The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1903-12-26
VOL. 39.--NO. 10.


hence wisely kept her own counsels, be-
lieving that there was pleasure even in ex-
pectation. She did, however, go to the
same great department store and buy them
each a pair of stockings, for which they
were in greater need, as she thought, than
candies Or toys and, as it was snowy
day, and as she took little pride in hav-
ing delivery wagon stop at the house,
she requested that the stockings might be
sent home
There was an awful rush that day in
that big department store, for, although
1t was so stormy, yet many persons who
had left their purchases until the last mo-
ment kept the salespeople unusually busy,
and it was very natural that in the trans
action of so much business few mistakes
should be made Mistakes, as a rule lead
to no end of trouble. A wrong figure in
column Of accounts will make a book
keeper "scratch his head so to speak,
for hours, while the improper placking of
SO small thing as comma may give to
sentence far different meaning than was
intended. Then, again, it is not uncommon
to speak of fortunate mistake" and,
perhaps, it was under that class that one of
the errors was made that day in the big
department store 1t was the custom
there, as in all large establishments of the
kind, to send goods to the delivery depart
ments. So in due course the little pack
age of three stockings found its way there
with the larger purchase of Mr.. Sommers,
and they were both intended for the dis
trict covered by No 81 wagon. Such a
hustle and hustle had not been seen for
some days. Clerks were tossing the smaller
packages together in sorting them, when
by accident several piles of packages were
upset, and, as luck would have it, the tags
became detached. Instead, however, of
taking pains to find out whether everything
was correct, a clerk picked up the tag that
belonged to Mr. Sommers's purchase and
placed it on that of Mrs Harper, while
that addressed to Mrs. Harper was duly
tied on that of Mr.. Sommers, which, of
course, was directed to Tupple. The clerk
thought all was right, and so the bundles
were soon transferred to No. 81 wagon
Delivery wagons were late in getting
around that day, for it was hard pullingin
the snow drifts which the trolley sweepers
had heaped up. Mrs. Harper's children
had gone to bed early, full of expectation.
They didn't think that old Santa Claus
would miss them, for they believed that he
visited all children alike 1t was nearly 9
O clock when Mr. Harper came in. He
stamped his feet on tn step to get the
snow from his boots, and shook his old coat
just as horse does to get rid of pestif-
erous fly.
Harper had hardly sat down to the fru-
gal meal, which his wife had prepared be-
fore up drove 81. The driver gave the
bell vigorous pull, and as it was answer
ed, asked quickly: "Harpers live here?'
and being told 'Eyes, sir, handed in
package and away he went.
Mrs. Harper was rather amazed at the
size of the package, and thought there
must be mistake, but she turned the
lamp up little brighter and then pro-
ceeded all in a tremble, to open carefully the
bundle What was her surprise TO behold
two fine dolls, several boxes of mixtures
and some toys, suitable for small boy.
She still persisted that there must be
mistake somewhere, and she was for going
at once, that night, to the store to ascer-
tain, but as the couple lifted up the fine dolls
business card dropped to the floor and,
on picking it up, Mr.. Harper read "Mor-
timer L. Sommers, woolen yarns, No. 10
Euclid street" and across the face of the
card was written, with the Christmas
compliments of.
"'Sommers said Mr.. Harper, looking
at the card "why [ shoveled the snow
from off his pavement this afternoon, but
then he don't know me, and [ merely re-
member him by his name over the door.
Perhaps, wife, he has been making inqui
ries about us and has taken this means of
doing us kindly turn. All! it's great
thing to have friend in this time of need,
but we ought to write and thank him for
his goodness to our children.
And SO the couple put their heads to-
gether, and after destroying several sheets
of paper, finished the letter which Mr..
Harper Immediately dropped in nearby
box. But Mrs. Harper wondered why the
stockings hadn't come.
The next morning Christmas morning
what happy scene there was in the Har-
per home. The faith of those little chill
dren was unshaken. There were the very
things they had longed for, and they were
so happy that it was some time before they
could be induced to partake of breakfast.
II knew Kris would come" said the
younger of the girls-''I heard him creep
ing down the chimney, and his bells ring
ing" Dear little thing, she had merely
heard sleighing party on the main street,
and the noise in the chimney was only a
result of the strong wind loosening brick
and topping it down. But there was no
one to disturb that belief, and hence she