Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1904-12-16

crcmatjon in southfel0 b. the way he
sits down, for he always exhibits
peculiar caution in regard to the back
of his chair. The single exception is
my uncle, Horatio Stevens, who never
relies upon any back except his own
and at seventy-seven years sits up Sc
verely parallel with the perpendicular
wall of the pew, but with clear space
of three inches behind his Sunday coat.
can see him out of the corner of
my left eye on this particular Christ
mas eve, and in the other end Of the
pew is my Aunt Anne comfortable In
the corner, not because of any advan-
tage which the location offers, but be-
cause she carries a supply Of comfort
in her cheerful soul for herself and for
those who come within the sphere Of
her influence.
Between my aunt and me sits the lit
tie orphan. Thus WAS she described in
some Old letter years ago, and when
was picking up presents here and there
on my long journey back to Southield
I thought Of her rs still child. The
presents are on that big, glittering
spruce tree in the corner, and I shall be
! ashamed when Charley Clarke finds
the first Of them and sends it down
here by one Of his gayly clad messen-
gers. There is string Of quaint beads,
for instance, that would be very nice
for schoolgirl, but what will this
beautiful and accomplished young lady
say to them? Something very courte-
GUS, no doubt, yet I wish I had brought
her a jewel of price AS member of
the family I might have done so with
out improperly, and l have strong
suspicion, though our acquaintance is
so very brief, that the little orphan
likes gems.
She has had no experience Of them,
no money for extravagances. His cir
cumstances are much narrower than l
had supposed, and my conscience trou.
bles me because have not helped him
Yet how could I know? There is no
man living who writes a briefer letter
than Uncle Horatio nor one containing
less information. And Aunt Anne
rarely writes at all. She merely sends
her love. Moreover, being genuine New
England folks, the last thing they
would ever do would be to conlmuni
cate an essential fact to one of thei1
relatives.
What's that that Charley Clarke has
IN his hand? 1t has the shape of
book I bought for Adelaide abroad Il
is aggressively juvenile, but the pic
lures are really good, thank heaven!
Miss Adelaide Bancroft.' announc
ed Santa Claus in his funny, higl
keyed voice. Looks as If it came from
Europe. Now, who has been in Europe
recently, I wonder?"
At this about half the assemblagt
turned toward me and laughed. 1t was
like great family around it's Christ
mas tree, this gathering Of honest
hearted folks in the old First church
Of SoutLfiell.
It certainly seemed to me that al
my presents to Adelaide We're wide o.
lie mark. but her heart received then
every one That stranger coming
home across the world should hay,
halted now and then to purchase triv
ial things for girl whom he had new
er seen was sweet to her in a way tina
no man can understand. My wretchet
string Of queer beads made great i'm
preston. She handled them with .
grace that made them beautiful anf
when she had put them about he.
neck upon my word they almost seem
led worth while.