, 1889-01-10

/
the mother made the board to which tn,
tree was puilpd. secure, "Did you fix tn,
candles, mo,herp"
"Yes, here they are"
81. Ia ,oo had IN tats vo,r candle. I'm,
the ire. w;li be so na"ch 'nra,,;sr w;,h ths
Flights. and tia The only tree we've had. !"
said the cbiId
| "u n.ver mini tho c,ndIes ~ answered
the mot her '"'
80" :, .,. AL. ,
2eei sne con.'nueu' W cut eaon
oauo'e 'n,o tuIee pirces, anu u tne Pieces
| az. noe eps,,e'y "urneu We Gun uSe INC"
"'.e. ""'' :.
so we can, said the child.
Now fasten the candles onj then
%'ll uI you how l want the presents
hxrd"
| :, me child waited patiently unit the can.
dies were fastened to the branches, then
she SAID:
Nov mother, bring my box 10 me-"
| But, Jsney, cannot let my little girl
give all her things away" said the
mother.
| 20, mother" exclaimed the child, earn
estly. "son't you know will not need
them aRainp Won't you believe ms when
| tell you that will never use them2
| You must know IL, mother; you do know
i
| There, there, Janey, never mind.
| will get the box" hastily said the mother.
She brought the small box to the bed
| side, and took the few articles out, one by
one. and laid them on the bed near the
| child.
IL have written the names on these
| lips of paper; you pin them on the things
| ! tell you, said Janey.
Here are three slips with Fannie's
name; fasten one to the shoes. They are
as good as new, for | have never worn
them; I've only tried them on. You re-
member when you got them for mo,
| mother; Thought would be better soon.
and able to wear them. But never got
better. and now she can have them. Put
this slip on the hood. How clean and
white it is, was so proud OF IL the day
you brought it home to mo. ! remember
how tired you were, the walk was such a
long one for you; but you never thought
of that did you, mother2 You never do
think of yourself, but you always think of
me- your little sick Janey. Pat this last
slip on the ribbon. Fannie ways wanted
this ribbon, and now she can have it,"
LET us leave the other things until
morning, Janey. said the mother. "You
are tired now and you need sleep. You
should not talk so much. Lie down on
your pillow and let mother smooth your
forehead. You will soon go to sleep.
will fix the other things in the morning
before the children come down. Or, IL
you would rather, | can fix them after you
20 to sleep. You are excited now and
you do not feel how weak you are"
mo. no, mother" answered the child.
"I must attend to it tonight | want to
help with the tree. And ! cannot to-
morrow. Let US hurry. for | am tired so
tired, but not sleepy-only tired, dear
MOTHER
Give my books to Johnny. heard
him say he wished he had a new reader.
Let him have the slate and pencil too. Tie
them on to the tree separately. They will
| look better and make the tree fuller. Here
are the slips with his names. Give my
| testament to father. have written some.
thing in 1T for him. Tell him to read it
and to keep it all ways. | will lie down
pow, mother while you tie the presents on
] the tree. ] want you to light the candles.
that may see how pretty the tree will be
with the lights.
| The mother trimmed the tree as hest she
could. Janey's small gifts were arranged.
Some sycamore balls and pine cones and
popcorn strings were hung to the branches.
Such things as the mother could find that
would aid in beautifying the tree were
put on.
! The child watched every movement of
the mother with intense interest The
white pincned face wore an unusually
warm color; the eyes were beautiful in
their unnatural briliaucy. The slender
thread OF lie seemed drawn by TENSION
so tight that a single disturbance or jar
would be sufficient to break the souls
feeble connection with this world. A
pleased and happy expression passed over
! the child's face as the work progressed
| and the tree assumed Christmaslike APP