The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1901-12-18
HOW EVA GOT READY FOR
CHRISTMAS.
BY MARRIEr bailey oLARK.

Eva, Eval what are you going To
get for Christmas2"
Lucille Arbuckle bounded into the
room, n Rugged u slender girl who
rose joyfully to greet her.
1t seems so good to have you come
hNlng IN at any minute, just as you
used toll" said Eva.
Doesn't it 2" said Lucille. Now,
what do you expect to get for Christ
mas?" she repeated.
Really, Lucille, L haven't given a
thought to that part of Christmas. 1t
nos taken every single spare moment
to plan for things 1 am gong to give |
to everybody"
Everybody L hope you don't IN
tend to give presents to the whole
world"
"I wish 1 could" said Eva earnest
ly.
CT think that's sillyl" said Lucille
frankly. Well, tell me what you are
going to give then"
Well said Eva, "first there's old
James''-
Old Jamesl Is he living yet {? L
should think he would be too old 10
work"
"Ohl he is. We have another
coachman, but papa pays James lust
the same; and his old sister lives with
him, and cooks for him. / ALWAYS
give him something. Why, L believe
ho'd cry if L didn't"
"Oh, WE'LL what would you care if
he did? Just an old Irish coachmanl
L should think you would give your
presents to somebody worth while.n
kNhU .InnNna 10 yuNrih u,h,1oI11 aosl
Eva, a trlf'e Indignantly. "I don't
remember when we didn't have James:
he seems just like Que of our family,'
But then he isn't you know" said
, Lucille, with a provoking little laugh.
, a little flush crept into Eva's cheek.
; 81 wonder why you always look at
!, things In such a different way" she
said.
"Ohl because you are foolish, and L
have common sense" said Lucille
|, cOmplacently.
"I'm not FOOLISH" said Eva, with
some show of spirit.
81 think you are, and Aunt Lois
= said So" said Lucille, with another
ex%asperatlng smile.
"Aunt Lois ls mean to say such a
thing" began Eva. And then she
4 stopped ana smiled.
Lucille always had been different.
What was the use of caring2 Aunt
i Lois was different from mama, and, if
she had lived with her, instead of IN
her W dear home, probably she
4 would have boon just like Lucille. Ii
d was not worth quarreling about, any.
I way.
WE'LL" she SAID, eel suppose vol
= won't like some of the others either
o but there's crazy TIM
p Lucille burs: into a merry peal OF
4 laughter, but covered her face will
q her handkerchief as she saw Eva's
reproachful glance.
y "I won't tell you about the rest, II
4 you are going to laugh at them, be
cause-because-it means something
i TO me-" faltered Eva, with a TREMBLING
voice.
What does it mean, Eva +? Pm
sure 1 can't imagine. Why, L onl,
give presents TO people 1 just have Il
remember, and it's a big bother be
. Sides"
ooh! it isn't a bother to me-" SAID
Eva enthusiastically. Why, DOM
you know it's jesus birthday An,
we can't send presents up to him, and
l. so James, and poor Tim, and Bethel
"The washerwomanl" said Lucille
under her breath.
"Yes," said Eva. "She's so good
and works so hard. And she never
would have a Christmas present If /
didn't give her one. And there arc
1 Kate, and Jane, and Annie Small, and
Annie Case, and-ohl half a dozen
more. You see," said Eva earnestly,
&" L give the Christ-child's presents to
the ones l think Jesus would like TO
. have me give them TOTO the people
: who seem to need them the most"
: Aren't you going to give a present
to your own mother2" asked Lucille
| severely.
"Not this year." said Eva, with q
smile. Mama understands,-her
present goes to Elma Brown"
/ "Elma Drown!" echoed Lucille.
3 " That girl who used to treat you so
: meanly?"
eyes," said Eva softly. But her
mother died last week, and she is all
alone"
"Does Professor Edwards teach cur
class in Sunday-school YETI" asked
Lucille, changing the subject.
oh, " tlc lolI IuC CtCy iuOnIDS ago,
and we have the dearest teacher
Miss Adams. She shows me how TO
make my Christmas gifts, and helps
me in everything"
"What are they going to do at
Sunday-school this year2"
"Ohl haven't you heard9 Each
class has pledged a certain amount of
money, and then each one of our class
is TO take a can of fruit, Harry's- cluss
take canned vegetables, Professor
Wilton's boys take flour, and mama's
young ladies give sugar, and so on;
and then every one has to take a pota-
to, or an apple, or an orange, or a
cabbage, to get in at the door. Oh,
it's the greatest funl"
81 don't see much fun in it'll" said
Lucille, with a look of disgust on her
pretty face.
cob! but, Lucille" cried Eva,
" think of the hundreds of poor poo
pie who will get the thingsl"
Yes, of courses" said Lucille. "But
don't you have any entertainment or
treat for tha srhoIars0D