Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1900-12-20

out after dark, and he surely would new
er be able To secure permission 10 go for
a tree.
"Huda." said he sadly, II would never
be allowed 10 CO." Hulda did not seem
as much disappointed as he had expected
she would she kept right on smiling
and urged him no more. That evening
was miserable one, for Azure could new
or endure To sit in the parlor and, though
Hulda had left the kitchen warm and
bright for him. with pan OF corn TO pop
and the pepper handy. yet he had heart
for nothing and went to bed early, to
dream OF Hulda, with her blue eyes,
walking down miles upon miles Of light
ed Christmas trees. with the great star
shining al the end OF the avenue for
Azure knew what ought TO be. He had
not looked at other peoples Christmas
trees through the windows for nothing.
Besides, he had done some reading 9th
ers might not think il OF him, but il was
the truth.
Three days and three nights passed,
and Hulda was not as sociabe as for
merly. She went around smiling and
saying next to nothing, and she had no
condolences to make to Azure about what
she had done. Moreover, she kept the
door OF her bedroom closed fast. Azure
was too proud and too well informed as
to property rights to think of trying the
doorknob, but he was quite sure the room
was locked against all intrusion.
Christmas was a stately day In the
morning his father read aloud TO his
mother on subjects which Azure could
make nothing OF, and there were a mum
Der of gentlemen at dinner-professor
from the college, men who had small
hope of Aure's scholastic achievements
and afterward there was discussion
Azure slipped into a corner TO look at the
illustrated natural history which his IA
Their had given him and TO whirl about the
globe which his sister had presented To
him, most enlightening globe. which
endeavored To make stupid little Azure
acquainted with all OF the movements OF
the earth and winds and tides. IL was
certainly kind OF his people TO give him
these things. Azure thought. He wonder
ed why he was not happier. Perhaps IL
was because he was naughty child.
Strange words tioated to his ears from
that part OF the room where the discus
sion was going on-"The Myth Of Dion
ysius." ''The Nativity" "Staurolatry.
"Justinius Martyr" and hundred more
peculiar names and phrases which meant
nothing at all TO Azure, but which seemed
for some mysterious reason to affect him
disagreeably, especially as the men were
cross with each other. He thought he
heard young Professor Babcock mention
ing his CAure'sl name a couple OF times,
but that could hardly have been possible.
The little children over the way in the
fiat building were having q Christmas
tree, and soon as ever the dusk began to
come Azure could see the mother lighting
the tapers. 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 in. Azure crept 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 glori-
Gus moment when the door was opened
and the children came rushing in. But
just as II was about TO happen some one
touched him on the arm He turned APP
prehensively. Probably his father had
come to forbid him even TO look at a
| Christmas tree.
But il proved not to be his father. Ii
was Hulda, and her eyes were shining,
anu Sne ndu nOIy IN nef Wnlte cap anu
holly in the bib of her big ruffled apron
With her black frock and golden braids
and bright blue eyes she made the sweet
est, kindest human picture Azure had ever
seen, and somehow all the ache Of his
throat went away as IL by magic. He
took her hand and slipped from the room
with her. She tiptoed along the passage
as If she were approaching some mys-
terry, and Azure did the same. They tip
toed through the dining room and through
the kitchen and past the waiter who had
come in TO help for the day and who
looked at them curiously and on to HUI
| da's room.
The door stood open. and as they went
along the little hallway that led 10 IL a
beautiful glow came out OF Il, and a mo-
ment more the two stood before a slen-
der Christmas tree with a star highest
among the branches and tapers burning
everywhere In memory OF the Light OF
the World and gay little festoons OF
glittering stuff making the branches mys-
terious to the child's eyes. Hulds and the
child stood and looked and looked In a ST.
lent, curious way. Perhaps they were
giving the sacred symbols a chance TO lift
them up from tho recollection OF their
| n.