christmas preparations, anC
the doctor as busy as any one, the serv
ant announced boy in the office who
wanted to pay a bill.
SIS it passible!" exclaimed the doc.
tor. mo one has offered TO pay a bill
before these two weeks
Upon entering the office he found the
boy whom he had seen that morning on
the steps of the toy-shop. "Here is the
bill and the money, DOCTOR" ne said,
land mother wishes me to say we thank
you very much. too, and shall always be
grateful, for we think you saved Willie's
life."
Upon counting the money. the doctor
found it was precisely the sum charged
in the bill.
GLOW could your mother afford to
send me all this at Christmas time, my
boy?" he asked.
''Christmas didn't make any differ
ence, or else twas the very best time;
cause it put it into our heads that
Willie's being well again was the best
Christmas present we could have. We
call him our Christmas present. But
he's so little, he wouldn't understand,
so we've fixed up a tree for him. cut
it in the woods. Belle and l have
trimmed it up quite gay. wish you
could sec it. Willie'll be tickled
s.I'll be around to look at it. early
this evening, Rob- said the doctor.
gravely. Il want to see your mother
a moment"
"We'n light the candle when you get
there"
"The candle?"
"Yes; we've got one candle that
mother happened to have, and we've
lied it to the middle of the tree. We've
made some little balloons and things of
gilt and silver paper and colored tissue
paper that they gave me at the box
shop guess when the candle is lii,
it'll show 'em off real pretty"
The doctor made no reply. Rob
thought he was not paying much atten-
lion to what he said; but he wee too
happy. and too anxious to get home to.
|lnlt., ool yNill,, ,,,l th., rl-,-
10 mind the doctors lack of interest.
In fact. the doctor was paying close
attention to what the boy said. II
shall be sure to happen around, Rob-"
he repeated. passing him the receipted
bill.
The doctor made his appearance early
in the evening, before Willie-who, in
spite of the great secresy which had
been exercised, was not without his
suspicious - had seen the wonderful
tree. He was sitting by his mothers
side in a little rocking chair, still pale
aud thin from the effects of dangerous
illness, but with bright, animated
and sparkling eyes. Belle
sat at the table with her mother, ASSIST
inc in some sewing. Rob was reading
aloud from a city library book. The
doctor could see them before he enter
ed, between the edge of the curtain and
the window. as he came up to the door.
Before he rang the bell, he slipped a
covered basket, which he had in his
hand, down besides the steps.
''We were waiting for you," said Rob.
ave were afraid the candle would burn
out before you came, if we lighted it"
You were very kind to come, doctor,
and tonight, too. when you have so
much merry making at home," said the
widow. ave have nothing to show ex-
cept how little it takes to make our
young folks happy-and not so little,
either; for l am sure their greatest hap
piness as well as mine is in seeing
Willie so well again"
eyes, yes" said the doctor. ''Why-
his cheeks are rounding out consider
ably, let's see if they are getting hard,
too, and he pinched Willie's cheeks.
"But dom keep him waiting any longer,
children. light the candle and done
with it."
So Rob went into the other room and
brought out a kind of box, upon which
evergreens were tackled in a mysterious
There was a round hole in
the top Of the box. Willie evidently
thought this was the great mystery. He
ran to the box and looked into the hole.
While he was looking, with his back
turned, Rob brought out the tree. 1t
was a fragrant juniper fresh from the
woods. 1t lowered above Rob's head
and shone and glittered and rustled.
The one candle was lighted and gave
forth a mysterious radiance from the
center of the tree.
aInok- Willle,- said the doctor.