The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1910-01-20

For the first time light broke In on
Calista's brain. For the first time
she saw herself IN her true character.
She saw that In giving herself up to
those who were gone she was hiding
her talent in a napkin.
It was not those loved ones she was
benefiting; it was the living she was
denying. What right had she to keep
all for the dead. who could use nothing
she would give them?
Was she not IN giving 1t to them
boarding it for herself? All Of sud-
den a realization Of her true position
rushed upon her with resistless force.
And how long had she shut herself
In this world of her own selfish max
ing? Twelve years.
A shame came in her heart that she
had all this while taken no interest in
q single living being at Christmas
time.
There were the children among her
relatives. the children of her friends.
but. above all. the children of the poor.
When she thought Of the many little
ones whom even penny toy would
delight she was seized with desire
on this Christmas to wipe out the
stain.
The parcels ratified to the hoor-the
pipe which her father would never
smoke. the soft woods which her moth
er's fingers would never knit. the toys
With which Bobby might not play. the
wax doll which could not afford little
Ann any delight:
The next morning. when Christmas
broke over the world. Calista Thorp
was stirring around her house. Two
great baskets we're filled With gifts
from the OVERLOOKING drawers 10 the
closed chambers. aud caIists's best
CLOAK and hat lay OH the sofa.
The poorhouse was three miles away
on the highroad, and snowpiow had
leveled 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
either side with gloomy cedar trees.
DR.. Reyes was the overseer of the
Cloverdale poorhouse, and it was con-
sidered the best managed institution
Of its kind in the state
Breakfast was being served in. 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 We're fasten-
ed on the red GOALS. and the words
came hesita,ingIy.
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"-
DIR. Reyes wiped his glasses and re-
placed them Oh his fine nose. Had he
not stood side by side with little Ca
lista Thorp and 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 lie had failed:
She had avoided speaking to him
afterwar1. aud this was the first time
they had met. and she was talking to
him now as ii 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. 50 I've
brought all the presents I've given
mother and father and the children
ever since-then-and want the folks
here to have Them
Two tears rolled down her cheeks
from Calista's overcharged heart. aud
others followed and fell into the glass
Of grape Juice which DIR. Reyes held
at her lips. aud 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 he without fami.
". Miss Calista," said the doctor at
last in husky voice. Il have fami.
~ here-forty people-old and young,
and little children. They need help
and encouragement and comfort. Some
may have another chance in the world
IL they receive a word of womanly
sympathy in season. Will you be my
right hand here:'
''Id like to-" sobbed Calista thank.
fully.
Together they distributed the con-
tents of the two baskets. and (!aliata