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

all day bringing in the presents that
he had bought for the servants, anG
there was great happiness in the ser
wants hall, with much confusion anC
many awkward attempts to thanL
the master, who waved off every at.
tempt with an air of lofty patron,
age. Outside of this family of ser.
wants ne had never given anyone 6
present in all his life. He had never
contributed to charities, public OF
private. He had never helped the
poor-indeed he had never listened
to their appeals.
He had important business i'm an
other city which would keep him
away all through Christmas week,
he explained to Mrs. Murray, and
he must leave that evening. In the
afternoon he muffled himself i'm
greatCOat and furs and drove away,
and as soon as the carriage was half
way down the hill the servants re-
laXed their usual stiff propriety and
began to enjoy themselves in their
own way.
A telegram was handed to Mr..
Roberts at the station as he was
about to buy his ticket. What little
things sometimes change the whole
course of life! The information
just received made the trip unneces,
sary, and after lettering about the
city for a while he returned home
on foot and entered the house oui-
city by a side door.
Sounds of bOisterous merriment
came from the servants quarters,
and the owner of the house frowned
ominously. So this was the way
they took advantage of his absence? {?
He made his way into his study.
unseen by anyone, and shut himself
ina lonely, selfish, desolate old
man. Even the fire, which still
burned in the CRATE, annoyed him,
and he withdrew behind screen and
threw himself into an easy chair
he heard Mrs. Murray come i'm after
awhile, but she only moved about
softly and decorously, setting things
in order, and he did not speak. She
was just passing into the sitting-room
when she gave little cry of alarm,
followed by the exclamation
" Mercy me, child! How you
frightened mew
Mrs. Murray" said thin little
Voice-a voice that Mr.. Roberts had
heard before" Pve come up here
to stay all night !"
The listener behind the screen
heard Mrs. Murray fall into chair
and again she cried, Mercy me ="
81 just had to come !" the eager
voice went on. Mothers very,
very sick-and she needs things,
Mrs. Murray - and maybe Santa
Claus might bring them if he knew
and how is he to know when he
never comes there? But knew if
| went to some fine house he'd come
and find me, and so came here.n
"Poor child Poor child!"
Mrs. Murray, had gathered the lit
tie waif to her bosom and was rock
ing her softly to and fro. The old
gentleman behind the screen could
see that by the shadow on the floor.
he could see, too, that the house
keeper was furtively wiping her
eyes.
Presently she rallied and said
"I'll tell you what We'll do, Mar
Jorie. pll go right down and see
your mother, and you shall go with
me, and, who knows. maybe Santa
Claus will come there, after ALL"
"Oh, no, he won't!" replied the
child with sorrowful conviction
/" You don't know that place! Santa
Claus has never heard of it! He
goes to rich peoples houses, and so
I've come here, and must see him
o-night-Oh, must, Mrs. Murray (!
l don't care for any other Christmas
after this, but l must see him to-
night, on mothers account, you
know.D
There was dIsmayed silence on
Mrs. Murray's part, put presently
she said:
Well, come along into Mr.. Rob-
erts' study - thank goodness he's
away from homeland sit here be-
fore the fire till l come back. I'll
take John and go down and see your
mother"
In another minute the sound of
her retreating footsteps had died
away, and the old gentleman, peep
ing from behind the screen, saw
little figure sitting before the fire,
gazing intently at the glowing Goals.
Dusk was settling down over the
city. He had not been conscious of
1T until the electric burner above his
table flashed into sudden radiance.
The flash startled the child, and he
heard her moving softly about
What was she doing? Preparing to
steal something probably. These
from the tenement districts
were all thieves.
But, no! When he ventured to
look again, she was at the study ta-
ble-his table-writing. She had
his sacred pen, which no other NOR
tai had ever dared to touch, and she
was writing slowly and laboriously.
Could presumption 60 farther than
that? What would these people be
trying to do next? ...
1t took her a long time to write
the letter, but at last ii was finished,
and she laid down the pen with
weary sigh. Then she unrolled a
little bundle that had been lying be-
side her and shook out-could the
watcher believe his eyes "a stock
ing, a poor, fOrlorn, ragged little
stocking! Now what could che want
with that?
She stood on tiptoe and peered
around the corners of the mantel for
place to hang it. Finally, some
thing struck her fancy as suitable,
and she began pushing heavy chair
toward the mantel. When ii was
near enough, she climbed upon it