Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1907-04-04


to him.
"Would yer like to do it, Make-Be-
lieve?' he asked.
"What-I like to do what, Mr.. Dex-
ter?'
What you spoke of last night. Give
large party, and make lot OF poor
children happy"
Indeed would, Mr.. Dexter but it's
no use wishing"
"How much would it cost!
ooh, lot. Two or three pounds, l
| dessay"
do YOU remember what happened
the night I came to see you when you
received Mr.. Depdale's letter asking
you to go into the country"
II shall never forget 1t, Mr.. Dexter.
1t wasn't the only good thing that hap
pened to me through YOU"
"Nor the last, l hope. Your eyes
were shut then. Make-Believe.'
81 couldn't help it, Mr.. Dexter, l was
crying, and l didn't want yet to see
me. And oh, when opened 'em, and
you was gone, and saw the two SOW
ereigns laying on the table, l could
have danced the whole night long for
joy"
"Not for yer own sake, Make-Be-
| lieve; but for Saranne's."
"Well, Mr.. Dexter, yes; but was
glad for my own sake, too"
"And now Little MakcBeieve, still
not for yer own sake, but for some
poor children's."
81 should be as happy as them, Mr..
Dexter"
II believe you would. That was a
good bit of pretending of miEc.'
THAT it was, Mr.. Dexter. told
Saranne that l could never pretend
half or quarter as well.
shut yer eyes now, Make-Believe, to
please me-
10 please him she shut her eyes. and
when she opened them in the silence
that followed Thomas Dexter was
gone, and on the table lay Il brand new
five-pound note.
Sllt ulltltl SlOou IL At 'iiNN' ~ ''' A"'
her Christmas party to make some
poor children happy.
She walked slowly into the shop
where she found him so busy looking
over his stock that he hardly had time
to attend to hcr-a pretensc, to avoid
her thanks
But she did thank him. in few sim
pie words, from the bottom of her
heart and for the second time in her
life she kissed him for his goodness.
ITS a hve-pound note we'll laid
out" he thought, as she left him.
Mr.. Deppdae and Walter and Sar-
anne entered heartily into Little Make
Believes scheme.
1t was decided that the Christmas
treat should be given in the house, and
in a quiet way they went about the
courts and lanes selecting and inviting
the children.
Their choice lay principally among
those who were motherless of father
less. or both, and among the most
physically helpless.
1t is doubtful whether there was
more pleasure or pain in this task or
selection, for many wistful ones had
to be passed over.
Even as it was. when Christmas Day
arrived. they found they had invited
almost more than the house would
hold. But room was made for all.
fun-nnl,p1 nnta
Walter had secretly added something.
and Mr.. Deepdale had secretly added
something, and Saranne had also Sec
retly contributed something from her
savings: so that Little Make-Believe
was quite rich; but it needed careful
management, nevertheless, TO make
both ends meet.
For two or three days before Christ
mas she was the busiest of the busy.
She called in the services of a steady
woman, and between them they made
plum puddngS and mince pies, and
toasted great joints of beef. till they
were tired out with fatigue.
Saranne and Walter, and even
llOllldS JJSAttl dlltt NIL lICePuuiN,
sisted in the decoration of the room in
which the party was to be held, and
what with holly and mistletoe and
flags of all nations the house was
turned topsy-turvy.
Some of their preparations were kept
from Little MakeBelieve's knowledge,
and when she expressed herself Curl
Gus about them she received the merry
answer:
"You mind your business, and We'll
mind ours"
Undoubtedly it was the event of the
season.
Such gathering had never before
been seen.
In the richest homes in the country,
in the coziest country houses in Eng
lands green lanes, at whose doors the
poor mans wolf had never appeared,
Christmas was not more truly Christ
mas than in Thomas DeXter's old
house in the heart of Clare Market.
Altogether there were present fifty
two children, one for every week III
the year.
Some were lame, some were hump.
backed, four were blind; and all We're
ragged
Not one of them had ever enjoyed
such a dinner as that they sat down
to eat at four o'clock in the afternoon;
and they way they tucked into ito
,,J, N
caution.
The walters were Walter, Mr.. Deep
dale, Saranne, and Thomas Dexter,
who received their orders from Little
Make Believe. who few heaven knows
how many times-it must have been
thousands s-downstairs to the kitchen
and upstairs to the banqueting hall