Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1906-12-07

the twins and baby Bell
and they were orphans and
II very poor, and 1t was tho
day before Christmas.
The five Bells stopped
in front of big house.
"Now sing" said Mary Bell, an1
the five sweet voices were appraised:
Merry, merry Christmas everywhere
Cheerily it ringeth through the ali"
sang all the little Bells, with re-
I noses and blue fingers. a. they
stamped their feet and shivered h
the snow.
The door Of the big house opened
and pompous servant came out and
shook his finger at them. Go away"
he said, go away! We don't want
you bowling around here" !
"Oh!" gasped the little Bells. and
away they few, with Mary Bell bring
ing up the rear, as she wiped thOI
tears from her eyes, for she WAS ]
the Oldest, and at home there was
nothing to eat and no ire, and sho
didn't know what they would do.
They sang before other places I'M
til their threats were sore, but every
one was too busy or too selfish to
listen; and the night was coming
on when at last they nmped into the
grounds of dark old mansion that
stood far back from the lonely road.
In this mansion lived a bachelor,
which isn't an ogre, although it 10
something like one, for bachelors
haven't any children, and they are
apt to forget that they were ever
young, and sometimes they are very
fierce
The bachelor was all alone. He
had sent his servants away to keep
their Christmas at their homes, and
he was in the loneliest room in the
lonely house.
The Bells sang two songs before ho
moved.
He drew back the curtain. Go
away" he motioned.
They turned to go out Of the gate,
but when they reached it Baby Bell
stumbled and sat down and then she
cried, and the other four cried-a for
lorn little group for they were all 50
tired and cold and hungry that they
didn't care what happened.
20, by George said the bachelor,
watching them. ''By George, they are
nothing but babies!" and he ran down.
stairs and out into the snowy path.
whats the matter?" he demanded.
mo one wants to hear us sing"
sobbed baby Bell.
"Huh!" said the bachelor, gruf1ly. II
do"
But Mary just looked at the bachelor
with eyes that reminded him Of days
of long ago. and suddenly he found
himself holding her hand and talking
eagerly.
"Come in," he urged, where it 10
warm, and sing to me there"
The lonely room was not lonely any
more when the five little Bells stood
in a row in front of the fire, which
the bachelor poked into blazing bright
ness They sang with will, and
the bachelor clapped his hands, and
then took out his purse.
Here" he said to Mary, and hand
ed her dollar.
But Mary shook her head. 1T is too
much,' she said "You must give W
a penny apiece for each song, for that
is all that it is worth. We can't
sing very we'll. We are not beggars."
"By George" said the bachelor. by
George! I believe you are half.
starved
Then he looked at Mary. "Can you
cook?" he asked.
Eyes, indeed" cried al the little
Bells.
II need a cook" said the bachelor,
with twinkling smiles. II haven't any.
one to cook my Christmas dinner, and
If you don't take pity on me shah
have nothing"
"shall 1 begin now" asked Mary,
eagerly. II should love it.
II haven't anything in the house,"
said the bachelor. But there is the
telephone"
rs a telephone good to eat?" asked
baby Bell.
NO." said the bachelor, "but It's
fine to talk into. Now take of your
things and stay with me-
20, I'm afraid we will be trou-
ble," said Mary, uncertainty.
"Will your mother worry" asked
the bachelor. I
I'VE haven't any mother" said
Mary. I'VE are orphans, and We aseI
all alone" e
"That settles It." said the bachelor.
"You are to stay" And he went to
the telephone and ordered everything !
from turkey to tarts and from plum
pudding to pies. :,
It was the jolliest Christmas eve,
and the jolliest person of all was the
lonely bachelor, because he wasn't
lonely any more. and there were chill.
dren in the house to make Christmas
what It should be.
you must stay with mo always"
he said, as they sat warm and ven
fed and rosy around the IRE. 'Tho
house 10 20 big and / am away half
- A.