Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1909-12-23

closed chambers. aud Calista's best
cloak and hat lay on the sofa.
The poOrhouSp was lhree miles away
on the highroad. aud a snowplow had
leveled a broad track TO the very door.
So Calista, clad in her best. put on her
overshoes and started forth. a basket
in either hand.
She was quite pale and tired when
she turned into the high white gate
and advanced up the path. bordered on
either side with gloomy cedar trees.
DR.. Keyes was the overseer of the
Cloverdale poorhouse. and it was con-
sidered the best managed institution
/ Of it's kind in the state.
Breakfast was being served in the
long dining ball when Calista rang the
bell. and when the door opened the
bluff. brown eyed doctor himself stood
before her.
Merry Christmas. Miss Calista, SO
you are playing Santa Claus this MORN
! ing! am glad of that, because some
of my old people are feeling very blue
today"
He relieved her of the baskets and
led the way into the CHEEKY warmth
of his comfortable Office, where Calls
! ia sat down before the glowing stove
and thawed out her frosty fingers
When she spoke her eyes were fasten-
ed on the red Goals. and the words
came hesitatingly.
1--WE kept Christmas alone-for
twelve years. Somehow | didn't care
about seeing anybody. | just wanted
to try to bring back things as they
used to be-befOre"-
DR.. Keyes wiped his glasses and re-
placed them on his fine nose. Had he
not stood side by side with little Ca
lista Thorp aud fought hopelessly the
battle of life and death-and lost!
And had not Calista turned on him
like a little wild animal and con.
demned him because he had failed!
She had avoided speaking to him
afterward. and this was the first time
they had met, and she was talking to
him now as If she had forgotten that
he had lost the grim battle for her
loved ones.
-"before my folks died." went on
Calista steadily. but it can't be done.
The minister talked to me about it,
and got to thinking last night may
be the best way to live over happy
times is to give them to somebody
else that never had any. so I've
brought all the presents I've given
mother and father and the children
ever straightforward want the folks
here to have them"
Two tears rolled down her cheeks
from Calista's overcharged heart, and
others followed and fell into the glass
of grape juice which DIR. Reyes held
at her lips. and perhaps it was that or
the large warm hand which rested on
her shoulder that revived the little
woman to renewed strength.
"You need never be without a fami-
ly. Miss Calista," said the doctor at
last in a husky voice. II have fami-
ly here-forty people-old and young.
and little children. They need help
and encouragement and comfort. Some
may have another chance in the world
if they receive word of womanly
sympathy in season. VIII you be my
right hand here?"
I'D like to-" sObbed Calista thank
fully.
Together they distributed the con-
tents of the two baskets, and Calista
found her tongue saying soft pleas
antripS and her cold face responding
warmly TO grateful smiles
She saw her mothers kindly look
and her fathers approving nod in the
faces of many of these INDECENT old
people. and the delight of Bobby and
little Ann were repeated tenfold by
the orphaned poor children of the doc
tors household.
You have been an angel in disguise
to them this Christmas day" said the
doctor as he carried Calista home in
his sleigh that evening, for Calsta had
stayed to the dinner of pork tenderlOin
and apple sauce with vegetables and
many daintieS contributed by the good
ovPrseer from his own scanty pocket
Calista Thorp's house was empty no
longer There was always room for
some broken soul from the poorhouse
some one who dropped in the at
moSphere which could never be insep-
arabic from the institution and who
needed comfort and encouragement be-
fore taking up the burden of life and
independence in the end.
The following Christmas Calista was
welcomed as an old friend by the in
mates OF the poorhOuse.
Al her bidding each one had hung |
his or her stocking on line stretched
before the dormitory doors, and that
evening Calista ana DR. Keyes mad
filed them all.
CaliSta'S blue eyes were shining with |
happiness as the doctor drove her |
home under the Christmas stars.
I'VE remembered every one" she |
said cOnteutedly. leaning back among |
the soft robes.