Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-16

interested was she in buying the pretty
green and red worsted TO make Elsie's
Christmas stocking.
The next morning mother cut the stock
ing out of folded piece of tarlatan so
that the two sides of the leg were exactly
alike. Then having basted them together
except across the top-mother taught
Dorothy how to button-hold stitch all
round the stocking with the bright-colored
worsted
Isn't it beautiful cried Dorothy, when
the long task was finished. TT looks just
like a great big grandma stocking for the
little baby one filed with candy that Santa
Claus hung on my Christmas tree last
year. Won't Elsie be sprised?"
The filling OF the Christmas stocking
was the most fun OF all. At first II must
be admitted that Dorothy, who was in
the habit of receiving instead of giving.
was q little reluctant to let any of her
she gradually became so interested in find
ing something just the right size and
shape for the particular space Opening its
mouth to be fed that she was soon be-
slowing her treasures with reckless gen
crosby.
And every time that she looked at the
Christmas stocking Dorothy laughed and
clapped her hands, SO comical was 1t
growing up very bunny" where Dor
othy had packed the carefully wrapped
silt-edged dinner set of dolls china; thin
and flat-chested'' where she had slipped in
her paint box and six new Kate Greenway
pictures of Colo fat and rolly-poly where
her excited fingers had stuffed in the gray
canton flannel elephant with its fascinating
trunk, big Happy ears and tiny bead eyes.
Finally there was only room for the
browning joy of the doll for which Santa
Claus had so slyly limited.
Dorothy had been unselfsh in selecting
toys, but dolls We're different, and she grew
very serious she stood beside the sofa
whore she had set them all out in row.
Il think" she said at last, that I can
spare Clarissa Jane best cause she's lost
an arm"
Mother looked disappointed, but she only
said: Perhaps as Elsie has never had a
dolie in all her life she won't know how
much more lovely one with two arms is
Dorothy wriggled uncomfortaoIy while
mother placed Clarssa Jane In the stock
ing which only came UP to her waist SO
that the dolls empty sleeve was very con-
Mother said Dorothy suddenly. II
guess Wen let Elsie have Louisa Maud
instead"
made the change with sigh OF relief.
that Elsie will mind that Louisa Maud
hasn't truly real hair to fix, do your
Mother hesitated. IF you were sick lit
brush and comb dollie's hair and
And platt it, and do 1t up on curl
papers?" interrupted Dorothy.
Mother nodded.
There was long pause, then. without
speaking, Dorothy stopped over the sofa,
took up Lady Rosamond. the prettiest of
all her dolls. and held her in outstretched
hands.
My dear child" cried mother, as she
Rugged both Dorothy and Lady Rosamond
to her glad heart.
And IL Dorothy hid any secret regrets
over the loss of her beautiful doIlie she
forgot them Christmas morning when
mother and she took the Christmas stocking
to Elsie and saw the poor little sick chiId's
rapture.
IT'S been the most splendideSt Christmas
thai I've hadp' cried DOrOrhV. her
cheeks flushed. her eyes sparkling. And
oh, mother, don't you suppose If we coax
Santa Claus real hard. he'll LEI me play
Christmas fairy every Year,"