Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1907-12-20

o~Mg GAS turn her head
ever so slightly and peep through her
chubby fingers. There it stood on
the velvet cushion beside Sallie, trim,
warm and lined with pearly gray
satin, exactly like Mrs. Carter's own
beautiful big one, but smaller by half.
A great longing began to grow in
Vida's heart.
But from that day on till the 18th
of December Vida thought of nothing
but gray muff-how she would look
carrying it, how it would feel and
how every Sunday afternoon she
would let poor Dorothy Haines carry
it for n whole block.
The 25th fell on Sunday that year.
and Saturday morning dawned bright
and clear Vida and her mother
sery window, as with a jingle of
merry bells the Carriers sleigh drove
by. Vida sighed contentedly.
Tomorrow" she said, 81 shall be
carrying gray astrakhan muff."
Her mother laughed merrily why
Vida, dear" she said. You asked
Santa Claus for seven other things
you said so only this morning. You
couldn't expect him to remember
them ALL and he's as likely TO forget
the muff as the French doll, or the
tea set. It's foolish to count on any
one thing when you made so long a
list. / told you to be moderate"
And her busy mother hurried off in
answer to a call from Aunt Jane.
Not count on it! Why, she had
done nothing but count on it ever
since Santa Claus had found her note,
says ST Nicholas. Not count on it.
Why, Christmas would he nothing
without it,
At last twilight came. and the dark
ness fell And in the corner of the
great hall sofa, facing the clock on
the stairs, Vida, disconsolate little
body, fell asleep.
Her mother wakened her when It
| was time to hang up her stocking, and
then, in spite of her warning, and in
spite of her long hours of worry, hope
was born again, and when Vida kissed
her mother good night visions of
| gray astrakhan muffs danced in her
head.
Merry Christmas! Merry Christ
mas!",
1t seemed to Vida she had but
closed her eyes, and there stood moth
er and Aunt Jane beside her bed. one
with her worsted shoes and the other
4 %
| hurry her over to the nursery, where
her father stood awaiting at the
door.
Merry Chrstmas Merry Christ
mas! Oh, papa, said it first!" she
cried, laughingly, as her father caught
her in his arms.
Vida drew a quiet breath, and gave
little happy exclamation. Then she
flew straight to the fireplace
muff should be there.
OF the seven presents six were not
forgotten, and there were others she
had not asked for.
But yida's lips were quivering, and
great lump swelled in her throat.
The muff-the beautiful gray astra-
khan muff was not there Santa
Claus had forgotten it.
But Vida was brave. And she
would not let those who loved her see
her cry, or suspect her disappoint-
ment. She turned away from them
and went to the north window fight
ing with her tears.
"Oh, papa, papa" she cried ex-
citedly. Come here, come here right
away. See, there is something out on
the roof"
Her father opened the window
| quickly, and climbed out. Vida's
heart beat so wildly she could scarce
| ly speak. Her father was picking up
box-it was about the size of Aunt
James cooky jar, and it was round.
We'll" her father said as he
climbed back into the nursery Here
is something old st. Nick dropped,
and from its size guess it's meant
for you"
Vida's hands trembled so she could
scarcely tug off the round top of the
| box. Just as 1t was about to yield,
sudden fear fell upon her heart.
Papa, perhaps-perhaps he didn't
| mean 1t for me. Perhaps he dropped
it, and 1t belongs to some other little
girl"
Her fathers eyes twinkled.
Look at the bottom of the box, lit
tie one" he said
Vida turned the box upside down.
There was her name-Vida Sumner
Lane, as plain as plain could be, and
while she was staring at 1t open
mouthed, out dropped-not little
gray astrakhan muff, but beautiful
soft chinchilla one and little collar
to match! And Sallie Carter peeped
through her fingers \that Christmas
morning at the happiest little girl in
all Christendom.