The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-17
IHE oHRTsIlEAs BEIL-s.
q 80 BAILEY.l


1T was so cold that the snow looked
blue under the dark sky when the
Bells ran swiftly down the hard road
Ihena We're uVe Of then-Mary and
Jimmie and the twins and Baby Bell
and they were orphans ana very poor,
and it was the day before Christmas.
The I'VE Bells stopped in front Of a
big house.
hve sweet voices were appraised:
MERRY. merry Christmas everywhere.
CheeriIy 1t ringeth through the air.
sang all the little Bells, with red noses
and blue fingers. as they stamped their
feet and shivered in the snow
The door OF the big house opened
ana a pompoHs servant came out and
shook his finger at them $50 away,
he said, Ego away! We don't want YOU
bowling around here"
"OhY' gasped the little Bells, and
away they Few, with Mary Bell bring
ing I'D the rear, as she wiped the tears
from her eyes, for she was the oldest,
and at home there was nothing to eat
and no IRE, and she didn't know what
they would do.
They sang before other places until
their threats were sore, bat everyone
was TOO busy or too selfish to listen;
and the night was coming on when at
last they lmped into the grounds of a.
dark OLD mansion that stood far back
In this mansion lived a Bachelor
which isn't an ogre, although it is
something like one, for bachelors
haven't any children and they are apt
70 tefBet that they were ever young,
ana sometimes they are very fierce.
The Bachelor was all alone. He had
sent his servants away to keep their
Christmas at their homes, and he was
in the loneliest room in the lonely
house.
The Bells sang two songs before he
Merry, merry Christmas. every-
where" rang out the young voices.
The bachelor shivered before the
gray ashes OF his dead FIRE
GO away he murmured, but the
children did not hear him and they
sang on
Go away muttered the Bachelor.
q second time. and he went to the
window.
away" he motioned.
They turned to go out Of the gate,
but when they reached it Baby Bell
stumbled and sat down and then she
cried, and the other four cried--a for
lorn little group, TOR they were all SO
tired and cold and hungry that they
didn't care what happened.
ooh. by George. said the Bachelor
watching them. BY George they are
nothing Dut babteS!" and he ran down
stairs and out into the snowy path
WHAT'S the rnattsr7'' he demanded.
mo one wants TO hear us sing, u
sobbed Baby Bell.
"ETnh." said the Bachelor. grufaly
s'T do
"And we're cold" whimpered the
Twins.
But Mary Just looked at the Bache-
Tor with eyes that reminded him q
days OF long ago aud suddenly lac
found himself holding her hand and
talking eagerly
come fn, he urged, where it {.
warm and sing to me there&
The lonely room was not lonely any
more when the i've little Bells stood
Ga a row IN front of the fire, which
the Bachelor poked into blazing bright
ness. They sang with a VIII, and thf
Bachelor clapped his hands, and ther
he took out hts purse.
'sEere5 he said TO 11ar3s ana handed
her q dollar.
But Nary shook her head. cit Il
600 much" she said. you must Civ
use q penny apiece for each song. fol
fhat Is an that 1t Is worth. We can
sing very well. And We are not beg
gars.
what wiz you do with PENN
aDfece ~ asked the Bachelor, looktn1
into Esr. earnest eyes. one for eacl
SONG win be fifteen cents.
~ win buy FIVE cents worth
Scans. and I'VE cents worth OF perl