The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1906-12-20

cake and plum pudding. She planned
for turkey and for chicken pie, and
her husband eyed her In gloomy retro
spection of the glad old times, growl-
Ing out to her that she seemed to be
preparing for an army, and she fash
ed out that this wasn't the time to be
stingy and perhaps there would be
some poor to feed-there always had
been so far.
Then came the Oath day of Deem
ber a heavy snowstorm and much
embarrassment for the old couple.
Each had secretly sent all the children
presents and letter, neither mention
Ing the other, and the lawyer had call
ed on them and told them that 1t was
time to drop the divorce business and
make up or push 1t and have 1t over
with. They almost drove him from the
house, and he laughed as he went down
the street.
About noon John came in, gruff and
shy, and put great armful of holly
on the white kitchen table. She looked
at him till he explained.
May Carr give it to me. They had
too much at the church, and she give me
no chance to say | didn't want 1t
you know Mays way. She said the
Christmas tree was the biggest the
church ever had and there were more
children needing things. She asked II
you had anything pretty or useful you
didn't want, and | said | would ask
you"
They had missed the church woeful-
ly and had always helped out with ey-
erything. They had always been cheer
full and charitable This appeal touch
ed them both
Mary rummaged about and sent an
Offering that rejoced the hearts Of
those who were trimming the tree.
John took it to the church, and every
body shook hands with him and in the
general gladness seemed to have for
gotten that anything was wrong.
About 4, while Mary was alone rest
Ing after putting up all the holly, a
telegram came for John. She did not
know where he was, and she suffered
the usual agony of simple people un-
accustomed to receiving kilograms. She
dared not open 1t and imagined the
death and burial of all her children
and grandchildren, one after the other.
While she was in this frame of mind
another message came, and the boy
had scarcely gone when a third ar
rived. Then she sent neighbours boy
for her husband and received him al
most fainting. He was as frightened
as she, but the first read: Meet 9
o'clock train tonight. Mary" The sec
ond said: Meet 8 o'clock train tonight.
Paul" The third babe him meet the
o'clock train and was signed ELIZA
beth" While they stood staring at each
other boy brought another. This WAS
different.
Meet O'Clock train from west for
little Christine Alice died suddenly
yesterday. Mother, give her a home
till I can get to you. Letter later" 1t
was then They stood staring a mo-
ment, and then Mary fell to plling
wood on the fire and spoke briefly to
John
Father, you'll have to hurry to get
TO that train" He went out to the barn
and hitched the team TO the double cut
ter. When he came back he lifted
down to their grandmother's arms her
daughter Mary's three children, three
Of Pauls and one of Elizabeths. They
were all laughing and shouting and
each was ticketed Merry Christmas.
am a gift to grandpa and grandma"
They were barely fed and warmed
when John went to the later train and
returned with the motherless three
year-old Christine In his arms. She
had been put In the conductors care
and was sound asleep, with tears on
her checks and her yellow curls tousled,
on her grandfather's shoulder. Her
grandmother reached up for her,
john she said, "she Is ours. We
must keep things together for the chill
dren! John I'm awfully ashamed of
how hard I've been and amt asham-
ed to say so. VIII you forgive me2'
He stopped suddenly and kissed her
as he put the child In her arms.
MA" he said, 1--WE been an old fool,
and I'm the one to blame, I'll go and
straighten things at church and If you'll
have ne for a Christmas present all
right And she smiled happily up at
him.