The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-12-25

her that its numerous Jacobs, Isidores
and Rachels belonged to class 80
which Christmas Day was much as
ether days.
But Norris Mogilewsky, whose love
for Teacher was far greater than the
Combined loves of all the other chill
dren. had as yet no present to bestOw.
That his kind feeling" should be with
cut proof when the lesser loves of Isl
core Wishnewsky. Sadie Gonorowslxy,
and Bertha Binderwitz were taking the
tangible but surprising forms which
were daily exhibited to his confidential
gaze was more than he could bear.
The knowledge sadGened all his
hours, and was the more maddening
because it could IN no wise be shared
by Teacher, who noticed his altered
bearing and tried with all sorts of art
ful beguilements to make him happy
and at ease. But her efforts served
cEiy to increase his unhappiness and
his love. And he loved herl oh. how
he loved her! Since first his dreading
eyes had chung for a breath's space to
her like mans shoes" and had then
oIept timidiy upward past a black
skirt, a form silk" apron, a red
jumper" and from gold" chain to
her light face" she had been mistress
OF his heart Of hearts. That was more
than three months ago. How well he
remembered the day.
His mother had washed him horribly.
End had taken him into the big red
school house, so familiar from the out
side. but so full of unknown terrOrs
within. After his dusty little shoes had
stumbled over the threshold he had
passed from ordeal TO ordeal. until at
last he was torn in mute and white
faced despair from his mothers skirts.
He was then dragged through long
halls and UP tall stairs by a large boy,
who spoke TO him GSdainfully as
''greemie." and cautioned him as to the
laying down softly and taking up gent
" OF those poor. dusty shoes, so that
his spirit was quite broken and his
nerves were all unStrung when he was
pushed into a room full of bright sun
shine and of children who laughed at
his frightened little face. The sunshine
smote his timid eyes, the laughter
smote mis- timid heart. and he turned to
fee. But the door was shut, the large
toy gone, and despair took him for its
own.
Down upon the floor he dropped, and
walled and wept and kicked. 1t was
then he heard for the first time the
voice which now he loveG. y hand was
forced behind his aching body and the
floor and the voice said.
why, my dear little chap. you
mustn't cry like that. WHAT'S the mat
ter?"
The hand was gentle and the qUes-
ton kind, and these combined with
raint perfume suggestive Of drug stores
and barber shops-but nicer than either
made him uncover nis hot little face.
kneeling beside him was a lady, and
he forced his eyes to that perilOus as
cent: from shoes to skirt. from skirt to
Jumper from juBper 10 face, they
trailed in dread uncertainty, but at the
face they stopped-they mad found rest.
Morris allowed himself to be gath
cred into the lady's arms and held upon
her knee. and when his SObs no longer
rent the very foundations Of his pink
and wide spread tie. he answered her
question in a voice as soft as his eyes,
end as gently sad.
Il amt so big, and ] don't know
where is my mama"
So. having cast his troubles on the
shoulders of the Lady, he had added his
tnrobbing head to the burden, and from
that safe retreat had enjoyed his first
day at school immensely.
Thereafter he had been the first to
c-rive every morning, and the last TO
leave every afternoon; and under the
care of Teacher his Iiege lady, he had
grown in wisdom and love and happi-
ness. but the greatest Of these was love.
And now, when the other boys and
urls were planning surprises and gifts
( price for Teacher. his hands were as
empty as his heart was full Appeal to
his mother met with denial prompt and
energetic.
For what you go and make. over
Christmas, presents? You amt no
Erisht: you should better have no kind
feelings over Krisnts, neither; your
Iapa could to have 2 mad"
Teacher amt no Krisht," said Nor
lis stoutly; "all the other fellows buys
her presents, ind I'm loving NIT her;
It's polite 1 gives her presents the while
I'm got such a kind feeling over her"
well we amt got no money for buy
nothing" said Mrs. Mogilcwsky sadly.
NO money. ind your papa. he has all
times q scare he shouldn't to get no
more, the while the bOss'-and here
followed incOmprehensible, but depress-
ing, financial details, until the end OF
the interview found Morris and his
TOther sObbing and rocking in one an
Cther's arms. So Norris was helpless,
his mother poor, and Teacher all I'M
knowing.
And now the great day. the Friday
before Christmas, has come, and the
school is, for the first half hour quite
mad. Doors open suddenly and softly
IL admit small persons. clad in Won
CIous ways and bearing wondrOus par
cells. Room is, generally SO placid and
So peaceful, is a bowling wilderness full
o. brightly colOTed, quickly changing
groups of children, all whispering. all
gurgling. and all hiding queer bundles
\ newcomer Invariably causes a di-
Version. the assembled multitude.
athirst for novelty, falls upon HIM and
oiamors for glimpse of his bundle and
a statement of its price.
Teacher watches in dumb amaze.
What can be the matter with the chill
dren? They can't have guessed that I
The shrOuded something in the corner
IS a Christmas tree? What makes them
behave so queerly, and why DO they
look so strange? They seem to have
grown stout IN a single night, and
Teacher, as she notes this, marvels
El eatly.
The explanation is simple, though
It comes in alarming form. The
sounds of revelry are pierced by a
long, shrill yell, and q pair Of agitated
legs spring suddenly into view be-
tween two desks. Teacher, rushing to
the rescue, notes that the legs form
the unsteady stem Of an upturned
mushroom of brown flannel and green
braid. which she recognizes as the
outward seeming of her cherished
Bertha Binderwit1 and yet, when the
desks are forced to disgorge their prey,
the legs restored to their normal posi-
tion are found TO support fat child
and Bertha was best described as
skinny in a dress OF the Stuart
tartan, tastefully trimmed with pur-
pie. Investigation proves that Bertha'5
accumulated taste in dress is an estab-