Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-12-24
A Christmas Mamma
By M. B. Bell.


hv-YYY N.Y.Y-TN
1t was one of those dreary afternoons
in November. The rain had fallen
steadily all day, and Roland and Esther
Grahm, two motherless little children,
were curled up on the rug in front of
the library fire, looking at the picture
book.
Their nurse, who was a ~kind-hearted
woman, had frequently explained the
stories in the book to them. And now,
with their little heads bent down over
the page, they were looking at the pic
ture of two little girls in bed, while a
woman with a gentle, motherly face,
was tucking them in. Nurse had told
the children a long story about this
picture, what dear little ones they
were, and how loving and kind their
mother was to them.
~ wish we had a mother to tuck us in
and talk to us when the rainy days
come, and we can't go out" said Ro-
land, sitting up straight and pushing
the book away from him YEARLY.
"l'm tired looking at picture moth
ers. Christmas is soon coming, and
I'm going to pray and ask God to send
us a real mother, what we can talk to-.
Then, oh! maybe papa will buy us a
mother if we give him the money"
Use got no money" said little
Esther. II spent it all for Mary Jane,
and now she's broke and you'll have all
the new mamma and Essie'll be so lone.
some,' and the little girl began to cry.
"Oh, Essie, what you crying for? !
haven't any more money than you have,
but I thought God wouldn't care if this
year WE bought a with our
Christmas money, cause we's just as
poor without a mamma as those poor
children"
Mr.. Grahm was a little later than
usual that evening, and somehow for
got to send for the little ones; but sat
before the fire thinking of Dora Lynn
hurst, a little girl he had known in his
boyhood, and to whom he had once
been engaged, but a misunderstanding
had separated them, and he had after
ward married a slight, delicate girl,
who, dying the third year after their
marriage, had left him with the care
of their two children.
That morning an old friend had told
him that Dora, who had never married,
but had been abroad several years, had
~ last rot,1rpaI fop1 ha fa1+ o~,+o-.o
desire to see her again. 1t was with a
strong feeling of self-reproach that he
sprang from his chair when he heard
the little ones at the door, and with
more than his usual warmth he greet
ed them, for they were very dear to
him.
Mr.. Grahm saw at once that some
thing was on their little minds. "What
is it, Roland?" he asked, drawing the
little fellow to him. You and Esther
look as though you had something to
ask me-"
Eyes, papa, WI want you to please
buy us a mamma for Christmas"
"Why, isn't your father enough, lit
tie chicks?"
"Oh! yes, papa, but Essie and I
thought, If instead of putting our
money in the envelopes this year we
gave it to you, you might buy US a
mother to tuck lis in bed at night and
talk to us when you are out"
"Cause we're dreadful lonesome at
times" chimed in Esther.
The tears came to the fathers eyes
in spite Of himself at his children's
strange request, and he thought If
Dora had grown to be as sweet a
woman as she babe fair to be she
would be the very mother these little
children % earnestly longed for.
"Hers's the money" said Esther,
pressing up closely against her ia
Their and putting the coins into his
hand. IF you have any more you
can just give them to the poor chill
dren." (.
Mr.. Grahm could not repress the
smile that came to his. lips at the
children's idea Of the value of a few
pennies they had saved. well, slit-
tie ones, you run off to bed now, and
after supper I will go out and try to
find her"
Mr.. Grahm must have found it rath-
or difficult to find the mother. At
any rate, it took him out very often,
and finally he told the children that
il they wanted a mother he would
have to 60 away for a few days. The
children consented reluctantly, "be-
cause it would be more lonesome than
' Q without papa, and mothers
seemed dreadful hard things to buy"
Roland conided to Esther.
papa will not be away so long,
after ALL" Roland cried with delight
when on arising the day before Christ
mae he found a telegram from papa
announcing that he~ and mamma
would be home that evening at seven
o'clock. For Dora had refused to be
away longer, saying that Aif she was
to be a Christmas present she must
be home in time"
Seven o'clock came, but the train
was delayed, and it was past ten be-
fore Mr.. Grahm and his wife reached