New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-10

Mo-alia- the Goodland River DEGREES that
there shall be no Christmas for the next FIVE
years"
At first the children seemed amazed, but soon
their mothers saw them plotting and planning
to escape the punishment They had a tree cut
down and taken TO the town playroon. Then
they began 10 trim It; but. 10! as soon as they
touched it back the tree jumped with a grim
chuckle. The children terrified, and things
began 10 look gloomy, indeed. The next day
instead of being Christmas and tomorrow,
would be the day after tomorrow. for the Mayor
had locked up the Christmas in the Town Hall
safe. What should they do?
At last when twilight deepening. they
sent their mothers to the Town Hall to plead
for them. The Mayor, who was really kind
hearted. though vain. filed with pity at
sight OF their tear stained faces he trled 10
consider a means Of removing the punishment
without sacrificing his dignity. At last he hit
upon one. If any child" said he, can find in
the Annals OF the Children OF Moralia' an ac-
count Of one naughty action, I will remove the
punishment"
As soon as the children heard the news away
they rushed to the town library and seized the
Annals" Each was to read until she fell asleep
when the next would take her place. and so on
There were nine billion and thirteen pages
When the first fifty pages, all about the good
ness of little Patience PrinfaCe, were waded
through. the first little head nodded, and the
next child continued. Thus the task went on
When the last boys turn came, only one-nnlll-
ionth Of the book had been read. His voice
grew lower and lower. brewster and brewster.
ending in q snore heard only by the mice be-
hind the Town Hall clock And the Christmas
still lay in the Town Hall safe!
When they awoke the sun was peepng
through the window bars; but ii was not Christ
mas Day, il was only the day after Christmas
and they went home sorrowfully.
Thus whole year passed by. Now. the Mayor
had decreed that search in the library could
take place only on Christmas eve. And now the
next Christmas that Ought-to-be was coming
They must not lose this also, So Christmas
eve they went to the Town Hall. took down the
Annals and began gain. One by they fell
asleep, all but Gertrude. the naughttest girl in
Moralia- She must succeed. for II mainly
her fault that they had been punished. So she
read on glancng at the title Of each page She
read through ninety million and three pages
gether- Her heart beat violently. and with
trembling fingers she tore them apart. There
on the ninety million and sixth page a heavy
black margin caught her eye. She began 70 read:
the tale of naughty little Priscilla, Who
when her mother had sent her to bed at S
o'clock had stamped her foot and refused to go
Quick fash Gertrude awakened the
others, seized the book, and away they all rushed
to the Mayors bedroom door. They broke II In
water down his neck 10 awaken him At first he
wrathful. but on hearing their tale he
rushed the safe fast his weight would
allow. unlocked IT. took out both of the Christ
masses and handed them 70 the children. who
kissed him jOyfully.
SO that year they had double Christmas and
II was the very merriest that had ever been
known in all the history of Moralia- on-the-
Goodland River.