The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1890-01-02
SELECTED.
In His Ma me-

I'm His Ma me-"
LET me see there are five of US who
must each have a present, said the Little
Mother, renectively "As we always give
one another presents at Christmas. what
Is The use of being mysterious about is I
Why not have everything open and above
boardr'
What could the Little Mother mean!
The children, three OF them, Phyllis,
Gladys, and Ebert, looked perfectly
amazed, and father, who knew that
Precious" as he always called his wife,
never spoke without thinking and had
good REASONS behind both her words and
her deeds, waited for her to go on.
Gladys, the impusive child of The family
was less patient.
Little Mother, by the way she tcdS
smaller than any of her tall trlo-''don'
you know that the myslincation is tn.
very heart and core and charm of Christ
mas! II it's to be all give and take, and
IL sort OF barter, and wholly commercial
from teginning to end, /, for one, care
nothing about it,"
-" ell, the truth Is, my darling., have
as much pleasure in Christmas es each Of
you has, and it's just pure delight to M
TO fancy that Gladys is knitting me q great
ivory white shawl, in which, on cooi
summer nights, or gray wintry mornings,
| can wrap myself up from head to feet
that Phyllis is quilting lne down petit
coat, rs soft as Il doves wing, and Us
warm as u swans breast; that Ebert i,
carving a set of chessnan for me, aud
planning to give me pleasure for the rest
Of my life; that farther is proving around
the book SHOPS to find the prettiest set o.
| sSthsk.>ntare under the sun thai
Come, Little Mother, you are y itch,
said father. What is it you want us l.
do? Are we to conline our home gifts t,
pm cushions and Christmas cards, ant
pass around the contribution box for til,
pooi?"
The Little Mother blushed.
Not that precisel, but If you'll all b.,
patient with me, III tell you what | hac
thought Of. Don't you suppose the com
oinod value of all cur gifts to one al
other-in money | mean, not in worth
That canuot be eslimated-foots up to
something like Sl50. Ebert, you are IT,,
| mathematical genius of this family
What do you says Remember las
| Christmas. dear"
inc standing lamp for the piano, tnc
Little Mothers easy chair, father dress
| ing gown, sundres here aud there. saia
Ebert, medltalively. Yes, $50 81
least.
The family were in easy circum stances
but by no means iich, in which this talN
vent on.
Now my plan,n said the lady, her rar'
blue eyes shining, and her face weariD-
an expression so sweet that IL spoke ei"
quently of the beautiful soul within, "i'
To enter, or to coax you all to enter, int
a compact, which shall be binding ON us
G,lettes for this year only. Let us d.
without Christmas gifts ourselves, aho
give one large gift, Of the kind that goe,
ON repeating in blessing, to somebod,
who will be SUI prised aud gladdened al
helped heaveuward 10y our means
Wouldn't 1t last longer-the joy of it
because IL would partake of The cup OF
cold water essence. and be hallowed h,
the 'inasmuch-longer even than oui
gifts to ourselves from ourselves?
Proceed, my Precious" said father
I'VE are all attention; but | warn you, u
It's Goals AM. blankets, III Object. Fu,,
81 to speak, Goals and blankets We Civ
away the winter long"
And boxes TO the home missionaries.
| puuted Phyllis.
And donations to the Helping Hand
added Gladys,
And packages of papers and mag
Zines to the hospitals observed EtoeI'.
"DOn't be fippsut,' said the Little
Mother, severely. None of these thing
are iu my mud. Did you notice 'ester-
uly whrn He"hfey's SISTER pe"hit
Reeves slsttr-"as calling mere, ana
Inquired II liz were going To college, Size
said sadly, No ii is dream abandoned.
We cannot raise The coilese iceSF
Il ana, answered. u!adNs, ANA
Thought II odd she should speak 50 opel
" OF theIr poverty
~ SAID fhyiiis' Thought IL GRAVE
Tor my part
Precious, SAID father' you kho"
mat the heeVeses are very proud l!a
lhey would never accept cha' NY, nor D.
happy uhaeI sense Vi ooi'sa,l,'i,,
Indeed l 90 Know 1t, Mh'.n ~ one