The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1899-12-23

considered But in the great laboratory
of human nature experiments were soon tc
be made to determine the truth or falsity
of this assertion.
Besides being gifted with wealth, or at
least having acquired it, Mr. Harmon was
the father of three bright young children
two girls and boy. With all his faults
they loved their father, and bravely en-
dured discomforts that they might please
him. All notions of Santa Claus had
been early taken out of their heads, and
they had been taught that the great Christ
mas festival was only season when the
majority of persons gorged themselves with
indiges1ble pies, cakes and confections,
and that decorated Christmas trees were a
relic of barbarism. With such knowl-
edge on their part they looked forward to
the approaching Yuletide with anything but
a joyous prospect The merry chimes of
church bells were not very musical to their
ears, for while they were the recipients of
gifts from few friends, they were able,
only in a small way to reciprocate. From
her market money allowance, Mrs. Har
mon had managed to save snug sum, and
from it she supplied her children with
what she could
1t happened one evening, several days
before Christmas that Mr.. Harmon seemed
to be in unusually good humor. He spoke
pleasantly, and even gave hearty laugh
over joke that he saw in an evening pa
per Esther and Annie and Willie had
had their heads together in the afternoon,
discussing the holiday outlook, and deter
mined that they would make another at
tack ON the citadel of their father heart.
| They had read somewhere that the con-
slant dropping of water would wear the
toughest granite, and they thought that
by keeping up their attacks they might
finally be able to break down every barrier
that separated them from the fullest and
strongest parental affection.
As the three children-s, 10 aud u
years old, in this order, Willie, Annie and
Esther-sat in the library and noticed how
| good natured Mr.. Harmon seemed TO be,
they felt, at least Esther did for them,
that the opportune time had come. So
nesting her head on her father arm and
looking up into his face, Esther said
Papa, do you know that the day after
tomorrow viii be Christmas, and that An
nie and Willie and are going to ask you
to be Kris kringle for US
At once the smile on MI Harmon face
was replaced by frowu, and, throwing
down bis newspaper, he said firmly
Esther, Ill time you got rid Of such
notions. Haven't told you time and
time again that there is no such being as
Kris kringle It's all lot of tomtoolery,
and the sooner You dismiss it from your
mind the better.
Poor man. He had evidently forgotten
1 how when a lad he looked forward to the
/ glorious Christmas festival, and how his
whole nature leaped for joy when on the
| eyentful morning he discovered the toys
/ and the eonfections and other things
which loving hands had provided. He
/ forgot how in glceful spirit he hunted up
| the largest stocking he could find aud hung
/ il by the old fireplace, where, in the morn
/ Ing, he found it filed with gifts of various
sorts. He seemed to forget with what de-
light be shifted the turkey roatsiug in the
| BIZ Dutch oven. and how he danced as he
beheld the great Christmas tree full OF
tinsel and ornaments, standing in the cor
ner Of the sitting room. What a change
occurs when avariee eviets love from the
heart. And so be rudely refused the
ehilds request. But she renewed the
charge
Papa. she said, I'VE know there is
no real live Kris Kingle ike the one in the
story books, but then it is such fun to play
Kris Kingle, and give presents to Willie
aud Annie and |.
The scoundrel, for he deserves no better
name, actually listened, aud then he said,
gruffiy ''Well, go on"
And Esther did 60 on. She felt that
she had advanced little, and 50 she said.
willie wants sled, box of mixtures,
A story book, and she enumerated sew
eral other things, ''while Annie, she
added, wants nice French doll, some
candies, of course, and "a
ssWell, 90 on, said the brute. Per-
haps he ought not SO be called, but then
one almost loses patience with such a hard
hearted rascal.
Keeping her courage up, Esther ven
tured to mention several things which she
herself desired, but as her poor, bruised
heart was all in hutter, she forgot to
ask for articles that she desired most.
Willie and Annie sat trembling with awe
at the audacity of Esther and wondered
what would be the outcome?
Aud what was the outcome? 1t is really
hard to believe such thing, but Mr..
Harmon was now evidently in an angry
mood. The short evening twilight which
he had brought into the house had been
eclipsed by total darkness, and, calling to
his wife. he said ''See here, Sarah,
somebody has been putting lot Of silly
nonsense about Christmas into the heads of
these youngsters, and | reckon they Il be
better off in bed.
''But, said Mrs. Harmon, children
are children, and --''
,sThere is no but about it, - he said,
interrupting her, and, poor woman, she
felt that what he had said was equivalent
to a command, and so the children were
hurried off to bed, there to lie awake and
grieve that their lot had not been cast in
SUMMER places.
Mrs. Harmon felt for her children, but,
knowing the character of him with whom
she had TO deal, she was almost powerless.
If, unknown to her husband, she did now
and then treat them to delicacies, it was
only to arouse his ire, for his keen scent
generally put him on the track of such
departures frivolities he called them.
The next day-the day before Christ
mas-Esther and Annie and Willie got |
their heads together and held solemn
conference 1t was plain to see that the
morrow would not bring them much hap
piness, and they were wondering what they
should do. 1t was really pitiable to see
those three sad faces as they peered
through the window. Mr. Harmon was
an early riser, and was at his place of
business as soon as any of his employees,
and woe betide any late corners. So he
had gone for the day, while Mrs. Harmon