The Ely miner., 1906-12-21

the five sweet voices were upraised:
Merry, merry Christmas everywhere,
Cheerily it ringeth through the air"
sang all the little Bells, with red
noses and blue fingers, as they
stamped their feet and shivered in
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 the
tears from her eyes, for she was
the oldest, and at home there was
nothing to eat and no fire, and she
didn't know what they would do.
They sang before other places un-
til their throats were sore, but every
one was too busy or too selfish to
listen; and the night was coming
on when at last they limped 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 is
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 he
moved.
He drew back the curtain. "Go
away" he motioned.
They turned to go out Of the gate,
but when they reached 1t Baby Bell
stumbled and sat down and then she
cried, and the other four cried-a for
lorn little group, for they were all so
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, grufIly. "I
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 is
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. 'It Is too
much" she said. "You must give us
a penny apiece for each song, for that
is all that it is worth. We can't
sing very well. We are not beggars." "
"By George" said the bachelor. "By
George! l believe you are half
starved"
Then he looked at Mary. "Can you
cook" he asked.
"Yes, indeed" cried all the little
Bells.
ct need cook" said the bachelor,
with twinkling smiles. II haven't any
one to cook my Christmas dinner, and
II you don't take pity on me shall
have nothing"
"Shall 1 begin now?" asked Mary,
eagerly. 81 should love IT,
II haven't anything in the house" "
said the bachelor. "But there is the
telephone"
"Ir a telephone good to eat?" asked
baby Bell.
"No," said the bachelor, "but it's
fine to talk into. Now take off your
things and stay with me-"
20, I'm afraid we will be a trou-
ble," said Mary, uncertainty.
"Will your mother worry?" asked
the bachelor.
1--WE haven't any mother" said
Mary. 1--WE are orphans, and we are
all alone"
.'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.
drep In the house to make Christmas
what it should be.
"You must stay with me always"
he said, as they sat warm and well
fed and rosy around the fire. The
house is so big and 1 am away hall
the time, and you could sing for me
yes, you shall come here" and he
tossed baby Bell high in the air.
20, how happy we will be-" sang
the children. How happy you have
made us, dear bachelor"
But the bachelor shook his head.
at is you who have made the hap
piness, you with your music. dear
little Christmas Bells."-Detroit Fres
Press.