The Press., 1894-05-10
as she made the little fellow comfortable R<,. 4hxa aSorl,4


 for the night.
 "Yes'm, I believe so. The Legion boys said was to stay until was able to ride on bob sled down Murray Hill-that's mas, though, it's been so long since we had one to our house. Pop don't stay home much since mother died and he's never there such times, and Granny-she's the old woman who keeps the house where we live-never gets time to make Christmasses. She knits socks and init tens to sell-such a heap of lem. The socks looked so funny with their toes all turning every way and little dangling strings on lem. She used to pile them up on the trunk, down to the foot of my bed, and used to dream about 'eln getting down and walking over me, specially all the big, thick, red ones," and Willie laughed half frightened chuckle.
 'I believe you'd like socks better at Christmas time hung up for Santa Claus to fill, wouldn't you? Now think I'll let you take this little powder and then go to sleep and dream about the Christmas socks and not the others, this time."
 So ended Willie's first day in the pretty blue room. Other days came and went and he grew to love his new home very much, and the hectic glow of fever changed for the tinge of returning health, and nurse had many times lifted him into the easy -chair and brought out from the over- flowing scrap-book corner many pretty story in picture and woods.
 "Christmas tomorrow why. nurse, it's Christmas all the time here," was Willie's answer when told of the nearing holiday.
 "But this is to be special day for this room, Willie. You know there are 250,- 900 more Legioners besides those who love you down at H. =, and they all own this little blue room and suppose every one of them will want to make it Christ mas present this year."
 "Oh, won't that be funny! I wonder what they'll give?" Willie's eyes were full of interest now. ''Seems as if there's most everything nice here now," and he 1 turned his head to take in the corners farthest away. "Well, I know; they could send all the nickels they could, then there would be money enough to take care of some other sick boy in that bed over there and-wouldn't that be nice ?"
 'I think it would, dear, and we'll see ''
 II hope he'll come for Christmas, don't you" and the eager question. showed that the boy was bit lonely.
 Yes, dear,n
 I "Then," went on the loyal guest, "boys will wear out carpets and things and we're boys, so far, and so that'll take money I guess nickels are best to send long dis tanees, anyway. So I hope therell be 2 whole bag fu1lt''
 | Nurse laughed heartily over Willie's wish, and left him with his pleasant thought, to look after other sick ones.
 "I'm glad they don't give me any O. that awful whiskey here. I was sure il didn't help me any when pop made mt take it. I knew it wouldn't, for it didn' do him any good. l hope he read the pa pers and book I sent him; the pretty pic ture paper told all about it. l believe he'll see then, if he does. Oh, wouldn't that be too beautiful!" And then Willie's head sank back upon the pillow, his big blue eyes closed, and in just a minute he was over the line in dreamland, playing with a big Newfoundland dog on pretty green lawn beside the coziest cottage while his papa, we'll and strong, came uI from the street-no longer from the sa loon-to meet him. His own, kind papa of days gone by.
 Jingle, jingle, jingle! The air seemed just full of the merry tinkling of sleigh bells on Christmas morning; so, at least Willie thought as he sat dressed in hi new dressing gown and soft, warm shoe' in the easy-chair, gleefully pulling from { big, blue stocking the most wonderful o Christmas treasures. There was nev jack k-knife-how he had wanted one, ball, a book of pretty worlds fair views a top, some marbles beauties, a pal of red mittens, and, in the very toe of tha long, blue stockings letter, real let ter, directed in big, round hand to Will lie Frost, Esq, Temperance Hospital Loyal Temperance Legion Room. Willie read the address, then turned i over and looked at the red seal. At las he opened the new knife, examined tn blade admiringly, and then carefully GU the envelope and drew out the folded sheet And this is what he read: H., Dec. 24th 1S93
 DEAR BILLY We couldn't come t, spend Christmas with you, so we though we'd just play Santa Claus and fill you stocking up. Hope you'll be glad. w Legioners send the knife-its prime on and the top and book; but mamma kni 5 the mittens herself, and she hopes yol ; can take sleigh-ride whilet his nice snoy lasts. We all went coasting last Satur day on Murray Hill and had the bigges
 time wish you'd been there, but knoy 3 you are having better time in the city l from what they write. So glad your
 getting we'll. Oh, saw your father las
 night, he had paper and some little mag
 azines or something you sent him, and h s looked awful earnest and said-'See here 8 boy, you're one of the members of tha :, society that sent my Willie to the hospi SfkSS>-