The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-05-14
MABEL S HAPPY CHRISTMAS.

In a little village called Murraysville
dwelt a poor family named Playfair. Had
Mr. Playfair lived they might have been
among the wealthiest OF that secuon
Mrs. Playfair was an invalid and unable 20
go out. She had two children. Mabel. a
girl of ten. and her little brother, Claude,
q bright boy of live. One day Mrs. Play
fair sent Mabel on an errand about one
mile distant.
Claude. like all boys. was fond Of fun
and when left alone would make all the
noise he could in order to enjoy himself.
Mabel resolved to take Claude with her.
thinking that by their absence her NAM
ma might get "a good rest.
They had not reached the end Of their
journey, however, when Il storm arose
and 1t became so furious that Claude
screamed with fright. Mabel was fright,
ened. too, but did not say anything about
1t. They went into the iirst dwelling they
reached.
After the storm ceased Mabel went on
her journey. leaving Claude until her re-
turn. He saw that 1t was getting late in
the afternoon and he thought Mabel had
forgotten him and had gone home with
out him. so he determined to go back alone.
He was not gone long when he discovered
that he was IN a thick forest, and how 10
get out he did not know. Being worn out
and tired he was forced to lie down and
rest on the damp grass.
In the meantime Mabel had reached tine
house in which she had left Claude AMI
to her great surprise found he had gone
without her. The first thought that
rushed through her mind was what will
/ tell mamma II poor little Claude Is lost?'
But Mabel was not the kind Of person
to give up; she did not lose hope, SO she
went straight for home, her anxious eyes
looking ahead to see il Claude would come
to meet her. AS she entered the house she
saw her mamma seated In the kitchen, but
Claude had not yet arrived. When Ma
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she dropped unconscious in her chair,
and she passed away that night without
seeing Claude. Mabel was then alone in
the world, her once-joyful heart was now
sad. Claude was found three days later
BY hunter named Middleton. who heard
him call Mabel and Mamma" Claude
told the story of how he got lost in the
forest. Then Mr.. Middleton took him to his
home, which was almost a palace. He
was contented In his new home, bul II he
could have seen Mabel and mamma how
happy he would have been.
Mr.. Middleton sent him to school fol-
twelve years. When he left school he
had the honors Of his class. The Middle.
tons. who had adopted him, were So de.
lighted with him tnat they said he could
have anything he wished. Claude, who
was only II, chose a trip to Europe and
prepared to set sail in December.
During those years Mabel had been
acting as nurse In the Jones family in 9
the coming Christmas In Europe with
Mrs. Jones mother. When she got ~
board the ship she noticed boy
standing on deck looking sadly into the
water. She went over and stood beside
him and asked him II he was travelling
alone. He said YES" and in a few min.
utes' time they both were seated busily
talking. Mabel listened to Claude's story
of his past life. He had not gone very
far with his story. when she discovered
that he was her long-lost brother. She
kissed him and told him that she was his
sister. He was SO overjOycd on hearing
the views that when she called him CLAUDE
Middleton he forgot to answer. Mabe
and Claude spent their Christmas with
Mrs. Jones. After two months time they
returned to the Middleton home. Wher
Mr.. Middleton's death occurred a few
years after, Claude and Mabel Playfail
became the owners of his property. There
many Christmases were spent in the en-
joyment OF wealth and happiness.
NELLIE q. BIGLIN,
No. 3 School
Age, 16 years.