Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-12-01
VIDA'S GRAY MUFF.

II ittN titSWt WHY g'dtk ia NRNE>lNtfs-
the Sunday after Thanksgiving, when
Sallie Carter came IN late To church
with gray aStrakhau muf. The sermon
was too deep fer Vida, who had her
hand ut her face and was almost asleep,
when flash of gray in the next pew
caused her to turn her head ever So
slightly and peep through her chubby
fingers. There ii stood ON the velvet
cushion beside Sallie, trim. warm and
lined with pearly gray satin, exactly like
Mrs. Carriers own beautiful big one. but
smaller ny half \ great longing began
To grow in Nida'S heart, and she pccped
again. this time ut Sallle. SalliV'S gold
en- curls had fallen riotously over her
shoulders. hiding much eff her face. hut
Vida could see enough. Aud just then
the sermon came to an end.
But from that day on till the 18th Of
December Vida thought of nothing buta
gray mult how she would look carrying
it, how il would feel. aud how every
Sunday afternoon she would let poor
Dorothy taineS carry it for whole
block Just as She had scen generous
Salie lend hers to the little lamc girl
in their Sunday school class.
On the 18th of December great SNOW
fell, and all the earth WAS white Al
night the stars came out and the moon
was full Ii was the first SuoWSturm of
the winter, and Vida, 10y the light Of the
blazing logs in the nursery fireplace.
wrote her annual letter to Santa Claus,
posting it in the wiudowsill. Ia the
morning. sire enough, II was gone, Aud
Nida'S heart WAS light. She smiled ~
Salije from her pew. feeling that still
another bond was soon To- hc established
between them, and, on the way home,
found and praised new beauties IN the
gray ustrakhan muit And so amidst
greater good fellowship aud happy eN-
pectatiunS, the anNi0usN awaited Christ
mas drew ON apace.
The 10Th fell on Sunday that ycnr, and
Saturday morning dawued bright and
clear The long fat icicloS hanging
above the nursery winduN gliStencd in
the sunlight. and the hemlock boughs
swept the ground under their weight of
snow Vida and her mother were
standing together at the nursery window,
as. with n jingle of merry bells, the Car
ter's sleigh drove by, Vida sighed con
teutedly.
Tomorrow" she said. i shall be ear
ryiug gray aslHkhan mutl
Her mother looked Ut her question
Santa Claus win bring It to me -
Vida said in answer to her look.
Her mother laughed merrily why.
Vida dcnr,' she said. You asked
Santa claus for seven other thugs you
said 40 only this morning. You eonldh
expect him 10 remember them all, aud
he's as likely 60 forget the muif rs the
French doll or the tea set It's foolish
Ia count on any one thing when You
made So long list. | told y0u to be
moderate" And her busy mother hur-
ried off ia answer 70 a call from Aunt
Jane.
Not count ON it, Why she had done
nothing hut count on ii ever since santa
claus had found hcr note Kat count
on it, Why. Christmas would be Moth
ing without it.
but her mother was right he might
forget 1t among So many things. W ny
hadn't she asked for only tllat one pres
cutt She didut want those other things
anyway. and this was the day before
Christmas no word could reach santa
now.
The day passed feycrishiy for Vida.
Upstairs and down she wandered from
window to window, from person to per
son -ahNiuu~, unhappy lmpHb tent, Would
the long hours never go.
Al last twilight came, and the dark
ness fell And in the corner Of tie great
hall >oiu facing the clock Oh the ~lairs:
vida, disconsoiate little body t'H
asleep
Her mother Weakened her when il was
time to hang up her stocking. aud then.
in spite of her warning, and ~ spite "i
her long hours Of worry. hope was bofn
again. aud when Vida kissed her mother
goodnight visions of gray aSirakhan
uulfs danced IN her head. q.
'Nrtlp Christmas Merry Christmas,
II ~rcmed TO Vida she had hut closed
her ewes. and there stood mother and
Amt lame beside hrr hcd. one with her
HltL. 1<urNtpd shoes and th@ other VIII