The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1892-12-23

but she was used to early hours. "I'll
/ be up before tn light" she thought,
with her simplest look, so she went,
to bed straightway and very soon
to sleep.
Now it happened that tho Conways
had not only been generously remern-
bered by their late border at this hol-
daytime, but strange to say, they
had remembered her. Every one,
from chin" down next to the baby,
had helped fill q good-sized box, with
which the expressman came banging
on the door about nine o'clock. The
Bascoms were genuinely pleased, and
a little ashamed, when they took i'll
this token OF good will. Bella said,
after little talk:
Cant l run up to Aunt Maria's
room with it right away? She'll be
as happy as a child, and it seems too
good to keep till morning."
The rest approved, and Bella tugged
bravely at her load to the door, where
only a glimmer of freight met her
eyes as she CROPPED her way in. Aunt
| Maria was unconscious OF her KNOCK
and Of her entrance. But some one on
the hearth rug started guiltily. and
turned to meet the young girls gaze
with a very shamefaced air.
''Molly!" cried Miss Bella.
Molly mad long, plump stocking in
her hand. The mistress and maid
stood together before each other.
The maid was the first to- speak,
"Seep' she said, huskily, what
&ho4
gone t'sleep, like tn baby she is. Been
her own Sanity Claus, she has an me
m cook maxim up this" shaking the
strange thing she held, with superior
| smile), SO as she shouldn't quite miss
| a Christmas"
The ready tears sprang to her mis-
| tress's eyes.
"Oh, never dreamed it was like
that to her!" she gasped. "You make
me ashamed, Molly! We must do
something, tool"
She hustled about the room, de-
posing the Conway box at one side
of the CRATE; and helping Molly suspend
her own tribute.
"This shall be the sweetest surprise
the dear thing ever knew" whispered
Miss Belle, with catch in the whisp-
er. II hope it isn't to too late to
make her very happy yet"
And the others were much astonish-
ed at the sight a. little later, of the
youngest Miss Bascom, in furs and
dainty toque, equipped for walk.
| Not less astonished when, as in re-
spouse to their inquiries, she burst
into tears, and turning to her mother,
caught her around the waist in a gale
| of kisses.
Suppose it had beenyou'' she said
stranded among a set of heathens
who never expected you to do any
thing but live upon pictures and drink,
you darling"
BELLA, are you daft?" asked Sarah,
in some scorn.
"No, but Aunt Maria is, and we
didn't care, and let her fill her own
! Christmas stocking."
"They were sympathetic enough
now, and Bella told the whole story.
Everybody offered in much good-hum-
ored contrition. co accompany this
Mrs. Bascom settled the matter, in
her comfortable way, by announcing
"We'll all go out and make an oc-
casion OF it, and perhaps papa'll take
US into Caramels for soda water"
OF course Mr.. Joseph did.
! 1t was the gayest time imaginable,
along over the cold, brilliantly lighted
pavements, jostling busy people,
heavily laden, in and of the Christmas
spirits.
They spread out their buying overas
much space as the late hour would
allow, for the very Joy OF it. They
tried to remember every fancy Miss
Maria had expressed, and to anticI-
pate every want. Mr.. Joseph was
preternaturally solemn, as man is
| wont to be in q new position.
When they at last turned home
ward Sarah called, from behind their
two parents:
doesn't candy come in Christmas
| stockings? I've a faint memory of it,
and surely these things ought to be
sweetened, father!''
"Oh, let's do the whole thing" cried
! the good man desperately, and ran
| into Fountain's
| AS they waited by the gayly trim
med windows:
~ WONDER" Mary refected-she
! wrote poetry sometimes, and hadbeen
| in print-''if it's because it is such
q sweet, wholesome thing to become
as little children, that the world clings
SO to Christmas Day? Perhaps that
is one sight OF the Kingdom OF Heaven
into which we cannot enter unless we
are like to them.'
eff the Kingdom OF Heaven is
within" quoted Bella softly, per
haps it is"
Before the Bascom household rested
that night two pendant stockings
thanked Miss Maria's own at the
mantelpiece upon the right and upon
the left, and with remembrance Of
| Miss Conway's blanket shawl last
year, little trail of bundles began at
the hearthrug and drifted far out into
the room.
So, in the dim light OF the fire, they
| hung before those closed eyes and
waited for the day.
And thus it was that because she
was not discouraged; but kept up q
good heart, Santa Claus came to Miss
Maria.-Drake's Magazine.
Munifioent Remembrances.