The evening star and Newark advertiser., 1907-12-21

yet? Do YOU think hell send us the
Christmas tree?"
IF we're too poor to buy tree why
don't you, go get one, Better asked
Tom, holding a dripping pen suspended
above his book.
Get one? Where?"
why, where the groceryman gets
his Tom answered easily, pretending
to resume work
"oh. Tom, where does he get them?"
In the woods, l suppose. There's
lots of ,,,em growing there, just for the
Not real Christmas trees, Tom?"
sure heaps Of en-; Dandies! Big
fellows fellows and little. With pink, and red red
top. And at night they're all lit up.
Oh. it's grand!' and once more Tom,
with the skill of an artist. applied
himself to arithmetic.
long tor asked Bette, imagination
overcoming her doubts
Goosey! Santa Claus, of course"
Then. made bold by the astonished be-
lief confronting him, he added, with
relish; oh, it's a grand sight TO see
trees tre old geaitleman 13 tr193stlng around his his
lighting million little candles"
Bettie was long time falling to sleep
that night, for her active brain had been
fed too royalty. But the bewitchng story
was completely swallowed, and an over
wheming longing had arisen to see for
herself the forest OF trimmed Christmas
trees.
Bette was supremely happy. Six pennies,
shaken rather guiltly from her cherished
China pig, were securely tied in a corner
OF her handkerchief. The car was not full,
and she had ventured to kneel upon The
seat TO enjoy to the extreme the unusual
excitement of ride in the trolley. 1t Vas
i.ll highly entertaining panorama But
the little girl was anxious for the monotr
nous rows of dingy brick houses to give
way TO the opcn lots, and finally to the
fields and woods, for which she was bound.
t1er reverie was interrupted by the con-
ductors demand for fare
Coin fGr?" asked the conductor as Bet
tie gave him hor three pennies.
Yes. quite ways. But there" And
the child waved her hand vaguely toward
the place where the tracks seemed to
meet, pointing to land of promise.
Sure to know where you're TO git on?
when we reach the woods.
"Oh, Browns Woods" and the conductor
looked relieved as he passed down the
aisle.
Humming to herself, Bette watched the
houses, now scattered over dreary lots,
where goats and children played on the
great ash heaps, until, further still from
the city, the car began passing pleasant
little homesteads, displaying at their win
dows wreaths of holly and OF evergreen.
Browns Woods! Here. you are, little
girl!'' the conductor shouted. Bette, trust
full and happy. said shy. ''goodby' to the
man as he helped her off with a playful
warning not to 'git lost"
store and a few wretched houses Bette
looked about her with sinking heart.
The woods, dark but promising, were quite
a distance beyond the settlement, but
the child set bravely out.
AS she became tired her feet grew numb
for in spite of the stout half-so,ed shoes
the cold had struck through. The poor
child was terrified and for the first time
began to think OF home. She had found
not even o solitary evergreen tree, but
she still believed them to be there, and as
the Christmas eve settled down over the
gloomy woods she rehearsed to herself all
the details of Toms wild story, this time
remembering his saving clause, that only
old people could see the wonderful vision
OF Santa Claus stepping from tree to
tree, trimming the Swaying branches and
lighting the little candles.
Bettie listened, painfully intent. Then,
with sob and shiver. she stumbled on.
She put her hand in her pocket for her
handkerchief, but she had lost 1t. The dis
fance covered by he troll, y, In reality sew
eral miles, was far greater to her childish
estimation. She felt herself to be at the
North Pole of the earth and lacking the
three cents which had the wizard power
to bring her home again. The despair was
pitifu
She imagined she was retracing her
steps. and cropping desperately in the un-
known dark she hurried on, often knock
ing against low boughs and sometimes fall
ing over half-buried roots. Finally she