The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1902-12-19

have given anything to undo 1t, but
could not, for nothing would make it
right. Mother hustled about working
to make it happy Christmas, yet she
worried over us, dosing US with medi-
cines ANA teas she thought would help
US. But they did us no good, for she
could not know 1t was the guilty con
science rather than the body that
needed healing. Those bitter doses
flied our cup Of woe almost TO overflow
ing, yet we took them rather than tell
the truth, for we had solemnly vowed
she must never know We agreed 10
cheer up and be happy, and when she
was there we played at pirates, but
had not the heart necessary to victory
and generally lost to the little ones
Each day we looked more miserable
and became paler and thinner and less
inclined to eat Tears came easily to
our eyes, and In those times life was
full of misery.
On Christmas eve we We're silent
and listless. We tried hard to be lively
and full of expectation for the coming
day, but did not deceive mother, who
sent us early to bed, giving us an extra
strong dose of the bitter medicine. We
tried to beg off. but she made us take
it, telling us we must be well when
morning came or we could not enjoy
tho presents Santa Claus would bring,
and we had TO pretend to want 1t. We
heard her tell father she believed we
would have measles or some other
fever. and she helped us nndress, tuck
ing us in and kissing us tenderly the
way mother always does when we do
not feel well. and crept up once or
twice to see us.
In the intervals we talked sorrow
fully of the ordeal before us ana
nerved ourselves to be pleased When
we saw the automobile to carry the
doll with pink cheeks and chestnut
hair, with eyes that opened and shut,
with magnificent silken gown; the
drum majors cap, the horn that Little
Bow Blue would blow, the dishes for
the little mother. the sword and the
gun for the fierce pirate, the noddinS
elephant. the bleating sheep. bats and
balls, ships and sleds, books. skates.
tho theater for our dolls. No one must
know we had ever seen them, we
would be overjoyed at getting Them we
would forget our sorrows and our sins.
Morning dawned. In the delight of
expectation the little ones woke early,
and mother called us, asking anxiously
how we felt. She made us Dress fear
full of cold and wondered that we did
not beg to go down in our gowns and
slippers. We tried to laugh, but could
not. Solemnly each one dressed and
filed down the stairs to the joys that
might have been ours but for Helen's
fateful secret.
We entered the parlor. There about
the tree lay the toys, ours at last,
but no longer desired by us. 1t was an
effort to touch them. With disappoint-
ment ON her face. mother tried to make
us see their beauties Once more we
tried to be happy, once more we made
an effort to overcome the influence of
our misdeeds. Then keener realiza-
ton of our sins came over us. Some
Vic SOUDOU, anu we OlV anu lulACd
away, bursting into tears. Mother
pleaded, begging to know what was
wrong but we could not tell; we could
not break her heart with our wicked
ness. We tried to stop weeping, tried
to look at the gifts which Santa Claus
had brought, but the tears came faster
and faster We buried our heads in
her lap aud gave way to our grief
while Helen walled: ooh, mother I've
spoiled Christmas for every one! But
wen never, never play with our pres
ents before Christmas again.
Mother understood. The tears stream
cd down her face while she gathered us
in her arms. Father said nothing, but,
crossing the room, looked out of the
window. We sobbed and sobbed until
we could sob no longer. Then we dried
our tears, and mother put away the
toys, for we did not want them. We
| resumed our pirate life with meek and
chastened spirit i'll betting the Zero
| cious deeds we did, for the pirates had
learned a lesson. Never again would
they capture cargo stored by Santa
| Claus on n rafter shelf. awaiting the
| glad Christmastide.