Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-21
@mdIITUEW0MEN
THE IVORY ELEPHANT.
BY MARGARET LOU

BY MARGARET LOUISE WALLACE.
When Fivienne danced into the break
fast room the day before Christmas, rosy
from her bath and with every pale gold
hair cleaning. beside her plate lay a box,
half covered with queer stamps and post
marks. and directed in a handwriting she
well knew.
Oh. it's from Uncle vivian!" she cried
excitedly. Mamma, mamma. can't
walt until tomorrow to open it,
Wait? No. indeed. Father and mother
were as anxious to see what was inside
as she. for every year. all the way from
distant India, the soldier uncle sent to the
name-child he loved so well Christmas
greetings and some strange and delightful
gift. 1t took only a few minutes to break
the many seals, unite the cords. and pull
away the oddly smelling grasses with
Whicn the inner box was packed. And
then they saw the ivory elephant.
"OhOmamma! mammal cried Vivienne,
claspfhg her hands in delight.
The elephant was about six inches high,
and 4he ivory OF which he was carved
had turned pale yellow with the many,
lean. brown artist had put all his skill
and love into shaping the ivory into the
miniature elephant. The graceful curve
of his trunk was there. the wrinkles in
ms tiCh EMIL, Tie SluTuy SSS anu tlie
elaborate howdah on his back (which was
like the little seats the elephants in the
circus have on their backs). with it's en-
breideries and fringes all delicately
carved. And in the howdah was a Won
derful crystal ball. clear md brilliant.
and rejecting everything about it in its
crystal depths
well. must say that's q funny thing
to give a little girl said apa. Don't
hal =
me. mammal" -
Vivienne shook her mad laughing
levery one knew that papa was joker.
He is the most beautiful thing In. the
worid, and love him dearly already.
the library. where the elephant was, to
touch and admire, as she had done a
hundred times since mamma had helped
choose place for him 10 Stand
Mamma and papa dined out that night,
room. where the CRATE IRE burned red.
and the crimson curtains kept out the
cold. Outside the snow had begun patter-
ing on the window and the rising wind
sang in the chimney.
Santa will have a cold time tonight"
laughed Vivienne. happily. I'm sure he
needn't bother to come down our chimney
since have you. dear elephant.''
She. patted the polislled ivory surface
and then took the crystal ball on her rosy
poiHi Watching the o8QclnS nrel1ght re-
flected there.
Il can see my facew she exclaimed.
mo. all Of me-but that's not my dress.
Why-it's another little Girl.''
something strange she saw in the crys-
tai-a busy street and child who ran
with bare feet In the f61ling snow.
There's another girl" cried vivienne.
"Ohw
For in the wonderful ball she saw NOV.
ing pictures Of scene onstantly chang
ing. She saw the tif6*of the hopelessly
poor, the Eunering and toll OF children no
older than she. I ne3things she saw she
could never clearly n helnDsr, and never
knew, but It was twilight when she
started up crying, soh what can I do to
he Tpa ne sar nat. poor Pc baby
Her father had sald only that morning
that Vantine had none so fine, that it was
worth much money Without moment
hesitation she puttthe crystal ball back