River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1900-12-20

five beds, Pierre was very little
trouble. He sat for the most part
by the fire, quiet and content. In the
evening when they were all at home
he told stories and talked with Jean
about old times. The children ceased
TO be shy before him. Robert fur
lively drew his picture-on shingle,
as many a brother artist has been
| driven by stress of circumstances to
| do. He was a man of medium size
| and much ther-beaten-a study in
| brown. with a keen old face, little
| gold rings in his ears, bright eyes,
and small, strong hands He was old
! but not feeble. he was silent, but not
stupid, and after his own fashion
seemed cheerful and at ease. Robert
| finished him, and after a moments
| contemplation added a beard, a fur
| cap, and trimmed his old coat with
| fur; rounded his waist line up a bit
and put on belt, and then, the fancy
growing, represented him as sur
rounded with various articles suited
to the holiday ambitions of the young
Auberts-for instance, a paint box
and heaps of drawing paper labeled
Robert" a watch and chain such as
Della hankered after, and a bicycle
for Henri.
In spite of the quietus Papa ALBERT
had put upon Christmas, the children
could not help planning tor some sort
of celebration. They could at least
have tree TO look at; spruces were
to be had for the cutting on the hill
that overshadowed the village. The
little boys would get one. Robert
should make paper angel for the
top. They would color egg shells for
ornaments, and Mamma ALBERT prom
ised them a cake and snow ice-cream.
and we will say" they declared,
and it was a piece of philosophy
worthy of older heads, "we will say,
when the time comes TO take off the
presents, that this house is our pres
emit
What was that? Did old Demarest
chuckle, or merely cough in his sleep?
They thought he was DOING, as, with
six heads in a bunch. they whispered
their pans in the corner on the other
side of the fire. If they only could have
seen what was written inside that
rusty old envelope of a man, Has any
body imagined how it must feel to be
Santa Claus? If it is true that il is
more blessed TO give than to receive,
and that, whatever the joys of posses
sion. generosity feels better than
gratitude, ST. Nick must be the hap
piest being in the universe. And Pierre
Demarest was planning to be the Au-
berts' st. Nicholas.
The day before Christmas he but
toned on his coat and trudged over to
the village.
II buy some little things for you
Young ones" he said to Nine. ALBERT
That night he took Robert and Della
into his confidence. Robert was TO go
next day and get what he had bought
and Della was 10 smuggle the parcels
into the house and put them on the
tree.
You not tell" he said, impressiyely;
and then with a twinkle: Il like to see
what the ehil'ren say"
Della will never forget that Christ
mas, not merely for what happened in
the evening. but for the responsibilities
which beset her during the day. If
they had not al gone eff TO church in
the morning except Robert and herself
and the baby, she never could have
managed il. Robert came home fairly
staggering under the weight of the
things the old man had bought.
There are candies. Della" he pant
ed, land a lot Of those shiny things
from Seaforth's 10 hang on the tree,