The morning call., 1890-12-25
God bless, you merry gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay,
For Jesus Christ, our Savior
Was born on Christmas day,

Was born on Christmas day.
Years and years ago. when the sister
whom she had taught herself to hate, was a
little. innocent 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 shop
once TO see great figure. Likely enough
1t was to that story the child alluded.
e To think of her coming here to live just
when Was getting settled and comfort
able Thought Celia bitterly, and making
no account OF Mr. Braces business.
She recalled with sick heart all the mis-
cradle times under her fathers roof; a
thousand petty sQuaDbles, the venomous
fashion in which her stepmother poisoned
the chiid'S heart against her, the neglect of
the house and her own pitiful efforts to keep
the surface smooth, so that her father might
not be worried; her fathers CHASTITY face,
the agony of the end; the dragging, degrad-
ing torment of it all.
she is her mothers own daughter, and
never viii forsive herr she vowed. She
vowed is all the more earnestly that she
felt herself shaken by the sight of the little
face, so like the little face that she once had
loved.
II was relief to reach her own gate. her
own door. She went in. The fire was blaz-
ing in the open fireplace; the old-fashioned
red plush and damask of the chairs; the
pretty furnishings, the etchngs on the
walls and the Detaille that poor Eliza left
her, how friendly and bright they looked
coming out of the dark chilli
Reggy, and Maddox, his nurse. had their
heads close together over a tai le and n sheet
of paner. Maddox folded the paper just as
Miss Wilder entered
And 1t must be put up the chimney,
Maddox" says Master Reggy, very earnest
ly. You might address 1t 10 Santa Claus,
care OF the chimney, you know"
Maddox, in the most matter-of-fact way,
would have thrown The note in the ire, but
Celia arrested her.
I'm putt up the chimney for you, dear"
said She
She was glad to get off her street dress.
She always dressed for her late dinner. Like
the dinner. the soft black silks that she
wore were a relic of the old Washington
state.
When she came down she sat in the great
carved armchair and let Reggy crumple her
pretty dark hair and pull her little ears "a
funny caress OF HIM at his lordship's pleas
ure. Half-dreamily she enjoyed his affec-
ton and the music of his smAll, ripping
voice.
Suddenly. without warning: "Aunty.
Maddox says l cant never nave a little
sister," said Reggy: cant | ?'
Why, no.. Reggy rather startled-"I
suppose not" Then she sighed and stroked
MS brown curls. You know you have two
little sisters in heaven
Master Reggy squirmed and kicked the
chair, as he exploded: Il don't care for
them! they amt no company for me;
want little sister that can play ball and
'lectric cars with me, like Oracle Bracev'
Oracle Brace" cried his aunt, almost
pushing him from her, when did you ever
see Oracle Brace ?"
''Why, Eve seen her lots and lots of
times-anyway four 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
needs 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 me sister for
Christmas. 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