The Weiser semi-weekly signal. (Weiser, Washington Co., Idaho) 1904-1911, 1904-12-21
h NE Christmas eve a wax doll sat
q on a chair in pretty room IN
p which number OF children

W winch numDer OF cnuofe
were In bed A fire was burr
ing on the hearth. Stockings wer
hanging to the mantel 30 be filed wit
toys for the children who were sleeI
ing soundly, doubtless dreaming o
what they were to receive In the morn
ing. The face of one Of them. deli
cate, fair haired boy was turned to
ward the doll, and she did not tire look
ing at 1t, for the face, though pale am
thin, was very delicately nodded,
On the mantel were two figures Il
porcelain. One was a boy In an ole
fashioned coat and knee breeches, witt
sash around his waist and cockeC
hat and feather. His right hand was
thrust into his coat In front, and hs
looked like a figure of Napoleon The
other was a girl, with q short dress
and sailor hat. Her head was poised
one side, and she looked very well
satisfied with herself. Indeed, she was
very pretty.
How do you dof" said the girl i'm
age to the doll. Don't you think this
pleasant room?v
Indeed it is but I've not see many.
l was only born She paused to
think ngain when she was born, but
couldn't remember, 80 she said instead,
''Isn't 1t beautiful worid?p
do you think so?" said the boy.
my sister and have had hard time
getting into, it We were baked In a
furnace, and 1t was 80 bot''-
d0p,f foil mo oh1,,@ a. s..k1-
rupted the doll. 'I'd rather hear about
pleasant places"
The figures told her q great many
things, but the girl was very vain of
her beauty, and the boy was taken up
with what he knew about the world,
Of which the doll knew nothing at all,
90 she didn't listen long. but fell asleep
while they were talking
Suddenly she awolre with a start.
What was that noise In the chimney?
She had scarcely time to think about
1t when out on the hearth popped lit
tie figure In fur. He unstrapped pack
he carried and filed all the stockings
with toys. Then he jumped back into
the chimney and was gone In a twin
king. This set the doll to wondering
more than ever.
Everything was again silent except
the clock. which licked very loud.
There were the children asleep In bed
the little pale faced boy with his head
resting on his arm, the girl image on
the mantel with her head on one side
thinking how pretty she was and the
boy thinking how much he knew about
the world. The doll soon went to sleep
again.
In the morning she was awakened
by q shouting, The children were run
ming about IN their night clothes, TAX
Ing their toys from their stockings and
chattertng like monkeys. The fair hair
ed boy satsup In bed and looked on, for
ne was too delicate TO get up like the
other children The doll noticed tina,
he had great blue eyes, which seemed
ever so large as he looked wonderingiy
at all that was going on. Then there
came knocking on the wall, and the
children knew that It was a signal for
them to get back to bed and not take
cold, and back they scrambled, laugh.
Ing and tumbling over one another,
and covered themselves up.
Presently the father and mother
came In and distributed the TOYS. The
doll was for one of the girls, but the
boy insisted ON having 1t himself. Then
when all were loaded with presents
they carried them down to the break.
fast room.
What a day 1t vast The children
were racing about, playing with their
toys, and people were coming In con
unually to see the presents, and the
sun shone brightly on the snow out.
side, and the fire shone brightly with
In on the brass andirons and fender
and after dinner stories were told the
children till they were all astonished
by the number of wonderful things
that happen. The boy with the light
hair and blue eyes lay in his mothers
arms. hugging the doll with her breast
pressed against his, so that she could
hear his heart beat, and she wondered
why there was no such beating in her
own heart This was the happiest mo.
ment she had ever known. She was
only a DAY OLD, but something told her
That nothing In the world could ever
make her happier.
When the children went upstairs the
boy insisted on keeping the doll by
him till he got into bed, when his
mother persuaded him TO part with Il
till morning. She placed II on chair
before the fre where be could see II
~ be should go 10 sleep and the first
ming on awakening IN the morning. 1
When the children were all asleep [
Ihe doll looked up from the chair AZ
ule Images on ule mHntel, She was ,
loo happy % 70 % sleep.
What lovely day ! hays had she
SAID, :
Just waiiP replied fbo boy Image.
'pll you have beep shocked about tAe J
world aHhile anq you'll seoN 10 l0ok y
AZ ee Tise ~ Rn owl,