Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-23

stone, tail awag. and tongue lolling. as
pleased as Punch and proud as Judy, to
have outdone them in cunning.
This was perplexing, especially as the
creature showed no disposition to take
himself out of their pathway. Go home,
good dog, go home, your master will be
miserable" plead Missy. but Mr.. Dog was
not miserable. After circling round, his
eyes eager and bright, his ears pulsing Up
and down with pleasure. he gamboled away
again, Gut of sight and hearing.
And now, the goal Of the evening was
reached. that bright, sweet home, out nearly
to the Boundary. Our two went in, took off
their wraps, and had tea, for here a serious
work was to be done. The decoration Of
five Christmas trees. for ever so many
children. whose parents Missy and John had
They entered a large, square room, al
ready dedicated to the Christmas celebra-
ton, carpeted in messy green, except in the
center, where there was bank of snow,
beautiful, warm snow, that wouldn't melt
and in the midst a spreading Christmas
tree. In each corner were other warm, dry
snowbanks and other sparkling fir trees,
while in the spaces on the floor and around
the room Christmas things of every sort
were heaped and strewn in perfect stacks
and stores-toys, games and trinkets, pic
lures books, baiioons-everything that can
be thought of in shape Of childrens fun,
including loads Of oranges, sugar plums
ginger snaps and lollipops-in fact Santa
Claus must have stopped there first, one
might think, and left samples of everything
In his store, including a statue of himself
SO like that 1t needs no description, and
copies Of the reindeer like those In the
Smithsonian Museum, and a white sleigh
made Of staff, big enough to carry a load
Of children and toys, that whirred around
on cable track. with bell and a bang.
But / cannot tell the story this year If
describe everything in that room.
1t Is enough to say that Missy and John
toiled with their friends until the place was
cd mi MIA
disc: And now. the last taper and spangle
fixed to the gay trees, the last festoon
fastened and bundle tied, Missy began to
think they might go home.
Time, indeed; Christmas eve was ended
and Christmas day dawned over the world
again. Missy and John knew this as soon
as they breathed the keen, icy air and saw
the frosty radiance of the waning stars
flushed by those rosy shafts soon to become
the FULL glorious sunshine Of the one new
day-the joy-crowned summit of the year.
Missy and John, too, though now relieved
OF his heavy burden, fell to tagging; their
pace seemed to suit a third member OF their
company, who had come shiverfng from
under the door step, and now crept humbiy
and unseen behind them all the way home
Missy's hands were snug and warm in
her mum. when John unattached the door
or their own house, and she was about en-
tertng when the cold touch of the night
before nestled against her wrist and the
white dog lay down at her feet. She stoop-
ed to look at him. when he lifted his head
wistfully and licked her hand
1t was all hubbub within, for the chill
dren were UP and dressed, and 1t Is a well
known fact that seven full stockings, how
ever funny their contents, are no Joke In
any family. In the midst of the excite
ment the dog stole in, made his way to
Missy's side and looked up into her face
His eyes were brown and sweet as choco-
late drops, and said plainly as words,
You're my Missy and I'm your dog"
han rlo 81 .yr-A
dog?" Where did he come fromy'
The dog was silver setter white as spun
snow. with soft. long ears; his coat like
crimpled satin; his tail a very plume The
collar, though bearing no name. proved that
he had had owners. perhaps friends. but a
welt across his slender back showed where
the lash had cut him the night before. He
was now quite spent with hunger. pain and