The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-12-23

for her-almost a roomful she de-
clared to herself, as they were taken
down one by n and opened for her
inspection and admiration.
Nita was an only child, and this
was another reason why her parents
made much of the day for her sake.
There had been another, but it had
died before Nita could remember. She
had been told about her dead baby
brother so often that it seemed to her
that she could recall him and there
were times when she felt ne was
looking at her and wanted to be at
her side.
This Christmas day was so long,
somehow. She had but just run to
Nurse Amy to ask If it were not
luncheon time. Not hat she was
playing by herself. Nursey had said
it was only IL o'clock, and she had
thought it was almost night.
What were p~laythings, anyhow? She
had always had them. They couldn't
run around the big grounds and play
l 'hVi az hluC III oCCh as ~ nav
seen other children do-as she had
done with her cousins, when, as she
sometimes did, she visited them in
their far away northern home. 1t was
dreadful cold up there-much colder
than in her own southland, where one
might play outdoors all the year
round, but she would be willing to live
there, If only she had playmates like
other children.
OF curse everybody was good.
Papa a good. and ami was good,
and nursey, too; but they were so
often busy, and they were grown up,
too, and couldn't be expected to play
games with a little girl.
1t would be nicer, she thought, IL
papa would remove from the country
to the city. Then she might play with
the n~eighbors' children.
Nita yawned.
I'D be willin' to let 'em play with
everything | have, and wear my watch
some, and ride my pony" she said,
magnanimously.
81 do wonder why they don't let me
see mammal" she asked herself fire.
~quently. Here it's been about a week
since I've seen her, and every time
! start upstairs to her room, governess,
or nurse, or the doctor push me back
with a You mustn't disturb mamma,
for she's sick AS if I'd disturb my
dear, dear mamma for anything in all
this world.
Il blieve | don't care for toys n
more. | guess I'm gettin' too old for
them. | blieve I'll tell papa to give
mine away to some zoe children that
don't have any"
Here she strobe to a mirror, before
which she stood and stretched herself
to her full little seven-year height.
Il reckon I'll have to grow a heap
more before I'm a woman" she sighed,
but, anyway. I'm gettin' tired of
Chrismases and birthdays and toys. If
I just did have somethin' to amuse
me-somebody to play with that isn't
clean grown up"
And her this blase child Of seven
stretched herself out upon the floor
and soon was fast asleep.
When she awoke Nurse Amy was
standing beside her.
II reckons yer mariner wants ter
see yer, honey" she said, with a smile.
Without questioning, without reply
ing, the little girl sprang to her feet
and fairly flew up the broad oaken
stairway.
20 mamma" she cried, as she
sought to throw herself into hat par
ent's arms.
But gentle hands restrained her and
then she vas shown something that
thrilled her with delight.
"A Christmas present, mamma, and
a brother, too. 1t is my brother that
went to heaven?"
Not that one, dear, but another
sent from heaven"
"Give him my presents, mother-all
OF them. He's worth all OF them and
more, too. May J hold him. mammal
And Nita's heart o%verlowed with
joy when this request was granted
her.
This is Gad's- preeers. Isnt lit
Ua@@ag~ Jesus, .prsSaRt--xenr~~xnow
yo0 told me how he loved little child.
rem. He knows what little girls wan,
better than their mothers and fathers
do"