Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-25

ing of Bob and his coming grief and dis
appointment The cold grew more and
more intense. and al 10 o'clock the moon
shone out round and white. revealing a
glitteiing frozen world.
Terry tried to console himself with MS
dice If the six comes up. he said he
won't come" And the fatefu six had
come.
1T isn't the bowl''-by this time Terry
was struggling with his tears: he was
only little hoy and very fond of his
pathetic playmate don't want il. but
Bob wouldn't ever take il II I did give :;
10 him. | want Santa Claus get him
one. He'll never be happy again If Santa
Claus don't come. | just know he won't.
Maggie felt that her cup of grief would
surely overflow. FOR here was Terry Sob
hlng. and she could not comfort him. for
she knew, TOO. that il was Santa Claus
that Bob wanted quite much as he did
the bowl. And then, surely il was the
dear old saint himself who sent her
thought.
Terry she whispered. would yol
really be willing TO give Bob your bowl
:'Of course | would. you stupid; didn't
tell you so?
Then and Massie's voice was mys-
terous and low. well take il 10 him
now
In the moonlight the boys blue eyes
locked like glass marbles. Now" he
questioned.
Yes. now
Maggie was already up. moving stealth
lily about the room. piling on all the warm
clothes she could ind, and Terry followed
her example. They tied comfcrters ove'
their heads and muffiel themselves IN
blankets.
Have you got it, she whispered. AMI
he held up the beloved possession.
How can We give il TO him now? he
asked again and again, but Maggie vouch-
safed no answer. Out into the night she
led the way. and the two little wadde
figures Rlided along over the frozen sur
face Of the snow.
He'll never known the crystal frost
her words clattered against each other
he'll never know and he'll be sure IL was
Santa Claus because" and she grasped
Terry's hand ..arder. because We'll droI
it down the Chimney.
Terry stood still in the snow.
''Climp on the roof and drop II dowr
the chimney"
Yes" assented Maggie. you know III.
snow is all banked up between the slid,
and the chimney. We Will climb up 81
that and creep along to the chimney and
drop 1t down. Then it'll fall on the ashe
1t can't burn, and Bobll see il the frs
thing in the morning.
Terry voiced little shrek more like
the squeak of a mouse than any humaL
sound.
IF only We had some bells.' he cried
Bob might think Al was the reindeer"
Then Maggie reached the climax of he
delight. Out from under her muffiin.
garments she drew the camps dinner bell,
that she had seized her passas.
through the dining room.
.'He said they tinkled, and I don't thini
this tinkles,' she said. but IL he's No
very wide awake he won't know.
She shook the iron clapper around in il.
brazen cup. producing a sound that not
even the most imaginative child coulC
have transformed INTO a sleigh bell. But
it satisfied Terry. it satisfied Maggie an.
entered into Bobs light slumbcrs enouSi
to make him smile and murmur drowsiiy:
Santa Claus? Yes mamma
Up 10 the very chimney top they climbed
and Terry loosed has hold on his treasure.
They heard il strike heavily on IN,
hearth. For just a second they waited
Would Bob's ears hear his beloved Santa
Claus? Would the clumsy little feet in
their snowshoes sound like twinklina rein
deer hoofs?
Silently they slipped down from The
roof. and before long they were fast
asleep in their cold little bed.
The next morning. with never thought
for breakfast, they hurried to the Harm
cabin. In through the door they tumbed,
and there lay Bob, the stone mortar
clasped i'm his arms
Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas"
he shouted. and. In tones tremulous with
joy. added You see? You see? I knew.
4 just knew that il would come. It's a
little smaller than yours, Terry this
with a kindly discriminating glance from
Terry TO the bowl, but it's just as good.
and you'll never have 10 bring yours over
to me again.
And then something curious happened.
The morose, silent father put his hand
on Terry's head and said:
God bless you
But Bob, in his gleefu voice, cried
God bless us ali. That's what mamms
used TO say"
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