The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-12-19

girls and the little ones a boy1
She sat UP, mildly excited. Little red
spots blossomed out in her white
cheeks. Just four and just-almost-
the same sizesl Then she had an in
SEPARATION.
80, yes, they'd know" she cried
'They'd know everythingp'
She raised the window q little way
and called down to them in her clear,
sweet voice that carried distinctly.
Little childrenl Little girl-you old
est onel Won't you please come over
here and see me little while? 1 want
to ask you something.
| The children stopped their play and
looked ct each other with round. as
| tonished eyes.
20, nyF' said Nip, excitedly.
80, mzr' said Tuck.
Nip and Tuck always said the same
things. I
Lets go tell mother" advised Ann
Sophy wisely. I'll ask my mother, /
ma'am,'' she called up to the eager
face ct the window.
Mother, mother they all chorused, /
the Queer Lady wants us to go over
there an see her-she called I'D out
O. the winder. honest she did! She
wants to ask US somethi1'."
Yes" Ann Sophy recapitulated with
slow emphasis, honest"
well, of all things" calculated Mrs.
Cooper, in amazement. I declared
Well, 7 'spose you'll so. She's harm
less and they say she has to be hui
mored. But you've got to clean up.
Ann Sophy, you scrub the baby's face.
Nip, you braid Tucky's hair over again
smooth, mind y0u-and you may tie
her best ribbon on. Hurry
After a good deal Of huTrying and
smoothing down and washing UP, the
small CooDers went, in 9, solemn little
procession, to the Queer Ladys.
She was waiting at the front door.
Come right in" she said, eagerly;
and you'd better take off your
things"
"Oh, no'm," Ann sophy cried, hur-
riedly I'VE couldn't We only had
time to clean up outside. Keep your
mittens on" she whispered in a shrill
aside to Nip and Tuck.
Mrs. Graham pointed to chairs but
Ann Sophy arranged them in a straight
line, side by side, before they sat down.
Then she seated them gravely, accord
ing to sizes-herself at the head and
the baby at the foot. They sat up
primly and folded all their gay little
mittens on their little, shabby laps.
The baby'S stout, abbreviated legs
stretched straight out before him, and
barely reached the chairs edge.
Now, ma am Ann Sophy said, eX-
pectantly taking a last sidewise view
of her line of parade.
What do you want for Christmas?'
asked the Queer Lady.
The question was so abrupt, so I'M
expected, that a row of little gasps
broke forth unmuffled. Ann Sophy
swallowed hard.
''Ma'am?"
What would you like best? Tell me
all the things" the Queer Lady's sweet
voice hurriedly on earnestly. She was
too absorbed in her own thoughts tc
little faces all We're. She hardly no
ticed them at all. She was waiting
pencil and tablet in hand, for AM
Sophys reply. "First-What?" shC
urged. 81 want to make a Hst?'
"Oh-oh" Ann Sophy was too be
wildered to consider clearly. Her eye
sought her red nittenS in her lap, ant
then, in a flash, she remembered TIL
fervent ambition of her narrow ittl
life. "Oh, pair O. kid gloves" sh
cried, with plenty O buttons! An
: book with pictures of COWS an tree
y, an country in tan a music boX-ar
~, side combs, an her tongue wa
Ut Ioosened. She poured out her cherishe
~ dreams in a little turbulent flood c
~ eloquence. The Queer Lady's penc
nj could hardly keep up with it. The
ad the others had their turn Ann Soph
he had given them courage and the
ne stayed not upon the order of the
ba thusiasm. Even the baby expresse
ne ~ his wishes fiuently, if not clearly.
~ On their way home the little Cooper
en- talked it all over.
'o She's a-goin' to give US a Chris
re mas!" shouted Nip in an ecstasy
re delight.
shes a-goin' tor echoed Tuck
I'm Hush! She'll hear your Ann Sopt
lat cautioned them; but her staid lit
i'll face was quietly radiant. She W;
Tor almost ready to believe it herself.
sy ST don't know; it looks kind of so
led she said, Wistfully.
mt Huh; course it's so. What's 81
want us all to choose things for then
he said Nip, scornfully.
St Yes, wha'd she want US to for?'
nix "Well I don't know; it kind of lool
ow so-honest," repeated Ann Soph
ms slowly.
MT ''Hoorayl An we warn't goin'
m have any Christmas before-not a 81
gle thing, Ann Sophy Cooper, eau
me the coal bins most empty
mo, we warn't-ot a single thin
Ann Sophy Cooper"
''Hoorrayr'
''Hoor-ray!'
Il can't help it; it looks kind of so
murmured Ann Sophys Yistful vol
again.
The Queer Lady, left alone, w
looking over her list It was not q
together satisfactory She was a lit
disappointed; some of the things we
so queer. II she could only remember
did children really want such thin
as those?
WELL" she said folding the list car
fully, Til get all these things, anywa
and perhaps they'll suggest others tn
aren't SO queer"
The few intervening days went pa
on swift wings. Marjorie Graham w
> very busy and happy. The childr
would come on Christmas eve, just
time to hang UP their stockings: a
N meantime there was much to do
N many beautiful things to see to!
n Two days before Christmas Marsh
" Graham came home unusually early
h the afternoon. Twilight was just /
n ginning to fold in the merry Christm
world. He hurried up the steps. Ro
Z let him in.
Where is Mar-where is Mrs. Gil
ham?' he asked, anXiously.
The girls pleasant buXom face qu
cred suddenly. She pointed toward t
parlor door
b In there she said huskily. TIL
n she sank down on the stairs and bro
e. into hushed sobbing, swaying back a
81 forth and rocking her arms.
She's fixing the-the-it," she sobt
under her breath.
The little man braced himself as
a blow, and went into the parlor NJ;
jorie came to him with a laugh of I