The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1908-12-12

You'll keep 1t up, one
wav or another, and at the last min
ute I'll feel mean if I don't get into
the game and squander lot OF money
on presents"
He closed the door and went away.
By the time he had boarded the car
for town he knew that she was rlght'
But the Christmas woman didn't
know that he was thinking this.
She was busy in her own ROOM
where, on a work table, lay White
shirt waist pattern stamped with
graceful design for embroidering. She
had bought it for so cents, marked
down from one dollar because 1t was
the last Her plan was to transfer us
design to other pieces of cloth Wnlch
she had in the house and so evolve
three shirt waists, stamped for en-
broidering, to bestow on the three
nieces. who liked to embroider. Ana
all for so cents!
But the Christmas woman had JUST
begun work, trying bravely to forget
the hard-up husbands last words,
when she was called downstairs to see
the perfectly discouraged person,
whose plant was after this fashion:
"Oh, dear! It's nothing to me how
many shopping days there are to
Christmas. I can't buy a thing"
But, my DEAR" said the Christmas
woman, think what you can make out
of that luxurious box Of pieces you
showed me the other day."
Thereupon she poured forth many
suggestions about aprons and holders
and shoe bags and top collars-enough
to inspire church bazaar.
"Oh, yes, but everything you make
costs a little for ribbon or something,
the perfectly discouraged person con-
cluded, at the end Of her depressing
call. Il wish Christmas was past"
Then she went straight home
pulled out her box of pieces, pondered
over the Christmas woman's sugges,
tons, schemed out a plan for saving
little money here and there, and
then fell to work on her Christmas
presents with new courage.
But that Christmas woman didn''
know this.
She was getting at her own worn
again. This time she worked FOL
fully five minutes undisturbed, ther
another visitor claimed her-this Tins
the tired-to-death woman. who couldn
get away from her teething baby tt
60 shopping, or to take one stitch OF
Christmas presents.
Give ME your list, and I'll shol
for YOU" the Christmas woman vol
unteered.
Mercy! l couldn't possibly tel
what l want without seeing things,
the tired-to-death woman protested.
Not until she was well on her wa;
down the street did she realize thai
with a little planning, she might sho
by proxy after all. The idea, once
had penetrated her mind, pleased he
so much that she was smiling like
really rested woman when she reache
home and sat down to make out he
list.
But the Christmas woman didn
know this.
Have l called you downstairs whe
you were doing something impo
tant?" the dead-broke girl was askin
| Of the Christmas woman by that tim
, I'm sorry IL l have, but l had to tie
you my troubles. I'm In debt up
my ears. I haven't any right to CIV
4 Christmas presents this year. II
:, going to be cross until December 26
r "Oh, no." the Christmas woma
protested why, keeping CHEEKY
3 one kind of giving! And at least yc
3 can write Christmas letters"
why, who cares for those?" WI
= the cynical answer.
Yet an hour later, at her desk, Il
q dead-broke girl was busily writir
Christmas letters, filling them wi
borrowed sweetness and humming
;, happy tune as the words flowed fro
}. her pen.
But the Christmas woman didI
know this.
She had gone back to her room I
the third time-to find her work tab
empty. In vain she searched for Il
;, shirt.waist cloth.
- Bridget" she called at last, "ha
you taken anything out Of my room
Bridget was washing the window
only the clean rags for polishin' t
glass, num-" she answered you SO
they'd be on your table"
q obi" she began. But at sight
E, Bridget's sorry face she caught h
e self. Never mind, Bridget" she az
ed. Don't feel bad about it."
Ie Feel bad! Me?" echoed the astt
ished girl. The look in her eyes "
y full of admiration. Sure, now, this
ID the first place ever worked whe
s. the lady didn't get cross before Chri
mas"
This time the Christmas won