Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-26
The Halls Christmas Gift
by Maud walker.

-ar WAS not a promising Christ
mas eve FOR Tommy Hail.
Owing to his fathers recent
I and serious Illness the family
HQ8H&6H found themselves In very
Nsas$S straitened circumstances. The
poor fathers work had been dlscontinu- Il
for so many months, owing to his Illness,
that the family purse was in a very de.
plorable state, and now that the Christ
mas holidays were come tn IRE was no
money with which TO buy the usual things
that go to make up the holiday festivlty.
There was no turkey for the Christmas
dinner, no floral decorations on mantel and
in window. No Christmas tree with gilt
tering adornments and wax candles grsced
the little best ROOM that was without a
fire in the CRATE.
Knowing all this, It may sound strange
to tho reader when ! say that the three
members of the Hall ~family-father.
mother and little son-were not unhoppy
or dependent. Indeed they were quite
cheerful II one could Judge from their con-
Fersation and manners as they sat about
the little supper table In the comfortable
kitchen, the only room in which they could
afford to keep a fire.
Wen. tomorrow Is Christmas day." said
Mrs. Hall as she poured the tea. And we
have not spent a penny for gifts. much as
we should have liked to. But-we're not
going to grumble over that, for we have
80 much to be thankful forever II we
haven't any Christmas cheer
Yes, mother, that is the way | feel
about IT," agreed Mr., Hall. 81 am so
happy to be well again and TO have the
promise OF my old Job once more and a
raise In salary, too, so the president Of the
company told me today, that such small
matters as the absence OF Christmas
'doings' do not fret mo, | shall SON be
on my feet again, able to pay the rent and
my doctors bill. And then we shall begin
20 have some little l~uxurles occasionally.
such as Christmas trees, tsffy parties ana
the like, for Tommy. l really do regret
that our little mans Christmas must be
so unlike his former Christmases. Last
year we gave him such a great time, with
capital letters" And Mr.. Hall laughed
over the happy memory OF last years holt
day festivities.
"Oh, papa, don't worry over my Christ,
mas-or lack OF Christmas, as None might
say. Besides, who knows what old Santa
Claus may bring me2 I am past the age
for Santa's presents, for I was u years
old SIX weeks ago, and Santa's children
are all much younger than that, But h,
may yet remember me with some NIT
thing-just through pity, you see. But
should he want to be generous 10 any
outside his realm Of very Young children,
would much rather he would bring sorne.
thing to put In dear mothers stocking
You and l, dad, ars two old chaps that car
do without Christmas and birthday present,
now And Tommy smiled.
MIR. Hall laughed while Mrs, Hall patted
Tommy on the head In a owing way. mo
dearie, II Santa has anything for this
family l hope II will fall TO you. my dear
unselfish boy" And the good mother,
eyes grew dim.
Then tho subject was changed from
Christmas 10 rommy's school and hi,
comrades, Then 10 Mr., Halls promised in,
crease Of salary. which rejoieed them al
so much.
Just think, dear" said Mr.. Hall TO his
wife, my sickness cost me three months
absence from my work. which meant three
months loss OF salary. And all the time
our living expenses went on and added &c
them were my doctors bill and drug bill.