Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-12-14

night" said Tom. And you know
which house I'd pick out II | had q
chance"
Il know" said Jane Smith. Il know.
| It's the house with Christmas trees
around II. and turkey gobblers In
( the yard"
That's where Miss Anne lives.
said John Bell. ITS a big house.
, and I'D think she would get real lone
some with only Peter and Rebecca."
Is IL the house where the lamp
shines like star all night" asked
Mary Moore.
That's the very one. 81 sh.
! have an idea," cried John, drawing the
! five together for his secret. for he was
always full of plans.
Mrs. Brown, the cook, looked out
from her window and saw the confer
/ enee. 'Of course nobody wants chill
dren getting over the humps" she
: said to herself. But III make them
right away and gather all the candle
ends, and then I'll call them in and
make candy"
| In the old colonial house surround
ed by evergreens lived Miss Anne
Armstrong. Her windows overlooked
the pasture where the children played
beside the orphanage on the hill. Miss
Anne was the last OF her family. She
ordered her life carefully and saw
that her maid Rebecca kept the house
spotless and her man Peter kept the
garden NEEDLESS. while she knit end
less patterns of lace.
Christmas was coming she knew by
the calendar. and that evening as she
walked home from the postoffice she
had witnessed the reception of or
phans at more than one. house OF her
acquaintance. Even Widow Simp-
kins. the washerwoman, had taken a
little 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. IL wonder If any
one would have elected TO go with me,
If ! had gone to the orphanage. I
must send Mrs. Simpkins some red
Jonathans FOR the children
Miss Anne saw the big flame OF her
astral lamp blaze In her window like a
star sending its light across the snowy
fields to the group on the orphanage
steps. Then she met Rebecca at the.
door and seated herself beside her
bountiful teatable.
Il do not believe that | shall have
a single visitor this Christmas" sighed
Miss Anne. a 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 a resounding
clang. 1t startled Rebecca and Peter
in the kitchen. and both rushed into
the hallway.
Rebecca drew the bolt and turned
the knob CT the door which the wind
tore from her grasp, letting in a
>whirl of snowfiakes 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 It
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 off your
wraps"
Don't you want us?" asked Tom
Alice said this was a 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 find 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 marmaiade. she said to herself:
Il have visitors, after all. and | shall
keep them always In a really home"
Little Mary Moore having finished
her supper slipped from her chair
and climbed on Miss Anne's lap. That
id1s 1lu nCt orc thc VI pnaHat,C tiAo-
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 for
ever.
Tell me. little one. why you came
to my hoase?"
Mary looked up into the kind face
and said: i came because sou were
ali alone, and your lamp shone like
guiding star"
Peter. Saving at an evergreen in
the yard. looked in at the window. He
rubbed his eyes and shook his hoary
head. saying: They picked US cut