The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1895-12-20

I
she climbed upon it and hung the
stocking upon the 'brave caduceus"'
OF the bronze Mercury that he had
bought last year in Rome and for
which he had paid such a price.
Presently abe had jumped down and
was surveying the stocking with the
greatest pride. Then the note was
carefully folded, and she climbed upon
the chair again and pinned the folded
paper to the toe so conspicuously that
the winged Mercury seemed to stand,
there for DeN other purpose than to-
hold up ragged stocking for all the
world to see:
And theB-why, then she was lying
down upon the rug with her thin
cheek on herthin little hand, and the
listener heard a tired sigh.
After q lsng while the old gentle-~
man behind the screen ventured to-
move sligh oiy. After a little longer;
he moved again and so gradually came
out Of his hiding place.
Was that old Mr.. Roberts tiptocing.
across thc'ro0m TO keep from start
ling the poor little waif sleeping on
the rug? Was that the sordid olds
man whom even his friends had come
to call Il mere money machine
than man7xhOse hands trembled as he,
unpinned the little note and spread it.
out before him?
DEAR SAlTACLusE-When you come tonight
pleas look stme. I'll be down on the rug. You've
never seen ne before. You incident give me emmy
thing, but kess I'll the stocking with things for
mother sheasick. tied up the toes they wouldn't
drop out. Tho doctor says wine and things and
houserent. MARJORIE HOLMES.
For long time the old man sat in.
the chair before the fire. Something
within him was breaking the cold and
selfish crust that years had helped to,
form. He sat there looking from the
sleeping child to the forlorn little
stocking and from the stocking to the
child. 1t was the lrst time a stock
ing had ever been hung up in his
house--the first time
Suddenly the Old gentleman rose.
He lifted the child gently and laid her
on u couch that always been sa-
cred DO his own use and covered her
with rugs. Then he went out softly
and astoLished the servants by ap-
peariag among them and ordering the.
| carriage.
Could this be old Theodore Rob-
crts, the money machine, the selfish,
brusane, irritable old man, this man:
whoweDt from store to store, order
ing and buying and spending as he
had never spent before? Could this
be the MIR. Roberts that Mrs. Murray
knew, this man who went into that
sickroOm, followed by great hamper
filled with "wine and things nd house.
rent?" Was this the man that all
the charitable organizations Stunned,
tilis man who drove about half the
night, leaving behind him trail OF
Christmas rejoicing, mingled with
such blessings as he had never heard.
before?
And who was it that drove up the
I hill at last and halted under the silent
stars, with carriage full Of bundles
and with a strange, soft feeling tug
ging at his heart strings? He smiled
as he went, and yet he had to- keep
wiping his eyes. He was glad that ii
was dark, so that no one could see.
| And what strange figure was this in
the study afterward, this Agure that
moved so stealthily and that was so
busy stuffing the stocking until ii was
ready to burst, and pinning things all
over the outside Of 1t until the bronze
Mercury seemed almost to stagger'
under his burden2 What had come
over the old gentleman whom so many
people envied and whom nobody loved?
u Just before day Mrs. Murray, CON-
ing softly in, found him sitting by
the fire, watching the sleeping child.
"It'll be a sad time for her," she
said. "Her mothers gone, and what
evers to become of the little thing l
don't know"
II don't see why the child shouldn't
stay here, Mrs. Murray, said the old
gentleman, with his face turned the
otlier way. ut 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 shining
on his cheeks.
"Do you see that stocking, Mrs.
Murray ?" he cried, In voice that she
had never heard before. "That's the
: first stocking that was ever hung up
IN my house. It looks homelike,
. doesn't II? have decided that we'll
have stockings hung up every year.
!, And here's a child that needs home,
and, thank heaven, I've q home to
, give her."
The child sighed and stirred and
, then suddenly sat up.
ibid he Gomez" she cried eagerly,
With . dased look at the bursting
stocking, and the old gentleman be.
side her gathered her In bis arms and
said:
"Yes, my little one. he caneW
II Job psiptlng neatly execttfd at t1iS