Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1895-12-19

cheek on her thin little hand, and
tho liStpnpr baord a tiroJ Siob

cheek OH hef tnln llttle hand, an(
the listener heard tired sigh.
After long while the old gentle
man behind the screen ventured tC
move slightly. After little longer
he moved again and gradually came
out of his hiding place.
Was that old Mr.. Roberts tiptoe
ing across the room to keep from
startling the poor little waif sleeping
on his hearth rug? Was that the
sordid old man whom even his friends
had come to call a mere money ma.
chine, that man whose hands trem.
bled as he unpinned the note and
spread it out before him?
DEAR SANTA CLAUsE-When YOU
come tonight please look at me. I'll
he down on the rug. You've never seen
me before, You Incident give me en-
nything, but pleas fill the stocking for
mother shes sick, tied up the toes so
they wouldent drop out. The docter
says wine and things and housrent.
MARJORIE HOLMES.
For long time the old man sat
in the chair before the fire. Some
thing within him was breaking the
cold and selfish crust that years had
helped to form. He sat there look
ing from the sleeping child to the
forlorn little stocking and from the
stocking to the child. 1t was the
first time a stocking had ever been
hung up in his hOuse-the first time A.,
Suddenlythe old gentleman rose.
He lifted the child gently and laid
her on a couch which had always
been sacred to his own use and COW
cred her with rugs. Then he went
softly out and astonished the unsus.
pecting servants by appearing among
them and ordering the carriage.
Could this be old Theodore Roberts
the money machine, the selfish, irri-
table old man, this man who went
from store TO store, ordering and
buying and spending money as he
had never spent it before? Could
this be the Mr.. Roberts that Mrs.
Murray knew, this man who went
into that sickroom, followed by a
great hamper filed with "wine and
things and house rent? ?" Was this
the man that all the charitable Or
ganiZations stunned, this man who
drove about half the night, leaving
behind him trail of Christmas re-
joicing, mingled with such blessings
as he had never heard before?
And who was it that drove I'D the
nil at last under the silent stars.
with a carriage full of bundles and
with strange, soft feeling tugging
at his heartstrings? He smiled as
he went, and yet he had to keep
Wiping his eyes. He was glad it |
was dark, so that no one could see.
And what strange figure was this
in the study afterward, this figure
that moved so stealthily and that
was so busy stuffing the stocking un-
til 1T was ready to burst, and pinning
things all over the outside of it un-
til the bronze Mercury seemed al
most to stagger under its burden?-
What had come over the old gentle.
man whom many people envied and
whom nobody loved?
Just before day Mrs. Murray, COM
ing softly in, found him sittiug by
the fire, watching the sleeping child.
"It'll be sad time for her," she
said. Her mothers gone, and
" "'"'SNSi - " ocCOllle OI lDS llttlG
thing | don't know"
L don't see why the child should
not stay here, Mrs. Murray" said
the old gentleman, with his face
turned the other way. 1T would
be some extra trouble for you, but |
dare say you would not mind it,"
S.sir !" Mrs. Murray managed
to articulate.
Then the old gentleman turned
around and she saw what was shin
ing on his cheeks.
DO you see that stocking, Mrs.
Murray ?" he cried, in a voice that
she had never heard before. That's
the first stocking that was ever hung
up in my house. 1t looks homelike,
doesn't it? ] have decided that we
will have stockings hung up every
Christmas. And here's child that
needs home, and, thank heaven, |
have home to give her."
The child sighed and stirred and
then suddedly sat up.
Did he Gomez" she cried ca.
gerly, with daZed look at the burst
ing stocking, and the old gentleman
beside her gathered her up in his
arms and said:
" Yes, my little one, he camel"