The St. Johns herald., 1900-12-29
A Christmas Mamma
BIN. B. Bell.
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sfH ~NO'CAhDCA. Aue ram 1dO 1alleL
 steadily ali day, and Roland and Esther Grahm, two motherless little children
 were curled up on the rug in front oi the library fire, looking at the picture
 book.
 Their nurse, who was 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 pie ture of two little girls in bed, while a woman with a gentle, motherly face, was tucking them in. Nurse had told the children long story about this picture, what dear little ones they were. and how loving and kind their mother was to them.
 T wish we had 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 wearily.
 I'm tired looking at picture moth CTS. 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, ohi maybe papa will buy us mother if we si;ve him the money"
 Tee got no money" said little Esther. "I spent it all for Mary Jane. and now she's broke and you'll have all the new mamma and Essie1I be so lone some" and the little girl began to cry.
 "Oh, Essie. what you crying for? I haven't any more money than you have, but thought God wouldn't care if this year we bought a mamma with our Christmas money, cause we's just as poor without 6 mamma as those poor children"
 MT. Grahm was little later than usual that evening, and somehow for got 10 send for the little ones; but sat before the fire thinking of Dora Lyn- hurst, little girl he had known in his boybood, and to whom he had once been engaged. but a misunderstanding bad separated them. and he had after ward married 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 st last returned, and he felt an intense desire to see her again. It 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.
 MT. Grahm saw at once that some thing was on their little minds. What is 1t, Roland?" he asked, drawing the little fellow to him. You and Esther look as though yon had something to ssk me-
 "Yes. papa. we want you to please buy us mamma for Christmas"
 Why. isn't your father enough, lit- tle ehicls?~
 -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 mother to tuck us in bed at night and talk to us when you are out"
 "Eause 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 bade fair to be she would be the very mother these little children so earnestly longed for.
 Heres the money" said Esther, pressing up closely against her fa- ther and putting the coins into his hand. "If you have any more you can just give them to the poor chil- dren."
 Ar. Grahm could not repress the smile that came 10 his lips at the children's idea of the value of few pennies they had saved. ''Weu, lit tie ones, you run off to bed now, and after supper l will go out and try to find her"
 Mfr. Grahm must have found it rath- CT difficult to find the mother. At euy rate. 1t took him out very often, and finally he told the children that if they wanted mother he would have 70 go away for a few days. The children corsented reluctantly, "be- cause it would be more lonesome than ever without papa. and mothers seemed dreadful hand things to buy" Roland eonfided to Esther.
 ''Papa will not be away so long, after all," Roland cried with delight when on arising the day before Christ mas he found a telegram from papa that he and mamma would he home that evening at seven o'clock. For Dora had refused to be away longer. saying that eff she was to be Christmas present she must be home in time"
 Seven o'clock came, but the train was delayed, and it was past ten be- fore Nr. Grahm and his wife reached home Opening the door quietly, so as not to arouse the servants, who had given up looking for their mas ter until the morrow, MT. Grahm stepped into the library, where the light had been left burning. Going over to the fire, in front of which stood large chair. he stopped in sur prise, and look of tenderness came into his eyes
 ~Dora. look, they have waited for their mamma" he said to his wife. who had followed him, and now stood looking down on the two little chii- dren in their night robes, eurled up