Los Angeles herald., 1906-12-23

Jimmie was left in anxious doubt as to his
intentions, for he did not speak again until
which Jimmie lived.
| Then he said:
"Shoow me the way to your grandmother's
tooms.'
Bessie had awakened from her nap some
time before her father arrived, and when he
| entered the she uttered a glad little
scream. which sounded as a knell to all
Jmmie's hopes.
Mr.. Bartlett hugged the little girl to his
bosom in a way no father would have done
who was willing to give his child away, and
then asked her if she wanted to go home.
Tan Jimmie tum wis me?' she asked as
she looked around for. the boy whose ac-
quaintance she had made on the street, and
Slipping down from her fathers knee, ran
over to where he stood with the tears just
| ready to flow down over his cheeks.
Jimmie couldn't go with you, for this is
his home, and you don't want to take him
away, from his grandmother-do you?"
Deed L do" was the emphatic reply, as
ly to his hand.
o',,Bs "Bqt !. Jimmie must stay with me, and you
ought TO go with your papa" said Mrs. Car
ter, who, knowing just how much the boy
wanted to keep the child, was unwilling that
Bessie should make it any harder for him to
part with her
1t was fully half an hour before the little
lady could be persuaded to go away from her
new friend. and when she did finally CON
sent to go, it was only with the Understand
ing that, she should see Jimmie again as soon
Don't be foolish, Jimmie" his grand
otaer Rsl had SAD when he was crying bitterly after
been very bad for her if she had been oblip
ed to share our hard lot, and L am, as you
should be, truly thankful that such dear
little thing has such good home"
1t was nearly night, and although Bessie
had been taken away in the forenoon, Jim.
ME was still lamenting over what might have
been If he had had the ordering of things.
Granny had long since given over trying to
comfort the boy who had set his heart on
what could never be, and was getting as good
meal as her limited means would nermif of
when loud, lmperious, notto-be-denied knock
came at the door, which startled her beyond
any description.
On opening the door she was quite as much
startled at seeing footman, stiff and re.
splendent IN livery, and by hearing him saw:
Mr. Robert BartIett's compliments, and he
hopes that Mrs. Carter and her grandson will
with him. He also wishes me to saw that
Miss Bessie insists on seeing Jimmie. ami
1t would be great favor both to her and
himself if you would both come as soon as
you can The carriage is waiting at the
It is hardly necessary to say that upon the
delivery of the message both Jimmie and hs
grandmother were plunged into the greatest
nf Neither of them thought for
IL r n
great question was as to how they could make
themselves presentable for the visit
"Well go as good as we can, granny /" sa;d
Jimmie. philosophically, "an' if NTr. BortIett LETT
don't like us that way it'll show him never to
invite poor folks again." ~
Bessie was to have Christmas trae o,d
had insisted that they should be there s,na %,au
Santa Claus had announced his deterrnna 49,
not to visit them. And what maryeIona s,.'t
that tree bore! iiui.
In the first place, both Jimmie and b;s
grandmother had an entire new sniff az nIo tl,as s
plucked from it.. The old lady found a nocIat'
book addressed to her containing more n,s,o.,
than she had ever before expected 10 n,oney nnoy
one time, and Jimmie thought there ,ras @ az
other boy in the city who had so manv and ND
such timely gifts as he. ' anu
Then came the dinner. when old Mrs cor.
ter was treated by Mr.. Bartlett as tbe bon
ored guest, and when nearly every one nrna noa-
ent had something to saw in kindly No.,
to Jimmie, regarding his wanting Bessie way, way
present. US
And when the evening ended. ne;tbo. r..
mie nor his grandmother went bome I'M Nm
Bartlett insisted on their remaining ali .,;hr Mt
and in the morning, when all the chimes waro sm.,
ringing:N we're
"For unto us a child is given
For unto us son is born"
he spoke of marking this one birthday of A..
Saviour of the world by adopting jimmie '.e nc
his son, thus giving him the one gift he vos os
anxious to have. was