Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1902-12-20

! six months ago. Nobody want thems
Dear ms, that is too bad. Yes. | know
you have every one of sou taken your
share; but we mustn't let that family
go; Ill take 1t myself first, although
I've five booked against my name al
ready. What's that, young man9
You'll take them? Bless your heart,
you'll never regret IL. One shake Of
the dear old mosher's hand will say
you"
II did not take Robert more than
five minutes 10 gen directions as to
street and number, and All the time
he was doing some close calculating
as to the investment 81 the ten-dollar
gold piece.
"A line dinner you're getting for
your family" said the grocer, as he
packed the basket full Of good things.
Are there many of thcmg' "0aiy a
mother and two little girls" Robert
answered with . blush. and yet with d
feeling Of satisfaction,
"supposing / should not like them?"
he thought, as he knocked at the door
of a tiny cottage on an unpretentious
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 down at
the two little daughters who were
lowering expectantly over the bulky
basket. "Are you the grocer's young
man. and are you sure you have the
right number?"
"Yes,' answered Robert. ITS Just
the right number and description: d
dear little mother and two little maid
ems of three and ten"
For o minute or two Mrs. Robbins
feared she was harboring an escaped
l~unatic. but Robert, perceiving her
perplexity. 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 d view
to a Christmas-day celebration. fhe
field was evidently undeyeloped. NOT
a doll. nor a picture-book; not q set
Of dishes nor a Noah's ark was 10 be
seen Its all straight sailing on the
toy question:" thought Robert. sand
BY the appearance Of their CLOTHES /
guess can't 60 far wrong &c + las
a complete wardrobe for the girls.
9 sons and brothers who grnmbse
over Christmas shopping for mothegs
and sisters sou car never experience
the zest with which Robert Alierton
started upon his FIRST Christmas shop
ping tour. 1t was The realization Of
the accumulated dreams ~ a dozen
years. When other boys had dreamed
Of fame and tender romances that
were 10 come into their lives. Robert
had longel only to satisfy the heart
hunger Of many mothe rlcsz, sisterlesS
years.
1t would be impossible to describe
the raptures Of the next day. when
Robert Allerton let loose upon the un-
suspecting Robbins household a
pent-up Christmas enthusiasm OF
years. For % hours I'm going TO
abandon myself to the pleasant fancy
that |, like others, am the center Of a
home circle; for one Christmas day
I'll have my Christmas rights"
1t was in the twilight Of the Christ
mas day, as Robert sat holding Nam
ME in his arms, telling her for the
seventh time the wonderful story Of
Saint Nick. that the child drew his
head down to her lips and whispered:
"Janie says you're only d Christmas
day brother. 1t isn't so, is it? You're
all-the-year-round brother. aren't
youg"
He satisfied the little one with a
caress.
A little later when Mother Robbins
babe him a motherly good-by, she
you've been so generous in your
dear boy, and made the little
ones so happy. and I've nothing to
you in return but the love I've
been saving all these IL years for NV
dear boy, who needs it no more.
7 thought to lavish it on him in his
young manhood, but the Lord knew
Its ready and waiting for such
brave, true son."
perhaps, after all. this is more d
universe "a law and order than ! had
said Robert, as he looked
up ait the Christmas stars shining
steadily in their appointed places. 1T
surely something more than mere
that brought me with my long,
ing for a mother to the one lear little
woman who most needed q son.
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