Amador ledger., 1905-12-29


expression of rapture. That's straight
goods" he said. Its the real thing.
even to the press copy" Then his
thoughts took a long jump. How
long before Christmas?" he asked.
During the next three weeks Amy
was very busy. She had to calculate
closely for the money. Her salary was
small, and there was her widowed
mother to care for. But her anxiety
was unnecessary. One day a note
came from the manager of the tele-
graph company. The boys in the Office
had taken us little collection for
Teddy's Christmas, he said, and it was
his pleasure to send her the cash-ten
dollars and eighty-seven cents. What
God-send! Teddy should have a
royal Christmas-event to the "ingyner
that would go by itself.
There was now no doubt that Teddy
was improving. Day by day the thin
face filled out. His color returned.
He was eating regularly, sleeping
soundly, and the spells of coughing
were less frequent. The doctor spoke
of the change, but Amy was uncom.
municative.
Some new influence is at work" he
week before Christmas. "The gain is
most remarkable. Tell me, Miss Nor.
ton, what wonderful elixir have YOU
given him? I may need it myself be.
fore long. l, too, have malady that
defies drugs
She looked at him in sudden fear
then flushed before his strong, tender
gaze. Il cannot tell you now" Her
eyes were turned away. Her face was
bright with pleasure.
But can't l know soon?" he asked,
with an almost boyiSh pleading in his
voice. name day when may ask
and be answered"
in her eyes. Something told her that
his interest was not in Teddy alone.
ASK me Christmas morning." she
whispered, "and l will tell you; not
day before" And try as he might he
could get no more from her.
Christmas eve arrived, with wind
and snow and bitter cold. Teddy
feared the weather would keep Santa
Claus away. But Amy reassured him.
"Oh, Santa Claus likes the snow. He
rides in big sleigh with a long team
OF reindeers. He's sure to get here
up your stocking right here on the
bedpost. And then you must go to
sleep early"
At eight o'clock she went off duty.
Teddy didn't get to sleep as directed,
for excitement, but finally he fell into
a deep slumber. His telegram in his
hand, and his long black stocking
hung in plain sight on the bedpost.
All over the city, fathers and mothers
were commencing their work of love,
and Amy, tired though she was, began
her own.
In a private room stood the tree.
The floor was strewn with packages.
She had no assistance, but she worked
on, with strings of popcorn and Gran.
berries, fancy bags of candy, brilliant
glass balls, and showers of tinsel
Near midnight four strong men came
from the lower ward, and Teddy's lit.
tie iron bed, with Teddy sound asleep,
was carried gently into the private
room. Then she slipped away to her
rest.
1t seemed to Amy that but a few
minutes had elapsed when she was
awakened by the alarm clock On her
bureau. She arose, made light, and
bathed her face again and again in the
cold water until she felt able to keep
her eyes open. 1t was five o'clock
still dark.
She entered Teddy's room and
turned on the electric light. He was
sleeping quietly. There was step in
the, hall and the door opened. 1t was
the 'doctor-his face study. She held
up warning finger, then turned to the
bed and reaching down took the boy
in her arms and kissed him. Teddy"
she cried, little sob in her voice.
'Teddy, Merry Chrlstmas!. Merry
Christmas! Teddy"
Teddy woke suddenly and sat bolt
upright. He gave a shout of Joy.
"Oh-h-h," he cried, in a long, echoing
gasp. "Oh, Jimminy Whillikins,
amt that great" Then words failed
him, and he could only look and look,
his eyes feasting on wonders that his
tongue could not describe.
They put warm bathrobe around
him and placed him on the floor, for
he was not yet able to walk. By his
side Amy laid the stocking, now
bulging with treasures. In front of
him stood the "ingyne" and many
other things dear to boyish hearts
He handled them one after another in
silent awe. Then he took the stock
ing and with delicious deliberation
poured from it wealth of treasures.
He was dazed by his sudden accumu
lation of riches. He looked up at
them with smile. That's a bully
Santa Claus" he said. HE done his
part nobly. I'm goin' to get well all
right"
After a while they put him back to
bed, with his gifts spread around him,
and together left the room. The dawn
was breaking. The busy world was
waking. From without came the toot.
ing of horns Rolls 1nrnrn ri n nl1