Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1905-12-21


~ the children chartered together so
hard that poor Mrs. Irwin was
finally obliged to call them to order.
But it's Christmas, mother" they all
objected, turning toward her three faces
shining with happiness and excitement,
''and we're all so happy! Oh, mother,
do you think Uncle Jack will come to-
day"
Let us look and see whether his ship
has been sighted yet" returned Mrs.
Irwin, as she turned to the newspaper.
HE said he would try to be here for
Christmas, but you know he could not
promise in such stormy weather as this"
The children crowded around her; even
little Alice climbed down with infinite
difficulty from her high chair, and poked
her curly head under her mothers arm
as it held the newspaper, pretending, sly
little tot, that she, too, was looking for
the arrival of the ship.
Uncle Jack was great person in the
estimation of the children. He had the
charm that lies in the mysterious, for
they seldom saw him.
Mrs. Irwin knew that Captain Dornan
had expected to reach Philadelphia be-
fore Christmas, but the stormy weather
had delayed him. His ship was now
four days overdue. and every one was
becoming anxious. Mrs. Irwin exclaim-
ed with joy when she saw that it had
come safely into port the night before.
"Oh, children, how thankful we should
be that Uncle Jack has come safely
home again." she said to them. 1--WE
must watch for him all day, for think
he will be here to dinner"
Christmas Day slipped by and Cap
tain Dornan did not come Gradually
the children deserted their post at the
parlor windows, and turn d their atten-
ton to other things. When the beauti-
full winter twilight finally enveloped the
city, Mrs. Irwin was the only one who
saw the captain come up the street.
The Christmas dinner nearly shared
tie fate of the breakfast; the children
were too excited to eat it. They chat
tered merrily with their sailor uncle,
whose bronzed face and kindly eyes at
tracted them strongly.
"Well, children, let's see what I
brought you from the East" he said
after dinner, opening a bag which the
children had only refrained from touch
ing by the exercise of great self-control.
Here, Jack, is the kind Of book that
little Chinese boys use in learning to
read" and he put into his nephew's hand
small roll of clothlike paper, printed
with strange characters. Here are
some little shells for Ethel; they seemed
to me to be very pretty, so l bought
them from an Indian boy on the wharf"
Jack thanked his uncle is politely as
he could, remembering just in time that
boys never cry. Ethel also put a brave
face upon her disappointment, though
she had to bite her lips to keep them from
quivering, as she assured her uncle that
the shells were quite as pretty as he had
thought them. But little Alice, seeing
herself apparently forgotten, was too
young for such politeness; sitting upon
the floor, she lifted up her voice and
wept.
Mrs. Irwin watched the brave courtesy
with which her children shouldered the
disappointment that had come to them,
with pride and with some little amuse-
ment, for she had noted secret twinkle
in Uncle Jacks eyes.
"Why, how surprising" said the Cap
tain suddenly, looking into the depths of
the bag, ''here is a package for Ethel.
How did that come here; the sea fairies
must have sent it to a dear little girl
in Philadelphia, l Think
Ethel's hands trembled as she united
the strings. The sea fairies certainly
understood how to tie sailor knots of q
curiously nautical character.
"Jack, you go out in the hall and see
if you cannot find something sharp to
help your sister in cutting those knots"
commanded his uncle, his eyes twmkling
more merrily than ever. In the hall was
a long package. He tore the paper that
covered his gift. It was a saber of
shining steel, the edge safely duIled for
the present. 1t was just what he need
ed for his gymnasium work with the
broadsword. Along the finely tempered
blade he saw an engraved motto On
one side he read:
Never draw me without cause"
and on the other,
"Never shea the me without honor
When he reached the parlor again be
found his sister hugging Uncle Jack en-
Enthusiastically, while little Alice danced
up and down before the mirror attired
in soft gown of embroidered silk that
had been made for her "vezy SELF away
off in China. She looked like a VERT
able 'sea fairy" with her bobbing curls
and her brilliant flower decked gown.