The Robesonian., 1909-12-16

so. as she told herself. and yet how
could she bear 10 have her darling for
gotten in the household of which she /
had been the sunshine. TO have her
sons and daughters IN future years
say:
"There are five of u.s. without 8
word or thought OF the little sister I
gone before? Then MolIie's words /
came back to her with another and I
tenderer significance: Il do wish we
could have some kind of memorial
for little Beth"
A memorial" not for the eyes of the
world, but one that would keep alive
In the hearts of her children the mem
ory of that dear lost one. It might not
be an impossibility. after all. and the
plan, once started in her mind. went on
unfolding. and as the last spark died
out in It's bed of somber gray ashes
and the clock counted out. loud and
! clear In the stiffness, the twelve strokes
of midnight she rose to her feet with
moist eyes. but hopeful smile upon
her lips.
"In that way they will be sure to
| remember her. she murmured to her
self, .and the little charities given in
her name vii, be twice blessed"
1t had always been a custom in the
Mason family for the children to hang
up their stockings the night before
Christmas-a custom that, as Mrs.
/ Mason declared, owed its popularity TO
the one extravagance In that economic
ally ordered household open FIRE
in the family sitting room. When
| Christmas eve came there was brought
| forth for the occasion the usual array
Of stockings Of various sizes and
hues, from Mollie's, Of conventional
| black Isle thread, down to little Ben's.
/ of coarser. home knit gray. and there
was great deal Of chatter and fuss
and good natured rivalry over a choice
of places and the finding of pil,. 'rge
and strong enough to sustain ex-
pected burden
''rm going to put mine out here at
the very 4endw proclaimed Ben. with "a
flourish of the article in question and
desperate dive for the biggest pin in
the cushion but his mother laid her
hand gently upon his shoulder with the
= 1y4SR -
Not there, dear. That's where little
Beth's stocking always hung. you
know
The merry babel Of voices suddenly
ceased, and the children turned to- look
!. at their mother in kind of awestruck
wonder as. taking from her work
basket pair of pretty scarlet stock
ings-baby's favorite pair she careful
ly fastened them in the accuston cd
!, place with the low voiced explana-
IL ton:
4 1--we have no money to build grand
memorial windows or to endoW hos
: Lpitals in the name of our lost darling
: | but we can keep her memory alive in
] our own hearts, at least in a humber
way. Now am going to hang up del
: stockings just as she did on her last
r Christmas on earth, and we will eaci
5, contribute something out of our ow1
y stores that will make some poor chill
9 dren more comfortable ard happy OF
!. this the worlds great gift day.
il Mollie slipped her hand into he
mothers and laid her cheek tenderl.
d against her mothers shoulder whil
she whispered. with a half suppresse,
y. sob:
q "Oh. mother. dear. that's beautiful
is thought. and we'll all be so glad {
le give something toward dear littl
x Beth's memorial stocking
% The morning saw this promise faith
"a fully fulfilled. and it was wonderful
M when each one set his or her brains t
work what q number of poor. neglect
e. ed children were remembered and pre-
at vided for out of little Beth's gift stocE
p Ing. sss
e Charlie found that with a new pal
of skates he could spare his old one
le for poor lutte lad round the corne
who never had so much as top {
ball that he could call his own. Kit
- was glad to give paint box almo:
q. as good as new to the crippled gi
~ who always sat in her inyalid's cha
ne by the window and watched Iongingl
~ the gay groups OF children as the
IL trooped past to school Outgrown pf
an ture books. caps aud boots. a pair !,
r. warm mittens and a knitted scarf fl
the ragged little fellow who shovele
lor snow for the neighborhood and sever
liy lace bags filed with candy and nu
'se contributed from the private store th
iiu each had found in his own ,stockin
" nu- 1t was wonderful how much and VII
III a variety of things that pair of stoc
en- ings held, fer whatever was given
u their name was supposed to have cor
OF from their diminutiye depths.
Every one gave freely. and no o
felt poorer for the lack Of what we
uiu to comfort those who were needy.
ioI Mollie's pretty new portmonnaie was
eel two dollar bill with slip attached
as which was written. For the N
cps gloves that Mollie thinks .will ma
he, her perfectly happy -
her The little lass laughed good natur,
y. ly at this merry reminder Of her o.
liAs words and for few minutes was t
ilen of happiness over her mothers g
ars. but suddenly a thoughtful express
nus came over her bright face, and {
- went silently to her room. Half
rear hOur latar She came IN hnr uoot]