The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1900-12-20

THEY CAME AND IE[EED N TIE DfJG.s
out after dark. and he surely would nev-
cr be able to secure permission to 20 for
tree.
"IIuida," said he sadly. u would never
be allowed to 60 IIulda did no; seem
as much disappointed as Il" had rXpr ted
she would. She kept right on smiling
and urged him no more. That evening
WAS miserable one, for Azure could Eov-
or endure 10 sit III the parlor. and. though
Hulda had left the Kitchen warm and
bright for him, with pan OF corn to PIP
and the pepper handy. yet he had heart
for nothing ana went to bed early. to
dream OF IIulIa. with her hue eyes.
walking down miles upon miles al fight
ed Christmas trees. with the great star
shining at the end of the avenue. fer
Azure knew what ought to be. He had
not looked ut other peoples Christmas
trees through the windows for nm;liing.
BESIDES. he Lad done some reading OH
crs might not think it of him. but it was
the truth.
Thrc" days and three nights pas >ed.
and liulda Was not as soc:;bie AZ frr-
merry. She went around smiling and
saying next to nothing, and She La 10
condolences to make to Azure about what
she had done. Moreover. she kept The
door of her bedroom closed fast. Atr,
was too proud and too we'll informed IS
to property rights to think of trying the
doorknoh, but he was quite sure the room
was locked against all Intrusion.
Christmas WAS 4 stately day. In the
morning his father read aloud to his
mother on subjects which Azure cou,d
make nothing Of. and there were Il n.!..l-
Der of gentlemen ut dinncr-prufrs.,,
from the college. men who had small
hope of Aurc's scholastic achievements
and aftcrward there was discussion.
Azure slipped into Il corner to look at the
illustrated natural history which his IA
ther had given him and to whirl about the
globe which his sister had presented t,
him, most enlightening globe, viii n
cndcayored to make stupid little Azure
acquainted with all OF the movements Of
the earth and winds and tides. It was
certainly kind of his people to give him
these things. Azure thought. He wonder
ed why he was not happier. Perhaps it
was because he was naughty child.
Strange words foatcd to his ears from
that part Of the room where the discus
sion was going on-"Thc Myth OF Dion
ysus," "Thc Nativity" 'Staurolatry."
"Justinius Martyr" and Il hundred more
peculiar names and phrases which meant
nothing at all to Azure. but which seemed
for some mysterious reason to affect him
disaSrccably. especially as the men were
cross with each other. He thought he
heard young Professor Babcock mention
ing his tAure'S) name Il couple of times,
but that could hardly have been possible
The little children over the way in the
nat building We're having il Christmas
tree, and soon as ever the dusk began to
come Azure could see the mother lighting
the tapcrs. From the way she shook
her head every now and then and seemed
to be calling out to some one he could not
see it was evident that her children were
impatient to get i'll. Azure crcpt up into
the window seat and darkened the pane
with the curtain so that he could see bet
ter. He hardly breathed while he waited
for the mother to finish her work and
open the door. That would be the slori-
Gus moment when the door was opened
and the children came rushing in. Hut
Just as 1t was about to happen some one
touched him on the arm. He turned ap-
prehcnsively. Probably his father had
come to forbid him even to look at q
Christmas tree.
But it proved not to be his father. 1t
was Hulda. and her eyes were shining,
and she had holly in her white cap and
holly in the bib Of her big RULED apron.
With her black frock and golden brads
and bright blue eyes she made the sweet
est, klndeSt human picture Azure had ever
seen, and somehow all the ache Of mis-
throat went away rs if by magic. He
took her hand and slipped from the room