The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-12-25

other things, anyway, and this was
could reach Santa now.
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 1t
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. ono
with her little worsted shoes and the
other with her red eiderdown wrap
per to hurry her over to the nursery.
I where her father stood awaiting her
at the door.
merry Christmas Merry Christ
mas! Oh, papa, said it first" she
cried, laughingly, sner father caught
her in his arms.
But what had Santa Claus done to
the nursery? He had decorated the
four walls and the chandelier with
greens, and in the corner opposite the
fireplace he had stood giant Christ
mas tree, bedecked with glittering
knickknacis of every description. 1t
was wonderful!
Vida drew quiet breath, and gave
little happy exclamation. Then she
flew straight to the fireplace - the
muff should be there.
Of the seven presents six were not
forgotten, and there were others she
had not asked for: pearl-handled
knife in the toe of her stocking (she
had remembered how much she need
ed a knife only yesterday morning);
an album for her postal cards-why
hadn't she thought Of that? She had
over hundred postal cards that Un-
Gle Jack had sent her-of course She
wanted an album. A cuckoo clock,
that even as she looked, flung open
it's little carved doors and shot out
the cuckoo. 1t was o'clock. Surely
no little girl ever had more beauti-
full Christmas!
But Vida's lips were quivering, and
great lump swelled in her throat.
The muff-the beautiful gray astra-
khan muff was notthere. Santa Claus
Fhad 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.
The kitchen roof stretched out un-
der this window, and for days not
even the print of birds claw had
broken its mantle Of white But
now Vida looked at it in wonderment,
for the beautiful crust was sadly bro
ken, and a long line Of tracks ran
from the edge of the roof and back
to-
"Oh, papa, papa" she cried, excit-
edly, come here, come here right
away. See, there is something out on
the roof"
Her father opened the window
quickly and climbed out. Vidas
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.
"Well," her father said, as he
climbed back laughing into the nurs-
cry, 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 it was about to yield
sudden fear fell upon her heart.
Papa, perhaps-perhaps he didn't
mean it for me. Perhaps he dropped
it and it belongs to some other little
girl"