Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-20

For Jesus Christ our Saviour
Was born Christmas day"
Years and years ago. when the sister whom
she had taught herself to hate, was a little in
nocent baby no bigger than her own little
girl, Celia had sung that carol to her and told
her about Santa Claus. Yes. she had taken her
into a shop once to see a great figure. Likely
enough it was to that story the child alluded.
TO think of her coming here to live Just
when was getting settled and comfortable"
thought Celia bitterly, and making no account
of Mr.. Braces business.
She recalled with a sick heart all the miser-
able times under her fathers roof, thousand
petty squabbles, the venomous fashion in
which her stepmother poisoned the child's
heart against her, the neglect of the house and
her own pitiful efforts 20 keep the surface
smooth, so that her father might not be wor-
ried; her fathers CHASTITY face, the agony Of the
end the dragging, degrading torment of it all.
''She is her mothers own daughter and
never will forgive herr she vowed. She vowed
shaken by the sigh. of the little face, SO like the
little face that she once had loved.
1t was relief to reach her own gate, her own
door. She went in. The fire was blazing in
the open fireplace; the oid-fashioned red plush
and damask of tie chairs: the pretty furnish
ings, the etchings on the walls and the detaille
that poor Eliza left her, how friendly and
bright they looked coming out Of the dark
chill
Reggy and Maddox. his nurse, had their heads
Maddox folded the paper just as Miss Wilder
entered.
And it must be put up the chimney, Mad
dox." says Master Reggy very earnestly, you
might address it to Santa Claus, care Of the
chimney, you know.
Maddox. in the most matter Of fact way,
would have thrown the note in the fire, but
Celia arrested her.
'.rll put it up the chimney for you, DEAR"
said she.
Il. A. L.
always dressed for her late dinner. Like the
dinner the soft black silks that she wore were
relic of the old Washington state.
When she came down she sat in the great
carved arm chair and let Reggy crumple her
pretty dark hair and pull her little ears "a
funny caress of his) at his lordship's pleasure.
Half dreamily she enjoyed his affection and the
music of his small, ripping voice.
Suddenly, without any warning: "Aunty,
Maddox says / can't never have little sister"
saws Reggy. cant I?''
why. no Reggy," rather startled, 81 sup
pose not" Then she sighed and stroked HE
brown curls. 'You know you have two little
sisters in heaven
Master Reggy squirmed and kicked the
chair as he exploded: II don't care for them;
sister that can play ball and 'lectric cars with
me. Ike Oracle Brace"
.'Gracie Brace cried his aunt, almost push
ing him from her; when did You ever see
Oracle Brsce?'
why. I've seen her lots and lots Of times
anyway focr times; and I've played in her
yard.''
Miss Celia gasped. She did not answer Rex:
she could not. This must be stOpped but
over the best way to stop it she must need
mediate: so, silent, and knitting her long,
slim fingers, Celia frowned at the fire.
Rex went on with his thoughts: "Aunty,
can't Santa Claus give NE sister for Christ
mas. I'd rather have sister than donkey"
mo, Rex dear. neither Santa Claus nor any
one can give You a sister"
Rex looked at her. He had never known his
aunt to deceive him. His little lip twitched,
the tears gathered in his wide brown eyes. In
a childish gust of passion like a flash he tore
the crumpled little note that he had given his
aunt and that she was still holding ont of her
fingers and aimed it at the fire. crying: Then
L don't care anything about Santa nor Christ
mas. neither, and won't give him his note"
Celia captured the note-it had only reached
the tiles of the hearth-and slid it into her
pocket. Then she clasped the little quivering,
angry boy creature and whispered: Hush,
dear:.,. il isn't Santa Claus fault. No5ody can
give you little sister,
Can't nobody? said Rex solemnly.
Nobody. dear"
But God can. cant he?"
1t was one of those logical ayalanches that
children are always pulling down on orr heads
Miss Celia crawled out with the usual craven
evasion. 'Reggy. it would be a miracle, and
there are no miracles nOwadays-
What's miracle!"-busy with his aunt's
ear and twisting il so that he hurt her-''and
why can't they have EN- nowadays"
More craven evasion from Miss Celia. ~Reggy,
dear. you are too little to understand, when
you get older will tell YOU
Tell it to me so / can understand, like YOU
did bout the 'lectrie carsi''
Il can't" said Miss Celia, truthfully. But
he was so woful in his disappointment and per-
plexity that she did not abandon the subject.
like a wise woman, but parleyed with him and
tangled herself up in explanations and futile
consultations, to the effect that little sisters did
not come grown up and able to play, but. at
first were unpleasant red babies who could do
nothing but cry.
Rex brought the consolation up with round
turn, exclaiming: No, aunty, that isn't always
sc. Willie Durham has got n little new sister.
He has only had her month. Els mamma got
her IL Chicago,at Fields. guess, cause | heard
her tell you yesterday, You can get everything
At Fields now. and she's four years old and
rides tricycle.
But. my dear. she is little adopted sister"
OH Reggy had way of letting out sin
gle, abrupt. bitten off oh when his mind was
working: 1t was like puff of steam from
engine. sure TO have results soon. Presently
he spoke again, very slowly. ''Aunty, 'spose
'dopted sisters are the big ones. I'd rather
have dopted sister. / think. Do you have to
buy 'dopted sisters ut Field's?'
R&shly Miss Celia answered that you could
take any little girl that you liked whose parents
or guardians would let YOU have her.
Reggy said oh" and said not another word
on the subject. But when he came to his pray
ers at night (such quiet, good little boy as he
was all through dinner and the evening" he
added an original postscript: please God,
give Reggy a little 'dopted sister that can ride
on a donkey!'
Miss Celia made no comment; it was one Of
the times when she felt how hard it was to de-
eide on the right course for boy.
Down stairs she took ont Reggy's note to
Santa Claus. On very smudgy and crumpled
sheet of paper written:
DEAR SANTA CLAUS: want little sister and
donkey and little cart and typewriter like
Maddox niece plays on at the office. Ny aunty
wants . good little boy; maybe will do. Henry
Feretzle wants fur cape to keep him warm
when he drives aunty. Teena wants an easier
place where they have dinner in the middle of
the day, but / guess she was mad when she said
that. SO You don't need to mind. but she truly
wants photograph album. Mrs Feretzle wants
tea kettle; the cover has come OFF OF hers and
she don't know any English. she can't buy
one down town. but You can talk Swedish, can't
You? And | want little sister most of all.
Maddox wants good little boy. too, like aunty.
Lizzie, our second girl that never saw Santa
Claus, wants a new cap and an umbrella. and
please don't forget / want a little sister. Mad
dox writes this. but l write my name myself