Morning journal and courier., 1891-12-26

also would take his leave, wishing onl
 that Patience lived fifteen blocks away s,
 that he might escort her home. He littl
 Knew that when the door closed behint
 hlm the Hopes looked at each other witt
 iaughter in their eyes, or that Constan
 nad asked: Did you ever see anythin,
 like it" and that Mercy had answered
 "Only once."
 At five o'clock on Christmas day th
 company assembled. Constant of cours
 had brought Mrs. Faith early and placed
 her in the cosiest, warmest corner; Pa
 tlence and Hardy also came early to giv,
 the finishing touches to the tree, which b,
 the way Hardy had asked the privilege O.
 providing, selecting stout, stocky littl.
 spruce which bore an oddly pleasing re
 semblance to the young man himself. Mex
 came Joe the newsboy and his little 'siste, | Hetty, alert, bright-eyed and smiling | lastly the sorrowful procession of the six | little Magiilicuddys. Jean, the eldest
 carried baby Donald in her arms; Maggy
 and Aggy, the twins. followed hand in | hand; then came Willy leading little Da- vid; poorly dressed, pale little creatures, each wearing bit of rusty crape for the
 hard working, loving, self-denying moth
 CT who had left them only few months before. They were very shy, and stood in an awkward little group until baby Donald
 caught sight of baby Constance, when his
 wan little face frightened and he reached
 out his thin arms with so winning a gest-
 ure that Mercy, half laughing and half
 crying, caught him to her motherly heart
 and covered his face and hands with warm and eager kisses. -
 The little girls, attracted by the blind
 woman's peaceful face and gentle voice. gathered about her; Mercy held the two staring, smiling babies, and the boys sat upon the floor at her feet: Hardy and Pa tlence stood very near each other. but there was so little room that this was uite necessary; and then Constant drew away the shawl-draped clothes horse that did not quite conceal that which it screened. and the wonderful Christmas tree, in ali it's beauty, was revealed to their admirine eyes.
 The festoons of popcorn that graced this marvellous tree were snowy in their white ness, the few bits of tinsel sparkled like with ruddy light, and the oranges were as so many globes of yellow fire. Unmelting snow, of pure white cot ton batting, lay upon the branches, from which Constants wooden pigs, horses, and carts were dangling; there were picture books whose cambric leaves displayed the gayest of advertising cards; dainty bon-bon boxes, covered with creped tissue paper and filled with homemade confeotions: lace stockings crammed with peanuts, and beside all these the pretty and useful fab rics into which had been knitted up the turkey, the pies, and the Malaga grapes. A chorus of delighted voices greeted the beautiful tree. Joe and Hetty were wild with delight, the babies crowed; even the little Magillicuddys frightened, and their shy little tongues were loosened with happiness. Aggy and Maggy even attempting to describe it to blind Mrs. Faith, and finding their limited vocab- ularles unequal to express the wonder and the glory of it.
 It seemed almost a pity that the tree should be stripped of it's fruit so soon, so after hurried consultation, Mercy, Pa tience and Hardy left the room to reappear with trays of buttered biscuit and cups of cocoa, smoking hot. The younger guests were blessed with good appetites, which soon of Mercy's light, delicately Drowned biscuits not crust was left. The simple feast over, the grand distribution of gifts followed, and because it was the baby's tree, she was made the bearer of gifts to each, duty which she performed with the help of her father, in a very charming manner, only occasionally ob- | lecting to giving up some article which she particularly fancied for her own.
 At last this part of the program too, was over, and every one was satisfied The title tree had only it's snow and tinsel left. put it held itself proudly as ever; the | babies in dainty little hoods and sacques were being handed about to. be admired: Patience was blushing and trying to hide | ! tiny white parcel, and Hardy was look ng over new number of the Popular Science Monthly" 'I wonder who | thought of this," he said, as he found | n 1t receipt for a years's sub exactly what II but no one took ,ains to enlighten him. Mrs. Faith, with sott little shawl around her shoulders md pair of bedroom slippers in her lap, vas smiling happily as with sensitive fin ,ers she touched them again and again. They are beautiful" she murmured, and just what wanted. "Just what yanted!" shouted Hetty and Joe, and Just what I wanted" chimed in the little l iagillicuddys. Constant was trying to iscipher the inscription on a flat, thin. l rown paper parcel, at last discovering hat it was addressed to "Mr. Constant toap rum joe." He called Hardy to look t it and the two showed an interest which oor Joe misinterpreted, and hung his cad in confusion. sIs this really our own work, Joel" asked Constant t last. 'Yes," said Joe, 'T wanted to i've yer somethin', and so I drared that iler. l can drar oilers better than any him." And when did you learn to raw" said Hardy. 1T had drarin' les ons at the public school as long as 1ent there," said Joe, but haven't been 3 school in long time. drar at home, lOhf9 when r IT,, | lways a-drorin' engines and bilers," spoke p Hetty. ''He says he wants to make rarin's that people could build the nings from" That's just what he can 'arn to do," said Hardy. "Joe, if you can raw like this you will make spendid You must have good teach lg. Can't we manage it somehow, Cons" We will see what we can do for, you, oe,1 said Constant, joking Joe's ne drawing. It's a fine one and I am roud of it, and of you." Joe retired to orner in a quiver of delight. To have is work appreciated, to be so praised by 1ese men whom he admired and trusted, ) see before him future of honorable ccupation, was almost too much happi- ess for the young artist to endure quiet | 7. As he walked home that evening with | is little sister he confided to her his opes and ambitions, closing with "And hen am rich man, and you and I are vim in our own nice house, we'll have hristmas trees every week for all the GOT children we know
 The last of their guests had gone with lany lingering adeau, and words of fell sweetly upon the ears those who had so striven to please and elp them. Constant drew his wife to his de and kissed her fondly as he said: Your Christmas tree was grand success, ear." "Our tree," she whispered. "Your 'ee," he insisted; Git has been as delight | Il to me as to the veriest child among our nests. am glad you thought of it" hen. laughingly: "Yes, Mrs. Hopes hristmas entertainment was a magnificent like itl It will not, however, 3 mentioned in any of to-morrow's papers, , exclusive was it." But Con was mistaken. Fancy his sur rise when he reads this truthful but , holly inadequate report of the whole de- !, ghtful, 1ong-to-be-remembered occasion.
 HILARY.