Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1890-01-17

the family presents &c De TeooTteu
and tied up with lavish expenditure
of paper ana twine- Its such fun
openin 'eml' she thought
Then came the only private pleas
ure. Back and forth tripped Miss
Maria, back and forth between bu-
reau and chimney, till the long, dang
ling gray stocking was stuffed and
rigid, and the floor beneath piled up
with packages. 1t was onlyS O'Clock,
but she was used to early hours.
"I'l be up before tn light, y
she thought, with her simplest
look, so she went to bed straight
way and very soon to sleep.
Now it happened that the Conways
had not only been generously remem-
bered by their late boarder at this
holiday time, but, strange to say,
they had remembered her. Everyone,
from ''him" down to next to the
baby, had helped fill n good-sized
box, with which the eXpressman came
banging on the door about 8 O'Clock.
The Bascoms were genuinely pleased
and little ashamed when they took
in this token ofgood will. Bella said,
after little talk
Cant | run up to Aunt Maria's
room with it, right away? She'll be
rs happy as a child, and it seems to
good to keep till morning"
The rest approved, and Bella
tugged bravely at her load to the
door, where only a glimmer of fire.
light met her eyes as she CROPPED her
way in. Aunt Maria was uncon-
scious OF her knock and of her en-
trance. But some one on the hearth
rug started guilty, and turned to
meet the young girls face with u very
shnmelaced air.
Molly" cried Miss Bella.
Molly had II long, plump stocking
in her hand. Mistress and maid
stood together before each other.
The maid was first to speak.
"See" she said, huskiIy. What
that poor souls done fer 'erself, an
gone t. sleep. like tn baby she is.
Been her own Senty Claus, she has,
an me N cook maxim up this
shading the strange thing she held.
with superior smile), 80 rs she
shouldn't quite miss II Christmas"
The ready tears sprang to her mis-
tress' eyes.
80, l never dreamed it was like that
to her!' she gasped. "You make me
so, SO ashamed, Molly! We must dc
something tool"
She hustled about the room de
posting the Conway box at one sid,
of the CRATE, and helping Molly sus
pend her own tribute.
"Ths shall be the sweetest sur
prise the dear thing ever knew,
whispered Miss Bella, with catch il
her whisper. II hope it isn't toe
late to make her very happy yet"
And the Others were much astonish
Ell at sight, n little later, OF the young
est Miss Bascom, in furs and daint,
toque, equipped for walk. Not les
astonished when. as in response t.
their inquiries, she burst into tears
and, turning to her mother, caugh
her around the waist in gale @
kisses
Suppose it had been you" sh
said, stranded among a set OF heath
en-, who never expected you to d,
anything but live upon pictures am
drink. you darling!f
BELLA, are you daft?" asked Sarah
in some scorn.
mo, but Aunt Maria is, and W
didn't care, and let her fill her ow
Christmas stocking
They were sympathetic enoug
now, and Bella told the whole story
Everybody offered, in much goot
humored contrition, to accompan
this last Santa Claus on her tour
till Mrs. Bascom settled the matter
in her comfortable way, by announc
ing:
We'll all 20 out and make an OF
casion of it, and perhaps papa
take Us into Caramel's for soda wal
en-"
0fcourse Mr.. Joseph did.
1t was the gayest time imaginable
running along over he cold. brilliant
ly lighted pavements, iostling bus
people, heavily laden, in and of til
Christmas spirits.
They spread out their buying owe
rs much space as the late hour woul
allow, for the very JOY it. The
tried to remember every fancy Mis-
Martha had expressed and to al
ticipate every want The girls gs
gled. and so did their mother. MI
Joseph was preternaturally solem
as a man is wont to do in a new pos
ton.
When they at last turned HON,
ward Sarah called, from behind the
two parents:
Doesn't candy come in Christina
stockings? I've flint memory {
it, and surely these things should /
sweetened, father!'
80. let's da the whole thingl" crie
the good man desperately, and ra
into Fountains.
AS they waited by the gayl
trimmed windows;
Il WONDER" Mary refected-sf
wrote poetry sometimes, and ha
been in print-''Ifit's because it
such sweet wholesome thing to b.
come as little children that the worl
clings to Christmas Day? PerhaI
that is one sight of the kingdom {
heaven into which we cannot ente
unless we are like to them"
'If the kingdom of heaven is will
in, " quoted Bella, softly, perhaI
it is