Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1909-12-25


gotten IN the household " which she
had been the sunshine. 70 have her
SONS aud daughters ia future years
say:
There are tive VI us without u
word or thought Of The little sister
gone before Then Mollie's words
eame bnck 20 her with another and
'euderer significance Il do wish we
,ould nave some kind Of memorial
'or little Beth
4 memorial" not for the eyes 81 the
world hut one that would keep alive
IA The hearts Of her children the mem
Dry Of that dear lost one Il might not
tie an impossiblity after all. and the
| plan once started IN her mind. went oh
unfolding and as the last spark died
ont IN its bed Of sombeI gray ashes
aud the clock counted out, loud and
| lear hi the stiffness the twelve strokes
| ~ midnight she rose 10 her feet with
moist eyes but hopeful smile upon
tier I.ps
an that way they will be sure to
remember her" she murmured To her.
sell and the little charities given ~
her name will be twice blessed"
II had always been custom In the
Mason family for the children 10 hang
~ ,heii stockings the night before
Christmas a custom that as Mrs
Mason declared, owed It's popularity &c
the one extravaganza ~ that economic
! ally ordered h0usehold--an open fire
| IN the family sitting room When
| Christmas eve came there was brought
| forth fnr The occasion the usual array
~ stockings Of various sizes aud
hues. from Molhe's Of conventional
black Isle thread, down TO little Bens.
Of coarser. home Knit gray, and there
was a great deal Of chatter and fuss
and good natured rivalry over a choice
Of places and the finding Of pins large
and strong enough 10 sustain the ex
pected burden.
I'm going to put mine out here at
| the very end" proclaimed Ben. with a
flourish of the article In question and a
desperate dive for the biggest pin in
the cushion. but his mother laid her
hand gently upon his shoulder with the
softly spoken reminder:
Not there. dear That's where little
Beths stocking always hung YOU
| tnow
| The merry babel Of voices suddenly
ceased. and the children turned TO look
ut their mother In a kind of awestruck
wonder as. taking from her work
basket pair Of pretty scarlet stock.
| ines-baby's favoritc pair-she careful
~ fastened them IN the accustomed
place with the low voiced explana
| ton.
we have no money to build grand
memorial windows or TO endow hos.
| pitfalls in the name Of our lost darling
but we can keep her memory alive in
our own hearts al least IN n humber
way Now | am going TO hang up her
stockings Just as she did on her last
Christmas on earth. and we will each
contribute something ont Of our own
| stores that will make some poor chill
dren more comfortable and happy on
this the worlds great gift day"
| Mollle slipped her hand into her
mothers ard laid her cheek tenderly
against her mothers shoulder while
she whispered. with Il half suppressed
sob
oh mother. dear. that's beautiful
thought. and well all be so glad TO
| give something toward dear littic
| Beths memorial stocking
| The morning saw this promise faith
| fully fulfilled and II was wonderful
when each one set his or her brains TO
work what number OF poor neglect
/ ed children were remembered and pro
vided for out of little Beths gift stock
Ing
Charlie found that with a new pair
of skates h. could spare his old ones
| for pool little lad round the corner
who never had 50 much rs top OF
BAL that he could eall his own Kitty
was glad 10 give a paint box almost
as good rs new 10 The crippled Cir
who always sat IN her invaiids ehaii
| by the window and watched iongiugly
| The guy groups 81 children as They
troapcd pass t. school Outgrown pie
ture books. caps and boots. a pair %
warm mittens aud knitted scarf for
the ragged little fellow who shoveled
snow for the neighborhood and several
lace bags tiled with candy and nuts
contributed from the private store tha'
each had found In his own stocking
4 was wonderful how much and whal
variety Of things that paii OF stock
lngs held toi whatever was given II
then name was supposed &c have come
from their d!m.n Itive depths
Every one gave freely. ana no one
felt poorer foi the lack Of what Went
to comfort those who were needy II
Mollie's pretty new portmonnale was
two dollar biz with d slip attached on
which was written. Tor the new
gloves that Mollic thinks Will make
her perfectly happy
The little lass laughed good natured
Is AZ this merry reminder Of her own
words and for few minutes was full
OF happiness over her mothers gift.
but suddenly thoughtful expression