Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1902-01-02
A Christmas Fairy
BY KATRINA KLAUSEN.

beautiful big library wore a festive
air. as indeed it should. Was it not
Christmas eve and was there not a
child in the house? In the bow window
stood the tree. Surely no expense had
oeen spared to make it beautiful, and
instead of being lighted in the old
fashioned way with little baby candles
which drip on things and have to be
watched, it was gorgeously illuminat-
ed with true electric lights. y special
man had been there that morning TO
fix the wires, and another had come to
decorate the tree so that it would be
correct and artistic. And all for one
little girl only ten years old. She felt
very small and queer as she sat, curled
up in a great leather chair, watching
ene man put the finishing touches to
ner Christmas tree.
"Well, miss, | suppose Santa Claus
will be along after awhile with his bag
of presents. You should run away and
give him a chance" said he, coming
down from the ladder.
"There isn't any Santa Claus. I'm
too big to believe in him, and my pres
ents are all piled up on the hall seat.
You may have seen them-there are
quite a lot" The forlorn little voice
caused the man to pause again as he
was hurrying away.
''No Santa Claus? Well, that is just
as little people believe. You know
people, little or big, can't all think
alike, but my little ones say that every
one is a Santa Claus who gives gift,
or does kind deed at Christmas time.
Good night, and a Merry Christmas
to you, miss"
Does kind deed" thought the
child, hugging her dear Fritz closer.
Mother said she gave $25 TO the
orphan asylum for me-and / saw
it in the list in the paper-'Mrs.
James Marcus-Crewes, for her daugh-
ter, Rowena, S25.' wonder if the man
wouldn't think that kind deed?"
Fritz was sympathetic. tiny
brown dog and he knew that when his
little mistress squeezed him like that
around the neck she needed him badly,
so he snuggled up closer and put his
cold nose on her cheek. Sure enough,
the tears did come, and this poor little
grille sobbed and sobbed, and Fritz
could do nothing more to comfort her.
J She drew in her breath suddenly and
i ! OF
ter the room, and looking up, saw Sally
come to light the lamps.
"Well, and cryin', are We, we poor
little lamb! What is troublin' ye
now? The same old story sure; no one
to play with? viii, niver mind, child,
the Henley-Jones children will be
down soon to see your tree and-why,
if they amt here now!"
Miss Margaret Henley-Jones and
Master Duncan HenleyJones were in
deed herewith their governess.
"How do you do, Rowena. All, that
is your tree, is it2 1t is very pretty,
lighted; but I am afraid ours is . little
taller" said Margaret, as she shook
hands exactly as she had seen her
mother do.
"Do not say little taller, Miss
Margaret" said the ever-attentive
governess, "say some taller You re-
member the rule?"
Eyes, but l can't always think" an
swered Margaret. "Have you very
many presents yet?" she asked, turn
ing to Rowena.
81 have 81 in all" answered Rowena,
leading the way to the hall, where
some dainty boxes and packages were
piled.
Haven't you looked at them yet?
I've seen all of mine. | think it is
childish to wait and open them all at
once"
Sally looked at this fashionable, lit
tie lady of II years. "And what are yc
but child, Miss Margaret" she asked.
"Oh, l am almost in my teens" said
the child, land then, of course, l shall
be Miss"
YOU'D be a cad if you were a boy, l
can tell you that, jolly quick" said her
brother.
whats a cad?" asked Rowena.
"Why, it's a fellow that's all prinks
and always thinking how he looks and
low he's saying what he says. They
Usually have hard time among the
boys"
"Your sister is little lady, Master
Duncan, and is never rude" said the
governess as she rose to leave. Come,
it is time for us to 60"
Just then there was rustic in the
hall and a perfect vision burst upon
the children from the doorway.
"Mother!" cried Rowena, rushing
forward, 81 never saw you so beatti-
full"
"W6y, what fiattery from ones own
little grill" said the vision, STOPPING
and placing kiss somewhere about
Rowena's forehead. swell; goodnight,
little ones, we are late, for this is to
be an early dinner so that we shall be
in time for the opera afterwards"
She turned with a smile to the man
behind her holding her beautiful wrap.
"Such pretty picture that was,
didn't you think so? The tree, the
children. the dog and even Sally with
her smiling, Irish face added to the
picture. ] don't think we neglected
anything, do you. dear, for the child's
Christmas?"
mo, my dearest, and if she is not
happy little puss, it is her own faifit~