The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-01-13
could he tell for whom the things were


intended.
He was very tired and very bewild-
cred when they were through at last,
and glad to get out into the dusk Of
the Christmas eve. 1t was pleasantly
cold out of doors, and the stars were
beginning to shine up in the sky and
to light up the snow in a Christmasy
way Besides the numerous bundles
that were carried out and put in the
carriage had an air of delightful mys-
terry about them; and once Miss Corad
and he were out of the great hustle
of the store, he could feel a certain
sense of proprietorship in some of
them. What they contained he was
not very sure, but he knew that there
were one or two things that had been
strangely left out. The pink handker-
chief for his mother was one of these.
Miss Corad had told him that pink
would not be becoming to so old a
woman; and although Arthur had felt
his heart swell with pain, he had
found no words in which to plead his
case, and Miss Corad, installing his
silence for consent, had purchased
something else instead.
There was thing, by the way, which
Arthur had coveted for more than a
month, and that was a Sled He had
not dared to hope for one for himself,
but he had hoped that in some way
or other, one might be given to Billy.
Timid little boy as he was, he had
ventured to suggest such a thing to
Miss Corad; but she had been strange
ly deaf to his hints, indeed had hardly
heard what he said, and had not at
all understood the longing that was
in his heart. If she had known about
the glorious coasting on certain hill;
If she had known how many hours
Arthur had stood and watched the
flying sleds, with the wild hope that
some generous boy might at some time
offer to give him just one ride! But
as 1t was she did not understand at
all.
1t was quite dark and all the family
were at home and ready for supper
except Arthur, and Mrs. Norton was
almost beginning to feel anxious about
him. Billy suggested that he had been
kidnapped and held for a reward of
five million dollars, but this sugges-
ton did not brighten Mrs. Norton.
much. She was more inclined to be-
lieve with the twins that he was over
on the hill watching the boys slide.
When at last the simple supper was
all prepared and she was just on the
point of sending Billy out in search
of the missing one, a great tramping
was heard in the hall, and before any
one had time to wonder what it was,
the door was flung open and Arthur
appeared in the doorway, with Judge
Corad, Miss Corad and couple of SER
wants, all loaded with bundles and
baskets.
Mrs. Norton, Billy and the twins
started in open .nouthed establishment,
while Judge Corad, who had shouted
"A merry Christmas!" when he
opened the door now advanced into the
room, piled his packages on the table,
and began to explain that they were
presents from Arthur, who had been
working for him to earn money for a
week past. Mrs. Norton scarcely un-
derstood what he was saying, for she
stood dumb and did not answer a
word. The judge fell silent too, feel
ing somehow that it was all rather
awkward and lacking in the enthusi-
asm and joy he had expected.
Mrs. Norton now understood dimly
that at last her own home was receiv-
ing the bounty of the Christmas spirit
which sometimes prompts the rich to
give lavishly to the poor and she felt
struggle between her pride, which
would have refused them and her
mother love. which told her that for