Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1901-12-20

wanted to. Everybody had lots of
secrets and no one knew what sort of
presents he was to have on the tree
Katherine told Mollie that she thought
surprises were more fun than pres
ents.
Presently the door was opened into
the parlOr; and there was the pretti-
est tree that ever any one could mag
inc, and Santa Claus was dressed up
so funny that everybody had to laugh
at him. Katherine had one of the
little fat doughnut dolls given to her,
and a beautiful dancing doll. After
the things were taken off the tree,
they all had some ice cream: and
Katherine was allowed to feed the
baby from a dainty little silver spoon.
Then they all sang together something
very soft and beautiful; and it was
while they were singing, and Kath-
crime was taking in the joy of the sim
pie home love at Molli - 1use, and
her thoughts were upon lat other
beautiful Christmas long ago when the
shepherds heard the angels singing in
the night. that she suddenly remem-
bered the dinner hour at home. She
stopped singing so quickly. and looked
so frightened, that everybody else
stopped, too.
What is it. dear?" said Mollie's
mamma.
81 guess it's dinner-time." said Kath-
crime; "and I'll have to go home. be-
cause papa never lets me be late to
dinner" There were tears in Kath-
crimes eyes; but everybody kissed
her, and asked her to come again.
And Mollie's papa took her in his arms,
and in a minute or two they were
around the square and ringing at Kath-
crimes front door.
They were all sitting in state when
Katherine appeared in the drawing
room doorway. There were a great
many guests. and mamma had on an
elegant new dress. Katherine stood
upon the threshold, a paper bag in one
| hand and the lovely dancing doll in
the other. Everybody turned and
| stared at her-mamma, papa. the two
! grown-up sisters, and all the elegant
! guests.
We'll" said papa, we've been wait
ing dinner for you"
Katherine glanced from one stern
face to another; but she could think OF
nothing but the beautiful Christmas al
Mollie's house, and presently she
breathed such a deep sigh that the
guests had to smile.
But mammals face was very sober
What have you in your bag?" she
asked.
Katherine took out the little fat
doughnut doll, and held ii up; anC
then mamma glanced up at papa, ant
all the elegant guests began to smile
more than ever. And then papa
jumped up, and took Katherine in hi!
arms.
why didn't you come back a little
sooner?" he asked. I'VE can't spar,
our little girl away from us so long.
Katherine took her head from papa
shoulder. I'VE were having such
beautiful Christmas, papa" she said
that forgot all about dinner"
But aren't we going to have ;
beautiful Christmas here, dear?" asked
papa.
yes" said Katherine, slowly. "Bu
that was a real one. o papa, rea
Christmases are so lovely! Couldn'
we have a real Christmas here SOM
time, like they have at Mollie'
/, house?" And Katherine fixed tw
: hungry eyes on papa's face.
: The very elegant guests looked sc
berly into each others faces, and pa
pa glanced down at mamma. The
! he folded both his arms tenderl
; around little Katherine. and tried t
i kiss away the hunger in the beautiful
eyes. Dear little one" ne sale
, wen try to have a real Christina
next year; and Wen begin now to ge
ready for it, Christian Register.