Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1908-12-23
HER
HApPIEST CHRISTMAS
HER
BY FRANCES MARGARET FOX.

: rands, but in the shortest possible
time they came back with renewed
interest in Big Sisters trunk.
Are you going to hang up your
stocking Christmas ever" Richard de-
manded.
-'What a silly question:" protested
ne before Big Sister had time to
S&6swer "Of course she's going to
hang up her sotcking. Why not?"
"You don't know what's what
in the city Richard insisted, his
~words accompanied by al important
scowl.
Well, but l guess | know what's
what about Christmas; and in this
brown house I'd like to inquire what
Christmas would be If we didn't
every one of us hang up our stock
ings and have Christmas tree be-
sides" ..
THE city is different" continued
Richard "What did mamma say
about hats?"
THE mammee said" quoted Anne,
Buy your new hat in the city, Liz
buth; then you'll be sure to have one
in style. But, Richard, that is
different subject"
Hang up tockin'," demanded
Baby.
Big Sister stopped folding ribbons
"T4Sg enough to hug the little fellow
and to hide a few tears in his soft,
ia
81 done see how you children are
going to get along without me.
was never away from home on Christ
, mas in my life"
wen let you>go," promised Katie,
"but you must come home the very
day after New Years"
And don't get ruined over" ad-
ded John, whose memories of the city
were, unpleasant.
And write us letters every day."
bescught Lillian.
And tum home din" finished
<Baby.
Il don't know how you will get
along without me-" Elizabeth re-
peated.
'Do you think we're orfins?" in
quired John. Whereat the six laugh
ed.
mo; Of course not" the girl re-
piled. you'll have the mammee and
daddy and grandpa and grandma, but
you won't have Big Sister. Who'll!
there be, I'd like to know, to help
you with all the little last-minute
things? Who'll go with you Christ
mas eve with our gifts for the poor?
And afterwards who'll tell you stories
just as long as the freight lasts in
the Grate?"
at won't be you," admitted Rich
ard, "but I guess we'll get along
Tomehow."
80 yes, We'll get along" Anne has
tened to say. "Why, we're going to
hay" a lovely time. Don't you fret
about u.s."
At the last, when Big Sisters trunk
was packed and at the station, when
the train came putting in, seeming to
fuss and fume because it had to stop
at all IN Il country town, the six broke
e>down and wept. They clung to Big
Sister until her best suit looked as
If it had never been pressed, and wet
her Sunday gloves with their tears.
"No go, no go, choo-choo cars!"
walled Iaty. But 1t was ton l.t-,
the impatient train was soon gone,
carrying Big Sister to the city.
Before the conductor came for
Elizabeth's ticket the girl had dried
her eyes, Strengthened her hat, and
turned her face toward the future.
She was on her way to Florence
Downing's house party, and whoever
be pleased with such
must be older than sixteen.
Elizabeth was delighted. From the
time her invitation was received the
only thing that troubled the girl was
the thought Of leaving the children.
How they would miss her! 1t didn't
occur to Big Sister that she would
miss the children. On the other hand,
house parties do not happen every
year, and = other encouraged Eliza
beth to grasp her opportunity.
at may be your happiest Christ
mas" she predicted when Big Sister
objected to missing the holiday fun
at home. "And, Elizabeth, instead of
buying here in the country the things
you will need, 1t seems to me it will
be wiser to do your shopping in the
city. Then what you have will be
up-to-date. / am sure Florence will
help you in making proper selections,