The daily Republican., 1902-12-09

six months ago. Nobody want them
Dear me, thai is too bad. Yes, know
you have every one of you taken youl
share; but we mustn't let that family
go; I'll take it myself first, although
I've five booked against my name al
ready. What's that. young man:
You'll take them? Bless your heart
you'll never regret it. One shake OF
the dear old mothers hand will pay
you"
1t did not take Robert more than
five minutes to get directions as to
street and number, and all the time
he was doing some close calculating
as to the Investment of the tcn-dul ul!ar
gold piece.
"a fine dinner you're getting for
your family" said the grocer, as he
packed the basket full of good things.
Are there many of them?" "Only a
mother and two little girls" Robert
answered with a blush, and yet with a
feeling Of satisfaction.
"Snpp"sing | should not like tlem?"
he thought. as he knocked at the door
of tiny cottage on an unpretcntious
street.
His first look into Mrs. Robbins
motherly, worried face settled that
question.
Il think there must be some mis-
take, sir" said the little widow;
"they're surely not for u.s." and her
voice trembled as She looked downa
the two little daughters who were
hovering expectantly over the bulky
basket. Are you he grocer's Young
man, and are you sure you have the
right number?'
Yes" answered Robert its lust
the right number and description; a
dear little mother and two little maid
ems Of three and ten"
For a minute or two Mrs. Robbins
feared she was harboring an escaped
lunatic, but Robert. perceiving her
perpleNity, FASTENED to explain.
AS he graciously listened to Mrs,
Robbins words of gratitude, he took
a mental inventory of the possibilities
of the Robbins household with a view
to Christmasday celebration. The
field was evidently undevelopcd. Not
a doll, nor a pict'ire-book; not 4 set
of dishes nor Noah's ark was to be
seen. It's all straight sailing on the
toy question: thought Robert, "and
by the appearance of their clothes.
guess l can't 60 far wrong if lay in
a complete wardrobe for the girls"
o sons and brothers who grumble
over Christmas shopping for mothers
and sisters, You can never experience
the zest with which Robert Allerton
started upon his first Christmas shop
ping tour. II was the realization of
the accumulated dreams of dozen
years. When other boys had dreamed
of fame and tender romances that
were to come into their lives. Robert
had Ionged only to satisfy the heart
hunger Of many motheriess. ,isterless
wears.
1t would be impossible to describe
he rapturrs Of the next day. when
Robert Allerton let loose upon the un-
,uspecting Robbins household
pen,-up Christmas enthusiasm of
years. For "a hours I'm going to
'band"n myself TO the pleasant fancy
hat !, like others, am the center of
l"mr circle; for one Christmas day
III have my Christmas rights
1t was in the twilight of the Christ
mas day. as Robert sal holding Nam
lie in his arms. telling her for the
eNenth time the wonderful story of
saint Nick, that the child drew his
lead down to her lips and whispered:
jamie says you're only a Christmas
lay brother. 1t isn't so, is It.? You're
m alI-thr-year-round brother. aren't
'ou?"
He satisfied the little one with .
aress.
A little later when Mother Robbins
'ade him IA motherIA good-by, she
aid:
ou''e been s" generous in your |,
its. dear boy. and made the little
mes SO happy, and I've nothing to
i've you in return but the love I've
ern saving al. these II years for my
wn dear boy. who needs it no more.
thought to lavish it on him in his
Dung manhood, but the Lord knew
etter. II 5 ready and waiting for such
mother brave, true son"
"Perhaps. after all, this is more =
inverse Of law and order than | had
nagined,' said Robert, a. he looked
p at the Christmas stars shining
teadiiy in their appointed places. 1T
as surely something more than mere
nance that brought me with my long
Ig for a mother to the one dear little
oman who most needed a SOM
MON Signal,