Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1901-12-20
A REAL CHRISTMAS.
st. Louis, Mo.

Mes mamma and papa went to
W York, and now the express pack
Avere coming to the house all the
NRThe north parlor was almost
Nthem. Mary, the table girl,
she did nothing but run from
VITO the telephone all day long.
T1ScSaer, the coachman, said he was
thankful shat Christmas came only
once a year. AS for the cook, Kath-
crime didn't dare show herself in the
kitchen at all. She couldn't talk with
nurse because nurse had so many eX-
ira things to do-all the lace bags to
make for the Christmas tree, and the
tinsel ornaments to fix, and the can
dies. OH but they were going to
have a gorgeous Christmas tree-the
largest that money could buy, so nurse
said; and there was no end to the
things that had been bought for it. In
fact, there seemed to be no end to the
things that had been bought, anyway,
nor to the things that had got to be
done, nor to the hurry and the worry
everywhere. Mamma seemed to be
wanted in a dozen places all at once,
and Katherine could not get a chance
to speak to her.
The afternoon before Christmas
Katherine was standing looking visit
fully out of the window and wishing
she could talk about Christmas with
somebody, when she saw her little
friend Mollie coming up the street.
ooh! | guess she is coming here"
exclaimed Katherine Yes, she is!
Goody! goody!" And Katherine
skipped to the door herself to let Mol
lie in.
But Mollie could not come in.
Mamma wants to know if you can't
come over to our Christmas tree to-
morrow night" said Mollie It's at
half-past five. and yours isn't until
eight. So, you see, you can go to
both. We want you very much and
we are going to have lots of fun We
are getting ready for it this afternoon,
Mamma has made some doughnut
dolls, to hang on the tree. They are
so funny! And Anna is making some
tinsel dresses for some lovely paper
dancing dolls that she painted her
self. Won't the tree look jolly?
We're going to string the popcorn
this Afternoon, while mamma reads
Christmas stories to us. Do you
think you can come? We are not go
ing to have any company excepting
little Jamie Swift. who is an orphan,
you know; but we all want you. Pa
pa does, and he says he'll take you
home, so you won't need to trouble
Fletcher or anybody"
AS Katherine listened to the fasci-
nations of Mollies Christmas tree, her
face flushed with pleasure. I'm sure
| can be there" she said. There
isn't anything for me to do here, and
l shall just love to GOMEZ"
On Christmas Day Katherine could
think of nothing but the Christmas
tree at Mollie's house There wasn't
a soul to talk with. Every one was
busy: and. besides, no one in kath
crimes family seemed to understand
why she liked to go to the little house
that backed up against her fathers
place.
The hours dragged very slowly al
day. Mamma seemed to get buster
and buster; and at five o'clock she
was locked up in the north parlor fix
ing the tree. Katherines two grown
up sisters had gone skating, papa was
off somewhere, and it did seem as i
half-past five would never strike. L
did, however, at last; and Katherine
told nurse where she was going, anC
nurse put on her rubbers and he
cape, and away went Katherine ou
of the side door. down past the snow
covered shrubbery, through the gap il
the fence, and around to Mollie's from
door
Such a beautiful place to have
good time in as Mollie's home was
The whole family were there together
in the pleasantly lighted sitting-room
The baby had on new white dress
and be let Katherine hug him all sh'