The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-12-13
said, with compunctfon in her tone, as
 she fingered by his side.

"Not at all. my dear. I wouldn't be surprised if this turned out to be the happiest Christmas we ever had.'
 For long while after his wife had departed Mir. Tiddleberry waited in si- lence. and when he had quite deter mined she must have retired he tip toed softly to and fro between the par Tor and the hall closet under the stairs, his stockinged feet making no sound on the carpeted floor.
 First he united q package and look ed with unstinted admiration upon a cotton crape kimono in gay tints of red and yellow. pair of brown kid gloves and book that his wife had longed for. He found pair of stock ings in her alarming basket and hung one beside Linnie's. putting nuts and candy and a big orange in first. Then he stuffed in the kimono and the gloves and laid the book on the shelf above it.
 Into Linnie's we'll filled stocking he dropped a tissue paper package con- taining a silver bracelet. and into Bob's there went a pair of skates. After he had solemnly executed a highland fling on the hearth rug MT. Tiddleberry eXtinguished the lights and went to bed much pleased with his own shrewdnesS.
 Later Mrs. Tiddleberry arose from beside her sleeping husband and crept down in the darkness to hang one of his socks beside Bob's. She heard him stirring and fitted back again with out noticing any additions to the row of stockings on the shelf. opened softly. and a ghostly figure made journey down to the parlor and returned. It was not until the cold Christmas sun was peeping over the rim of the world and gliding Lin nie Tiddleberry's bedroom window that the little girl stirred from her warm nest and timidly slipped down the stairs over the pricking carpet.
 Just as she reached her bedroom door her fathers voice roared in mock ferocity: "Merry Christmas! Who goes there?"
 "Me," cried Linnie. "Merry Christ mas. everybody"
 That was the signal for all the Tid- dleberrys to arise, for it was Christ mas custom with them that they should all go downstairs together on Christmas morning. Mir. Tiddleberry looked very complacent and self satis- fled as he hurried into his clothes. His wife was beaming with some hid den happiness. while Linnie and Bob sat on the top stair fully dressed and giggling joyfully.
 It was solemnly happy procession that wended its way down the stairs that morning. Remember. children" said Mrs. Tiddleberry. II told you not to feel disappointed If Santa Claus did not remember you very bountifully this year. Perhaps he has forgotten you entirely. We are all so happy" she looked around at the little group. ''that it seems as though we had ev- cry gift. that Christmas can bring, health and one another and peace and good will"
 "And lots of love-" burst out Linnie
 "And the pleasure of working for each other." added MT. Tiddleberry em- phatically as he opened the parlor door.
 "Whoop-pee!" shouted Bob, making a dash for his plethoric stocking.
 "Ohv' cried Linnie delightedly. <
 "Oh!" echoed her astonished mother as she claimed her own stocking.
 Great smoke!" calculated MT. lid dleberry, feeling of his own dependent sock. What's here, Amer Wearing out your pretty eyes over knitted scarf for me? And what Is this and this?" He held two objects to view.
 q gave you the knife. and want a penny so as not to cut friendship" shouted Bob from the folds of his bath robe as he strapped on his skates, "and I gave mother the hairbrush. and l made Linnie the doll house out of a soap box and some wall paper"
 "And I gave you the pipe. father, and the perfume is for mother, and I knitted the toboggan cap for Bob out cried Linnle breathlessly.
 Mrs. Tiddleberry was crying softly over the contents of her stocking. "I thought I was the only one who could sacrifice for the others" she said shamefacedly. but they all fell upon her with careSses.
 'Bob," said his father, 'how did you do it?'
 "Sold my rabbits-didn't want lem anyway" said Bob deflantly.
 "I ran errands for Mrs. Mosher, and altogether I earned 45 cents," declared Linnie proudly.
 Anne. you made plum buildings" accused her husband.
 "Yes, and there's one for dinner, with other, good things" she said happily ''IIow about your. Henry? How could you afford 1t? Does your delay in get, ting home nights account for it?"
 MT. Tiddleberry nodded. Been clerk. ing in bookstore nights to earn those things. Bully plan too. Guess I'll dc 1t every year."
 ''This is the best Christmas we ever had" declared Bob enthusiastically as he flung his arms about his mothers neck.
 ''I guess it must be because we all love each other so much" said Linnie sagely. And that was really the SC cret of the whole affair.
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