Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-12-14
The Argus Daily Short Story
Christmas at Marlin s-By John G.. Wharton.
Copyrighted. 1910 by Associated Literary

does dat Miss COrnelia don't keep no
help. Amt we heard time and ag'in
dat she's teachin' folks how to sing
and play de pianner and working her
pretty self to skin and bones TO take
care Of dem chillen-an' too proud to
take a penny from him for dere keep?
1t makes my blood bile Gale. to think
Of dem cnillen a-fixin' up a Christmas
box for dere pa each Christmas and
him having it put up in de nursery
without even untying de string! It's
a billing shame to be so proud as Marse
Ben
Their indignant voices fioated up the
forgotten open shaft of the dumb wait
er into the dining room overhead.
where the object of their remarks sat
with a white stony face fixed unsee-
ingly on the opposite wall. where long
rows Of stiff necked ancestors looked
down on this member of their race,
the most proud and stiff necked of
them all and the most unhappy.
When the voices had sunk to a low
grumbIe Benjamin Marlin arose and
left the room. He did not cross the
hall to his library, as was his usual
custom, but turned and went slowly
up the circular staircase to the second
floor. His own apartments were on
the north side, but on the south there
stretched sunny suit Of rooms.
They had belonged to Covnelia, his
wife. and behind them were the nuTs-
cries.
For the first time in ten years he
unlocked the nursery door and entered
the room. He reached up and snapped
on the electric lights and looked
around.
Hannah's loving hands lad kept the
pretty room spotlessly clean. The
miniature furniture brought back &
sharp pans TO his heart as he remem-
bered the delightful days be and Cor
nelia had spent in selecting 1t, but he
stifed the thought Of Cornelia and
tried to recollect nothing save bis two
children. They were his. and he had
accepted their Punishment from his
presence with a hardening heart-a
heart that now acknowledged that lie
had been unjust to Corneia, that be
had restricted her in many ways that
must have chafed the pride Of n high
spirited girl such as his wife had been
His own character had changed in
measure. he could see and appreci-
ate Cornelia's position.
Each Christmas week had brought
package from the twins. At trst it
had been addressed in Cornelfa's hand
writing, but afterward Ii came to Ben
jamin superscribed in round childish
characters that became drmcr every
year and marked the development OF
the twins education. The packages
were there in the nursery. or the lit
tie white beds - ten packages that
had come by mail or express and had
never been united. Old Caleb had re-
ceived orders to place them in the
nursery, and each year he bad carried
them there with tear b-immcd eyes.
Afterward he and Hannah would laugh
and cry over their own Christmas re-
membranes that had come from tie
same source.
Never by word or sign had Benjamin
Marlin recognized the receipt Of the
packages, nor had he ever sent any
gifts TO his children. It is hard 10
understand the bitterness that was so
deep wel!ed and yet SO near to tender
ness that the man was afraid t. open
the packages lest he be moved TO tears.
He WAS fearful to recognize the Christ
mas festival in any d tgr,e-there were
such painful recole,, tons Of The first
two Christmases arer the Il ms had
been born. At fraa he ld uipl run
ming away from the Chri mas merry
making. but wherever h WANDERING,
feet carried him There was the joyous