The Falls City tribune., 1909-12-17

Il should like a truly homo to
night said Tom. And you know
which house I'd pick out if I had a
chance
Il know" said Jane Smith, I know.
Is the house with Christmas trees
around it, and turkey gobblers in
he yard"
That's whore Miss Anne lives"
aid John Bell. Its a big house,
aud I'd think she would get real lone
some with only Peter and Rebaeca.a
is II the house where the lamp
shines like a star all night asked
Nary Moore.
That's the very one. sh.sh. I
have an idea cried John. drawing the
aYe together for his secret, for h. was
always full OF plans.
Mrs. Brown, the cook. looked out
from her window and saw the confer
enee. of course nobody wants chill
dfen getting over the mumps.' she
said to herself. But III make them.
have a good time. III go upstairs
hight 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 eyergreens 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 Simn-
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 10 go with me.
IL had gone to the orphanage. [
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. hen 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 momen there was a clatter
of feet on the porch, and the brass
knocker dropped with a %resounding
elang. 1t startled Rebeeca and Peter
in the kitchen, and both rushed into
the hallway.
Rebecca drew the bolt and turned
the knob Of the door which the wind
tore from her grasp, letting in a
whirl of snowtlakes 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 it. and
because o are kind" said John Bell,
confidently.
We'll, | never" said Rebeeea to
Peter. |\Nhat do you think of that?
Come, girls. let me take off your
wraps"
Don't you want u.s." 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 marmTade, 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
lady did not see the orphanage ging-
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
20 my house,
Mary looked up into the kind face
and said: Il came because you were
all alone, and your lamp shone like a
guiding star"