The news & observer., 1897-12-19

Ma'amY'
What would you like best? Tell me
all the things, the Queer Lady's sweet
volce hurried on earnestly. She was too
absorbed N her own thoughts to see
how surprised and how wistfu! the little
faces all were. She hardly noticed them
at all. She was waiting pencil and
tablet in hand, for Ann Sophy's reply.
"First-Wbat? she urged. 81 want to
make a list"
"Oh-oh" Ann Sophy was too be-
wildered to consider clearly. Her eyes
sought her red mittens in her lap, and
then, in flash, she remembered the
fervent ambition of her narrow little
life. ''Oh, a pair O kid gloves" she
cried, with plenty o. buttons An a
book with pictures of cows an trees
an country in it-an' music box-an'
side combs, an" her tongue was loosen
ed. She poured out her cherished
dreams in a little turbulent flood of
eloquence. The Queer Ladys pencil
could hardly keep up with it. Then the
others had their turn. Ann Sophy had
given them courage and they stood not
upon the order of their saying, but said
it all, with shrill enthusiasm. Even the
baby expressed his wishes fiuently, if
not clearly.
On their way home the little Cooper's
talked it all over.
She's agcin' to give us Chr.stmasw
shouted Nip in an ecstasy Of delight
Sizes a-goin' tor echoed Tuck.
Hush, she'll hear your Ann Sophy
cautioned them, but her staid little face
was quietly radiant. She was almost
ready to believe It herself
Il don't know-it looks kind of So"
she said, wistfully.
Huh, course it's so What's she
want lis all to choose things for, then? p
said Mp scornfuly.
"Yes, What'd she want us to for?"
well l don't know-it kind of looks
so honest" repeated Ann Sopby slowly
"HO0r-ray! An we warn't goin' 10
have any Christmas hefore-not Il single
thing, Ann S"rhy Cooper cause the
coal bins most empty
No. WIZ warn't-mot single, Ann SO,
ply COOPER
"Hoor-rayr'
"Hoor-rayw
Il can1 Aeip it--it looks kind of so"
nurmured Ann Sophys w.stful voice
again.
he Queer Lady. left alone, was look
ing over her list. 1t was not altogether
satisfactory. She was n little d.sap
pointed. Some Of the things were so
queer. If she could only remember-d.d
hldren really want such things as
those?
'Wcll,' She said. folding the list care
fully, I'm get all these things, anyway,
and perhaps they'll suggest others that
aren't so queer"
The few intervening days went past
on swift wings. Marjorie Graham was
very busy and happy. The children
would come on Christmas eve, just in
time to hang up their stockings. And
meantime, There was so much to do-so
many beautiful things to see to.
Two days before Christmas Marshall
Graham came home unusually early in
the afternoon. Twilight was just be-
ginning to fold in the merry Christmas
world He hurried up the steps. Roxy
let him in.
"Where is Mar-wIhere Is Mrs. Gra-
ham, he asked anxiously.
The girls pleasant, buxom face quiv-
cred suddenly. She pointed toward the
parlor door.
''In there" she said huskily. Then
into hushed sobhing. swaying back and
forth and rocking her arms.
'Sheis fixing the-the-it," she sobbed
under her breath.
The little man braced himself as for
blow, and went into the parlor. Mar
jorie came to meet him with a laugh of
triumph.
''See, dear boy" she cried, 'isn't it
lovely? It's all ready but lighting the
candles. / couldn't wait till Christmas
to fix it. You see, l can keep the parlor
door locked-the children won't know,
and | can keep coming in to admire it.
No, come over this side-there! that's
the best view of it. Now, you dear boy,
say it's the loveliest tree you ever saw
say it! Begin, it's the loveliest-'"
She was darting in and out among the
laden branches readjusting and reloop-
ing. Her eager eyes shone like candles
to him.
"Say it, dear, why don't you begin ~
she cried gayly. And the little man
drew long, sobbing breath and said it
as well as he could. 1t satisfied her.
She was too preoccupied to think his
voice was stilted and strained.
''Those little Cooper children helped
quite lot. | called them in. You can't
think what funny little things they
were! There, it's quite, quite done. Tie
my hands so / won't touch another
thing! And over here. see, on this sofa,
are the stocking things. -Four piles-this
little soft ones Peek o Mischief's!'
The tears were running helplessly
down the little mans face, but she did
not see them. He kept his head turned
away. -Four piles of toys were ranged
- prim row and four little black
stockings lay beside them, their limp
lengths dangling over the sofas edge.
Outside in the hall Roxy rocked her
arms and cried tears of honest love.
That evening Marshall Graham called
on DIR. Sperry again. He told the whole
sad little story, and the kind-hearted
doctor hemmed and coughed and polish
ed and rennlished his snnntn clos MAfu