The Democratic advocate., 1906-12-21

and sheep, and Noah arks full Of animals,
and bricks for building houses ourselves;
and didn't we used to play with them
And then, besides the Queen, the Princess
of Wales sent us lot, and oh | can't tell
you all that there was, they were so lovely,
and we were so happy playing with them.
Well if we just only had one or two of
them here we should have such Clismas
as never was. You see we havn't got
nothing but this doll, added Maggie,
looking down dolefully at a legless, arm
less, noseless old doll that she had cuddled
up in her arms, "and if we did make up
Clismas party it wouldn't do to invite her.
Now I'll tell you what we might do to get
some toys for Clismas
''What? what?'' interrupted little Jack,
with noisy shout.
"Of course dad nor nanny can t buy
us any,, said Maggie. 'Dad hasn' ever
enough money to buy our bread, else moth
er wouldn't have to 60 out to work for
some. Dad never gave us toy since we
were born, course, cos he's no money,
only little bit -
''Oh, haven't he?" said Bessie ''Don't t
you b lieye it Mag. How could he get
tipsy if he hadn't no money? He's got
money for drink, but he hasn't got none
for us, cept jest bit for bread, and coal,
and such-that's how it is. Course he IL
never have money for toys if he takes it to
old daddy Still round the corner
She spoke in tone unchildlike irony;
and Maggie replied "Well, daddy's
allays kind to us when he ism tipsy, Bess;
and if he knew as we wanted some toys
oh, so much, with all our hearts LIKE
think he'd spare little sixpence of some
thing to get us some.
"But was goin to tell you what a lady
told us one day at Great Ormond street,
bout little girl as wanted Clismas tree
full Of presents, and all lighted up with
tiny candles. Oh, she did so want it, so
she said she would ask for it in herprayers,
and p laps God would send one down from
Heaven. So | think he might send as
some if we asked him; cos, you know, He
knows as we can't have ploper happy
Clismas with only this old doll, and nobody
to buy US anything.
''But did God send the little gal the
tree?'' asked Tommy, with wide open eyes.
"Course he did, if she asked him." an
swered Maggie, with great assurance.
"And He'll send US some, too-you' Il see;
for | shall ask Him tonight, and we all
must tell him that we have not got nobody
to buy US any. And now I'll tell you
what sort of Clismas [ should have if 1
was IA very rich lady
But just at this point the little damsel
was interrupted by the appearance of her
father, who stepped forward. Maggie
looked up anxiously into his face, as she
always did when he came in, to see if he
was sober; and by the freight she per-
ceived an expression on his countenance
which gladdened her much. He actually
seemed to be kindly smiling at his little
folks.
''Chattering about Christmas, are you?'
he said, touching Maggie's head gently.
''Yes, daddy, and we think that some
thing coming for us. -
"What something? and where from p
asked the father, as he took his bag Of
tools from his back, and put it down in a
corner. Then he lifted the baby from Bes-
ses knee and perched him on his shoulder,
which delighted master Bob immensely I.
Stephen was tall, broad shouldered man,
and, when sober, looked like anything but
the hard, habitual drinker that he was.
He had an excellent constitution, which
had, apparently, pretty successfully re-
sisted the evil of excessive drinking. His
face with its setting Of brown beard, was
of most intelligent and kindly character;
and indeed he was man possessing so
many good qualities, that, as his wife often
tearfully said, it was the greatest pity in
the world that such a one should be en-
slaved by drink. -
Maggie did not seem inclined to answer
his questions about her Christmas expecta-
tions. She looked down shyly, and said,
You'll see, daddy
Eyes, we shall see Maggie he replied
'sbut [ don't think Christmas presents
come tumbling out of the sky now days. "
"But God could send them, suggested
Maggie
II dare say; but not that way, I'm
thinking pussy.
The subject was now dropped, fer Mrs.
Gregson almost directly came in; the chill
dren had their supper given them, and
then went away to bed.
Stephen said not word about the ap-
preaching Christmas, though that evening
and all the next day the subject was work
ing in his mind. He had promised some
of his drinking companions to meet them
at one of their old haunts that Christmas
eve, for a grand supper of roast beef and
turkey and unlimited drinking afterwards.
The bout would cost him the best part OF
ten shillings, he reckoned, what with being
generous to others as well as to himself
Christmas day coming at the end
of the week be received his wages
upon leaving work on Christmas eve.
There it lay, a goodly heap of silver, in
one of the pockets of his trowsers. What
should he do with it As he asked him
self that question, great conflict between
selfishness and self-sacrifce ragged in his
heart The temptations of society to which
he had promised himself that night urged
him on the one hand, the expectations of
his children, 50 pitifully expressed, and
with such childlike confidence, drew him
on the other hand. In the midst of his
conflict he came to brilliantly set out toy
shop. What did he care for the sight Of
gayly laden Christmas trees, chubby wax
dolls, wooden horses, woolly lambs, drums,
and carts, and boxes of toys? And yet he
stood gazing quite oblivious of the keen,
frosty wind that was blowing in his face.
The fact was he was gazing with his chill
dren's eyes, so to speak, and every toy
seemed treasure to be earnestly coveted.
All, if Maggie could see theml Surely