Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1902-12-17

six months ago. Nobody want them?
Dear me, that is too bad! Yes, know
you have every one of you taken your
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
live 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 ten-dollar
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 wit tn blush, and yet with
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.
II 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, ''it's just
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
| 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 view
to Christmas-day celebration The
field was evidently undeveloped. Not
doll, nor picture-book; not set
of dishes nor Noah's ark was to be
seen. Its all straight sailing on the
toy question" thought Robert, land
by the appearance of their clothes, 1
guess 1 can't go far wrong if I 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. It was the realization of
! the accumulated dreams of a 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 un-
suspecting Robbins household a
pent-up Christmas enthusiasm of
years. "For "a hours I'm going to
abandon myself to the pleasant fancy
that 1, like others, am the center of a
home circle; for one Christmas day
I'll have my Christmas rights -.
It 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:
Jamie says you're only Christmas.
day, brother. It isn't 50, is,it? You're
an all-the-year7round brother: aren't
you?''' ..-.s. - ~. j. s>:r <+<.. 1: (
He satisfied the little one with q
caress. ~ .;,~s' Ht1 90 >s>Es .l
A little later when Mother Robin,
bade him a motherly' good-by, she
I said : y + ;4. II :.ss& ssstss
1 ~ ou've been so generous in your
4 gifts, dear boy, and made the little
ones so happy, and I've nothing. tc
4 give you in return but the love I've
been saving all these II years for ny
own dear boy, who needs it no more
!. thought, to lavish it on him in hi.
4 young mani God, but the Lord knev,
i better. It's ready and waiting for succf
another brave, true son. 81 81
Il Perhaps, after all, this is more
. universe Of law and order than i ha,
4. imagined, 81 said Robert, as he locke,
ii up at the Christm $ stars shining
I! steadily IS their pointed places. #
1 was surely so1nst hing more than mer,
n chance that brought me with my long
n ing for . mother to the one dear it'll
a woman who most needed . ron. -
l}niSsn ST M