The Ordway new era., 1909-12-24

"SnL SAID Tom. 'And you L,n,.
which house I'd pick out II i had .
Il know" said Jane Smith .r .row
It's the house with ChrIstm.s oa ,roa.
aIound y. and turkey gobblers ia
That's where Miss Anne lives
said John Bell. "It's biy hons.
ana ia think she would get real lone
some with only Peter and Rebecea"
s II the house where the lam,
shines like a star all nIpb, ." ,snnS
Mary Moore. '"eu
That's the very one. sh.sb ,
nave nm idea." cried John. drawing IN.
hve together for his secret for he w, +,
always full OF plans.
MRS. brown. the cook looked mn,
from her window and saw the co,for.
ehce, "Of course nobody wants chn-
uren se.tns over the mumps." she
sa'a 10 herself. But I'll make them
nave good time. III 20 upsrnir.
risht away and gather all the cand,o
ends. and then I'll call them in and
make candy" ""1
IN the old colonial house surround.
90 by evergreens lived Miss Ann.
armstrong. Her windows overlooked
the pasture where the children playoi
beside the orphanage on the hilI MI a
Anne was the last of her family Sha
ordered her life carefully and .ow
that her maid Rebecca kent III. hou,,
spotiess and her man Peter kent tl.
garden wecdless. while she knit end.
Tess patterns of lace.
christmas was coming. she knew bv
the calendar, and that evening as sh.
walked home from the posiofllce shn
hhd witnessed the reception of or.
phahs AT more than one house of her
acquaintance. Even Widow Simr.
kins. the washcrwoman. had taken A
ittie boy who asked to visit her Jolly
young family.
Dear me. | feel left out" said Miss
Anne as she saw the young strangers
taken In the door. II wonder n anv.
one would have elected to go with me-
II ! had gone to the orphanage. I
must send Mrs. Simpkins some red
i'A Aii' NLlluEtn
Miss Anne saw the big fame OF her
astral lamp blaze In her window like a
star sending its light across the snowy
Helds to the group on the orphanare
steps. Then she met Rebecca at the
door and seated herself beside her
bonntiful teatable.
Il do not believe that | shall have
a single visitor this Christmas" sighed
Miss Anne. n feeling OF loneliness
creeping over her But why should
anyone think of me. when do not
think Of others as should"
At that moment there was a clatter
of feet on the porch. and the brass
knocker dropped with resoundins
clang. II startled Rebecca and Peter
In the kitchen. and both rushed into
the hallway.
Rebecca drew the bolt and turned
he knob OF the door which the wind
;ore from her grasp. letting in a
whirl of snowHakes and five children.
hand In hand. They went straight TO
Miss Anne at the table before the
blazing fire.
We've come to spend Christmas
with you. We choose your house. be-
cause you have lots of room. and 1t
has Christmas trees all around II. and
because you are kind" said John Bell.
confidently.
We'll, never" said Rebecca to
Peter. What do you think of that?
Come. girls. let me take of your
wraps"
Don't you want u.s." asked Tom.
Alice said this was really home
Then Miss Anne found her voice.
She rose from her chair. and putting
her arm around the shivering boy.
said: "Of course | want you. I'm
glad you came. Peter shall hnd you
a Christmas tree"
A little later when she looked at the
circle of happy faces around her
table and the passing plates OF cake
and marmalade, she said to herself:
II have visitors. after all. and shall
keep them always In really nome.
Little Mary Moore having finished
her supper, slipped from her chair
and climbed on Miss Anne's lap. That
lady did not see the orphanage ging'
ham and the clipped hair. she only
saw the divine hope of childhood.
She drew Mary into her arms and her
feeling OF loneliness vanished tor'
ever.
TELL me, little one. why you came
to my house?"
Mary looked up into the KIND race
and said: 81 came because you were
all alone. and your lamp shone like a
guiding star"
Peter, saving at an evergreen IN
he yard, looked In at the window. he
rubbed his eyes and shook MS hoar,
,eod saving: "They picked us out
or themselves. Who would have
hought it?"