The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1891-12-26
m. nnile unaware of his loss.

him TO investigate the matter, but second
thought sent him flying to the spot, where,
after some little search, he found little
package wrapped in white paper and dec
GRATED with an express label; there was
evidently a small box within, and Ted ran
as fast as his legs could carry him to restore
it to the owner.
That jaunty gentleman was just getting
into handsome sleigh as Ted turned the
corner, and away he went
"Mister, Mister screamed Ted at the
top of his voice, which the bells drowned,
and then began the race-Ted running for
dear life, the horses trotting along with
no idea that they were pursued.
The boys legs did him good service,
however, and at last he succeeded in attract
ing the driver. Whats this, my lad p
he said, kindly. sWant ride?'
"N-n-no,' painted Teddy, all out of
breath, @but you lost this, sir, and picked
it up" and he held up the package.
"Well, well, did ever, said the gen
tleman, feeling hastily in his pocket
'.What careless trick And so you've
pretty near run your legs off to catch me,
eh ?"
Il guess they're all whole yet, sir, re-
piled Ted, with smile, and yet putting
with the race.
He handed over the box, while the
stranger took out fat pocket book.
"Christmas is coming, my boy, and may
be You'll like an an extra bit of surprise
money" he said, good naturedly, as he
handed out five dollar bill to the aston
| ished child
"Oh, sir, that's too much" and Ted
offered it back, quite overwhelmed by such
magnifcence.
'Well, don't know about that" said
the gentleman, ''that box contains a watch
worth two hundred dollars, and by the
time had advertised it and paid reward,
it would have cost me double the amount,
besides the chances of my finding it again,
so on the whole, think | am rewarding
you very moderately" and he buttoned
his overcoat over box and pocketbook reso-
lutely, and prepared to drive on.
A whole arena of Christmas presents
danced through Ted's happy brain, as he
thanked the generous gentleman for his
gift, and they parted with mutual good
feeling.
"If | had such father as that, solilo-
quized the child, ''what good boy I'd be. -
"If | had an honest, bright-faced boy
like that" said the gentleman, "what a
happy father I'd be-"
Ted had never before kept a secret from
his mother, and it was the hardest work to
keep from telling his adventure, but secrets
were flying in the air apparently and he
held on to his with true Christmas tenacity.
He had suspected by this time who was
coming on the train, and he was on time
at the station with Doll; he had also wisely
concluded to wait bit for her advice and
assistance before spending his wealth.
Aunt Nan stepped off the train when it
came in, looking roster and jollier than
ever, Ted thought, as she hugged him up
close to her warm furs, and she had the
fattest satchel and heaviest basket he had
ever lifted.
There was perfect jubilee Of welcome
when the party reached home, and Aunt
Nan took her namesake and little Jane into
her warm embrace, to their complete sur
prise, for they had never dreamed of such
happy arrival. "The little dears, said
Aunt Nan, as she and MYs. Rexford made
several mysterious trips to the barn, re-
turning with contraband bundles under
their aprons ''they shall have one Christ
mas, if they never do another"
Such merry making the Rexford
house had never witnessed before Billy
Grant had good naturedly consented to 60
to the woods and cut a small evergreen
which was conveyed to the parlor secretely
and if it was not as brilliantly lighted and
trimmed as it might have been, it was q
wonderful tree, nevertheless, hung with
popcorn, apples and oranges and gifts, unit
the children were nearly wild with delight
when they saw it.
A long pail, full of some mysteriou.
compound, had been sitting in tub iD tn,
woodshed, carelessly covered over with
piece of carpet, and this was found to con
tain ice cream, and after all the othel
things had been distributed, it came in
piled up in delicious masses of frozer
sweetness, on Mrs. Rexford's best Chin;
saucers, together with the angels fooC
which Aunt Nan had baked that day.
Mrs. Rexford actually cried with sur
prised delight when Ted gave her lovely
plush work box, the first gift he had eve
been able to make her, and told his stor,
of the kind gentleman and his gold watch
Poor thing she had enjoyed little of mer
riment of gift-making since her marriage
and she enjoyed this, as only kindly
cheerful heart, cramped into space far to-
small for it, can enjoy liberty and Low,
freely expressed.
''Mother," said Ted, when, at lat,
hour, Mrs. Rexford gathered her littl,
flock together for their evening prayers
: at always seemed when | said 'Ou
Heavenly Father, as if He was stern ant
, cross just like father, but l think He mus
he GOOD or He wouldnit a LET ms had sucl