Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1907-12-13

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. Carriers 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 a. 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 whole block.
The 25tb fell on Sunday that year,
and Saturday morning dawned bright
and clear. Vida and her mother
were standing together at the nur.
sery window, as with a Jingle Of
merry bells the Carriers sleigh drove
by. Vida sighed contentedly.
Tomorrow" she said, II shall be
carrying a 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 muR 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 of in
answer to 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 be nothing
without it!
At last twilight came, and the dark.
ness fell And in the corner of the
great hall sofa, facing the clock Oh
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. II
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
with her red eiderdoWn wrapper to
hurry her over to the nursery, where
her father stood awaiting at the
door.
Merry Christmas! Merry Christ.
mas! Oh, papa, ] said it first!'' she
cried, laughinglys as her father caught
her In his arms
Vida drew quiet breath, and gave
a little happy exclamation. Then she
flew straight to the f1replace-the
muff should be there. T.
f-~9f %he~4eHen presents si1 weresnof
forgotten, and there were others she
had not asked for. ...~-.
But Vida's lips were Quivering, and
a 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 IL something out on
the roof"
Her father opened the window
quickly, and climbed out Vida's
heart beat 80 wildly she could scarce
~ speak. Her father was picking up
bo1-it was about the size Of Aunt
James cooky jar, and it was round.
"Well," her father said, a. he
!! climbed back into the nursery. "Here
is something old st. Nick dropped,
and from it's size ! guess it, meant
for you"
.
scarcely tug of 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"
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 it open
mouthed, out dropped-not a little
gray astrakhan nun, but beautiful
soft chinchilla one and q little collar
to match! And Sallie Carter peeped
throueh her fingers that Christmas
morning at the happiest nttls girl IN
all Christendom.
y