Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1905-12-21
IN THE CHRISTMAS TREE FOREST.

Life was always pleasant to little
Bette, but evening brought the cream
of the day. Then the door between
the kitchen and the tiny shop was
opened, the cobbler and his children
gathering around the dim, odoriferous
lamp, the boys learning their lessons
to the patient rhythm of the father's
hammer.
"Only nine days before Christmas,
she announced, as she sat down by
Jacks wadded chair. Jack, do you
suppose Santa Claus has got my letter
yet? Do you think he'll send US
Christmas tree2"
"If we're too poor to buy tree,
why don't you go get one, Bette ?"
asked Tom, holding dripping pen
suspended above his book.
"Get one2 Where2"
"Why, where the groceryman gets
his" Tom answered easily. pretending
to resume work.
"Oh, Tom, where does he get them ?"
"In the woods, l suppose. There's
lots Of EN- growing there, just for the
asking"
"Not real Christmas trees, Tom 2"
Sure, heaps of EN-. Dandies Big
fellows and little, with pink and red
popcorn and candy and angels on the
top. And at night they're all lit up.
Oh, it's grand' and once more Tom,
with the skill of an artist, applied
himself to arithmetic.
"Who plants emf Who do they
belong to2" asked Bette, imagins-
tion overcoming her doubts.
Bette was long time falling to
sleep that night, for her active brain
had been fe1 too royalty. But the
bewitching atory was completely swal-
lowed, and an overwhelming longing
had arisen to see for herself the forest
of trimmed Christmas trees.
"
Bette was supremely happy. Six
pennies, shaken rather gulltily from
her cherished china pig. were secure
ly tied in the corner of her handker.
chief. The car was not full and she
had ventured to kneel upon the seat
to enjoy to the extreme the unusual
excitement of ride in the trolley.
"Goin farf" asked the conductor
as Bette gave him her three pennies
"Yes, quite ways. Out there
and the child waved her hand vague
ly toward tue place where the tracks
seemed to meet, pointing to a land
of promise.
Sure you know where you're to
git of ?"
"When we reach the woods.
"Oh, Browns Woods" and the con-
ductor looked relieved as he passed
down the aisle.
Browns Woods Here you are,
little grill" the conductor shouted.
Bette, trustful and happy. said shy
"goodby" to the man as he helped her
off with playful warning not to "git
J lost.
Browns Woods seemed to be a gen.
eral store and few wretched houses.
Bette looked about her with sink
ing heart. The woods, dark but prom
ising, were quite distance beyond
the settlement, but the child set brave
ly out.
AS she became tired her feet grew
numb, for in spite Of the stout half
soled shoes the cold had struck through
The poor child was terrified and for
the first time began to think of home.
She had found not even solitary ev-
ergreen tree, but she still believed
them to be there, and as the Christ
mas Eve settled down over the gloomy
woods she rehearsed to herself all the
details of Toms wild story, this time
remembering his saving clause, that
only old people could see the wonder
ful vision of Santa Claus stepping from
tree to tree, trimming the swaying
branches and lighting the little can
dies.
Bette listened, painfully intent.
Then, with q sob and shiver, she
stumbled on. She put her hand IN
her pocket for her handkerchief, but
she had lost 1t.
She imagined she was retracing her
steps, and cropping desperately in the
unknown dark she hurried on, often
knocking against low boughs and
sometimes falling over halt buried
roots. Finally she trippsd on fallen
limb, and. bruised and hall frozen,
the poor child was too tired 10 rise.
| When she onsned her ewes she was