The national leader., 1889-02-02
teased me awful. I think the fairies

I
sent b re-don't yOu?n
Three more girls followed Robbie
Rosie and frankie (round, rosy, dim.
pied wee bodies, with great liking fol
mothers tartsl and Mollie, the two
year-old baby.
The shirt button I gave away on
'Opening-day" brought us luck, for the
Multahney family bought more at our
store than any other three families IN
the village, never going, as some of the
well-to-do people did, to the neighbor-
ing city for things which we had equal
ly good and cheap, but getting every
thing they could get from mother and
| me.
Well, life went on smoothly and hap
PLY, mother growing prettier every
day, and Mr.. Multahney and nurse and
the children In and out all the time.
and before we were really aware that
autumn had left us, behold, it was the
day before Christmasl
| Mother and 1 had bought large as
sortment of toys and candies, and had
been well patronized all day, but were
disappointed and surprised when even
ing came and O'Clock struck and Mr..
Multahney had not made his appear
ance; for the dear, romping, laughing
children had contided to us, weeks be-
fore, what gifts they hoped Santa Claus
would bring them; and, Of course, we
had procured them all, with the excep-
tion OF a pony for Harry and diamond
ring for Lily, which articles were a
little beyond our means, and had laid
them aside to produce when the indul-
gent father asked our advice on the
subject, as we were sure he would.
But the clock had scarcely ceased
striking when he came in.
The small store looked uncommonly
pretty dressed in Christmas greens and
bright paper flowers. and we had four
wax candles on the counter and two in
the window, besides the regular lamps;
and wore my new gray merino dress,
with blue bow at the throat and an
other in my hair (my hair doesn't rip
pie and wave as much as mothers. but
it is the very same COLOR, and mother
wore her gray dress, with a handsome
black lace rosette among the waves and
rippIes.
Very pretty, indeed!'' said Mr..
Multahney, going up to the stove to
warm his hands moment, and then
turning his back upon it and smiling
approvlngly around.
We're trying to rig up Christmas
tree at our house, Mrs. Welton," he
went on to say, land I'd be pleased to
have you and Miss Faith come over as
you can and give us the benefit of your
excellent taste. The children will be
gone to bed in few moments"
Just then. the store door flew open,
and the two eldest children came run
ming in, little Robbie limping after
them.
"Oh. papa!" cried Lily, "nurse says
If you don't come back 'mediately she'll
go crazy, for we will peep into the
room where she's fixing something, and
pound on the door when she locks us
out. and the grocer forgot the raisins
and currants for the pudding, and
"Oh dear! oh dear!" said Mr.. MuIta-
hney, grasping his curly black hair as
though he meant TO tear it out then
and there.
81 will so with you, Mr.. Mullaga'
tawny," said my mother, distressed
for the poor man, as she always is fol
anybody in trouble. land do all car
toward preparing merry Christmas
for you."
"Thank you ma 'am," said Mr.. Null
tahney. ''It's very kind of you; and
if anybody can bring order out of dis
order, you can. l wish from the bot
tom OF my heart you would stay there
foreverI'
Mother looked at HIM in mild sur.
prise, and went for her bonnet and
shawl.
'.Please come too. Miss Faith, fol
half an hour" said Mr.. Multah2ey,
coaxingly; 1--WE can come back to the
store atterward, and"
''And l wish you'd stay forever, .
broke in that darling Harry, who had
been prancing about. fourishing a
wooden sword he had taken from the
counter.
"And so do l." said dear little Rob.
bic. climbing upon the stool at my side
and putting his arms about my neck.
Don't you papa?"
with all my heart" said papa.
Why don't she?'' asked Lily, drop
ping the cat and looking earnestly up
in her fathers face. I'VE all love her
dearly-best of any body but you."
"The Gray children have a new
mamma said that dreadful Harry,
'and she amt half as nice as Faith and
Faiths mother"
l felt the bushes rising to my face
and spreading all over it, until l must
have been red from my chin to my
forehead and away back to my ears.
My dear Faith," said Mr.. Multah-
ney, his eyes sparkling mischlevouSly
''the children have proposed to you.
Will you accept them-and me?"
l stood confused aud silent; for
though l liked MIR. Multahney very.
very much. had never thought Of him
as a husband, having. in the first place.
made up my mind to be an old maid,
and, in the next. never having suspect
ed for an instant that he thought of me
save as the daughter of my mother, she
being so much more attractive. When
mother returned:
Say yes, dear Fairy" whispered
Robbie, kissing my cheek.
''Say yes, Miss Faith" shouted
Harry, ''and We'll have no end of fun. u
''Say yes, say yes, say yes!'' teased