The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1905-07-07

"Not for yer own sake, Make-Bc
lieve; but for Saranne's."
well. Mr.. Dexter. yes; but I was
glad fO- my own sake. too"
"And now. Little Make Believe. still
not for yer own sake. but for some
poor chlldren's."
II should be as happy as them. AR.
Dexter"
II believe you would. That was n
good bit OF pretending Of miLe."
THAT ii was Mr.. Dexter. l told
saranne that ! could never pretend
half or quarter as well.
shut yer eyes now. Make-Belleve, 10
please me-"
To please him she shut her eyes. and
when she opened them In the silence
that followed Thomas Dexter was
gone. and on the table lay Il brand new
hve-pound note.
She understood II at once; II was for
her Christmas party to make some
poor children happy.
She walked slowly into the shop,
where she found him so busy looking
over his stock that he hardly had time
TO attend TO her-a pretense, 10 avoid
| her thanks.
But she did thank him. In few SIM
| pie words, from the bottom OF her
heart and for the second time in her
life she kissed him for his goodness.
IT'S q fve-pound note well laid
out" he thought, as she left him.
Mr.. Deepdalc and Walter and Sar-
anne entered heartily into Little Make
Believes scheme.
1t was decided that the Christmas
treat should be given in the house. and
IN quiet way they went about the
courts and lanes selecting and inviting
the children.
Their choice lay principally among
those who were motherless Of father
less, or both, and among the most
physically helpless.
1t is doubtful whether there was
more pleasure or pain in this task OF
selection, for many wistful ones had
10 be passed over
Even as il was, when Christmas Day
arrived, they found they had invited
almost more than the house would
hold. But room was made for all.
To Thomas DeXter's fve-pound note
Walter had secretly added something.
and Mr.. Deepdale had secretly added
something, and Saranne had also Sec
retly contributed something from her
savings; so that Little Make-Believe
was quite rich; but it needed careful
management, nevertheless, to make
both ends meet
For two or three days before Christ.
mas she was the busiest of the busy.
She called in the services of n steady
woman, and between them they made
plum puddings and mince pies. and
toasted great joints of beef, till they
were tired out with fatigue.
Saranne and Walter, and even
Thomas Dexter and Mr.. Deepdale, as
sisted in the decoration Of the room in
which the party was to be held, and
what with holly and mistletoe and
flags of all nations the house was
turned topsy-turvy.
Some Of their preparations were kept
from Little Make Believes knowledge,
and when she expressed herself Curl
Gus about them she received the merry
answer:
"You mind your business, and Wen
mind ours"
Undoubtedly it was the event of the
season.
Such n gathering had never before
been seen.
In the richest homes in the country,
in the coziest country houses in Eng
lands green lanes. at whose doors the
poor mans wolf had never appeared. |
Christmas was not more truly Christ
mas than in Thomas DeXter's old /
house in the heart Of Glare Market.
Altogether there were present fifty |
two children one for every week il |
the gear
Sons were lame, some were hump. |
backed, four were blind; and all were
ragged.
Not one of them had ever enjoyed |
such a dinner as that they sat down |
10 eat at four o'clock in the afternoon; |
and they way they tucked into ito .
adopt their own vernacuar-wa a
caution.
The walters were Walter, Mr.. Deep
dale. Saranne, and Thomas Dexter, |
who received their orders from Little |
ake-Believe. who few heaven knows
how many times-it must have been
housands-downstairs TO the kitchen
and upstairs to the banqueting hall
for all the world as though her legs
had taken q holiday and set pair
Of wings TO do their duty. -
Go be ContinueG)