The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1909-12-09

| Nh''H h'Ho' ~ p'Sh ouA - h"N v
chance"
Il know" said Jane Smith, II know.
It's the house with Christmas trees
around it. and turkey gobblers in
the yard "
J That's Nhere Miss Anne lives"
said John BELL. ITS a big house,
and I'd think she would get real lone
some with only Peter and Rchccra
is it the house where the lamp
shines like star all night" asked
Mary Moore.
That's the very one. Shsh. |
have an idea" cried John, drawing the
five together for HE secret, for he was
always full of Plains
Mrs Brown. tie cook. looked out
from her window and saw the confer
| Cnce "Of course aobody wants chib
drcn getting over the mumps," shc
said TO herself. "B,f FL make them
| have good time I'll 20 upstairs
rlGht away and gather all the candle
ends, and then III cal them "a and
| make candy"
In the Old colonial house surround.
! ed by cvcrEreons lived Miss Anne
Armstrong Her window overlooked
Shr pasture where the children played
| beside the orphanage on the hill Miss
Ahne was the last OF her family Shs
ouicred her HE carefully and saws
thai her maid Rebecca kept che house
spouess and hoT man Peter kept the
garden wcedlcss. while sho lnit end
less patterns OF lace
Christmas was coming she facw by
th" calendar, and that evening as shS
walked home from the pustnflir she
aad Witnessed the reception q or
rlttns AZ more than one house 4 her
acquaintance. Even Widow Nmp-
kAts, the wusharworEan, Aad taken 4
little boy who asked 70 vtSit her mly
yupnE family
Dear me, | fpGl lefr out. said Miss
Anne as she saw the youne stranLorg
taken in tia door - wonder # any
one gould have elected ~ 70 with sac,
II had gone to, the srphanaEe
must send Mrs SimpEins snmc rnd
JonaD hans for the children"
Misa Anne saw tls big flame of her
astral lamp blaze IN Her windoE like 5
star ending It's Hight across Tire snowy
fields "a the group On the orThauars
steps Then she met Rehruca at the
door aE1d seated her self aosiGa her
boWrlul tcatalIe
II do not believe t1It / shah have
n s.ugl: visitor his Christmas, sighed
Miss iUue, a feeling Of lnnrIinrss
creeping over her. Gut why should
anyone mink OF ne, ~hru q do not
thina OF others ~ should
At that moment there was q cIattoF
of fonr on the porch, and the hrass
knocker dropped with rosoundNg
c!ang It startled Rcbccca and Peter
in the Kitchen, and both rushed into
the hallway
Rcbecc- drew the boH- and turned
the knob NJ the door which thu wind
tore from her grasp, letting in n
wh0rl Of suownakgs and Ave children.
hand In dand. They went straight to
Miss Anne nj tin table before the
blnzing frp.
We've come to- spend Christmas
with YOU We chGuse your house. be-
cause you have lots of room. and II
has Christmas trees all around II, and
because you are Kind" glnd Joha Hell.
confidently.
Well. | never said Rrhecua 10
Peter. What do you think OF that?
Come. girls let me take on your
wraps" ,..
"Don'r you want us?'' askcG Tom.
Alice said this was,a really hcme,"
Then Miss Anne found her voice.
She rose from her chaiY; and putting
her arm around the shivcriEg boy,
said "Ol courBe want you I'm
glad You came Peter shall sind you
n Christmas trGr
4 little later when siu looked at the
! circle of happy faces around her
/ table and the passing plates nj cake
/ and marmalads. she said to herself:
Il have visitors, after all, and shall
keep them always in really home. '
Little Mary Moore having finished
her supper. slipped from her chair
and climbed on Miss Annc's lap. That
lady did not see the orphanage gine
ham and the clipped hair. she only
saw the divine hope OF childhood
she drew Mary int her arms and her
feeling of loneliness vanished fer
ever.
Tell me, little one, why you cahlC
to my house,"
Mary looked up into the kind fact
and said: Il came because you were
all alone. and yonr lamp shone like I
guiding star"
Peter, saving at an evergreen II
the yard, looked In at the window. III
rubbed his eyes and shook his hOar
head, saying They picked IL on
for themselves Who would hav
thought IT,"
CHRISTMAS