The Garland globe. [volume] (Garland, Utah) 1906-191?, 1907-12-21
BY KENDRiCK EE8RLS

ever so slightly and peep through her
chubby fingers. There It stood on
! the velvet cushion beside Salie, trim.
warm and lined with pcarly 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 til the 18th
Of December Vida thought of nothing
but a gray mufr-how she would look
carrying 1t. how 1t would feel and
how every Sunday afternoon she
would let poor Dorothy Haines carry
II for whole block
The 25th fell on Sunday that year,
! and Saturday morning dawned bright
and clear. Vida and her mother
were standing together at the nu-.
sery window, as with jingle Of
merry bells the Carriers sleigh drove
by. Vida sighed contentedly.
Tomorrow, she said Il 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 rem Imber
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 50 long n
list. ! told yon to be moderate"
And her busy mother hurried OFF In
answer to call from Aunt Jane.
! Not count on It! Why. she had
done nothing but count on 1t 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 on
the stairs. Vida. u disconsolate little
body, tell asleep.
Her mother Weakened her when It
was time to hang mp her stocking, and
then. in spite of her warming. 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!"
II seemed to Vida she had but
closed her eyes, and there stood moth.
er and Aunt Jane beside her bed one
with her wors.ed shoes and the other
with her red eiderdown wrapper to
I hurry her over to the nursery. where
her father stood awaiting at the
door
Merry Christmas Merry Christ.
mas! CHI para. I 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 tlrepace-the
muff should be there
OF the seven presents six were not
forgotten, and there We're others she
had not ASKED for.
But Vida's lips were quvering. and
a great lump swclled in her throat.
The muff-the beautiful gray astra.
khan muIf was not there. Santa
Claus had forgotten It.
But Vida was bave. And she
would not let those who loved her sac
her cry, or suspect her d'sarrolnt.
ment. She turned away from them
and went to the north window, fight.
ing with her tears.
"Oh, Tara, 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. vlda's
heart beat so wildly she could scarce.
~ speak Her father was picking up
n box--it was shout the size of Aunt
James cooky jar, and 1t was round
Well" 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."
Nida's hands trCmblcd SO she cou,d
scarcely tug OFF the round top Cf tao
box inst as II was about to We'd, A
sudden fear fell upon her heat.
Para, perhaps-pc IA. = he didn't
mean 1t for me. Pcrla he d"or r"I
II, and 1t belongs tn some Cthnr llt,!,
girl"
Her fathers eyes twlnkled.
Look at the bottom Of the box, lit.
tie one" he said
Vida turned the box upside down.
There was her name-N.da Sumner
Lane. as plain an plain could be. and
while she was staring at II open
nouthed, out dropped--not little
gay astrakhan muf, but u beautiful
soft chinchilla one and a little collar
to match And Sallie Carter peeped
through her fingers that Christmas
morning at the happiest little girl In
VII Chr!stendom,