The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1903-12-25

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 paw
you.'
1t did not take Robert more than
five 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.
care there many of them?" "Only a
mother and two little girls," Robert
answered with 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 hover
ing expectantly over the bulky basket.
care you the grocer's young man,
and are you sure you have the right
numbel?'
eyes" answered Robert, "it's just
the ri ght number and description;
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
a doll, nor a picture-book; not set Of
dishes, nor q Noah's ark was to be
seen. cts all straight sailing on the
toy question:" thought Robert, land
by the appearance Of their clothes,
guess l can't 60 far wrong if I lay in
a complete wardrobe for the girls"
0 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. 1t was the realization of the
accumulated dreams of dozen years.
When other boys had dreamed Of fame
and tender romances that were to
cone 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
unsuspecting Robbins household q
pent-up Christmas enthusiasm Of years.
"For "a hours I'm going to abandon
myself to the pleasant fancy that l,
like others, am the center of home
circle; for one Christmas day I'll
have Christmas rights"
1t was in the twilight of the Christ
mas day as Robert sat holding Mamie
in his arms, telling her for the seventh
time OF 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 80, is it? You're IN
all-the-year-round brother, aren't your"
He satisfied the little one with .
caress.
A little later when Mother Robbins
babe 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.
thought to lavish it on him in his
young manhood, but the Lord knew
better. I've been ready and waiting
for such another brave true son."
perhaps, after all, this is more
universe of law and order than I had
imagined" said Robert, as he looked
up at the Christmas stars shining
steadily in their appointed places.
"It was surely something more than
mere chance that brought me with
my longing for mother to the one
dear little woman who most needed .
son. Un,on Signal.
THE CHRISTMAS DINNER.
In spite of the fact that the word
dyspepsia means literally bad cook, it
will not be fair for many to lay the
~ h. o-1l~ :P%ko,, ha-:- -