Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-12-23

"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 q
mother and two little girls" Robert
answered with blush, and yet with q
feeling of satisfaction.
"Supposing should not like them?"
he thought, as he knocked at the door
of 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. care 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;
dear little mother and two little maid
ems of three and ten"
For minute or two Mrs. Robbins
feared she was harboring an escaped
lunatic, but Robert, perceiving her
perplexity, fastened to explain.
AS he graciously listened to Mrs.
Robbins words of gratitude, he took
mental inventory of the possibilities
of the Robbins household with view
| to Christmas-day celebration. The
field was evidently undeveloped. Not
doll, nor a picture-book; not a set
! of dishes nor Noah's ark was to be
seen. Its all straight sailing on the
toy question" thought Robert, "and
by the appearance of their clothes, 1
guess I can't go far wrong if lay il
q 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. It 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 longed only to satisfy the heart
hunger of many motherless, sisterless
years.
It would be impossible to describe
the raptures of the next day, when
Robert Allerton let loose upon the I'M
suspecting Robbins household a
pent-up Christmas enthusiasm of
years. "For "a hours I'm going to
abandon myself to the pleasant fancy
that !, like others, am the center of q
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 Nan
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 Christmas
day brother. 1t isn't so, is it? You're
an all-the-year-round brother, aren't
your"
He satisfied the little one with a
caress.
A little later when Mother Robbins
bade him a motherly good-by, she
said:
you've been so generous in your
gifts, dear boy, and made the little
ones SO happy, and I've nothing to
give you in return but the love I've
been saving all these II years for my
own dear boy, who needs it no more.
l thought to lavish it on him in his
young manhood, but the Lord knew
/ better. It's ready and waiting for such
another brave, true son."
Perhaps, after all, this is more a
universe of law and order than / had
imagined" said Robert, as he looked
/, up at the Christmas stars SHINING
steadily in their appointed places. 1T
was surely something more than mere
chance that brought me with my long
ing for mother to the one dear little
woman who most needed q son.
Union Signal.