The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1910-12-27

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sNo'm."
Nor of GodY'
Joe pondered He believed he had
heard something about God
In words simple enough for the child
to understand Miss Merton told him
the story Of the Christ Child
Joe listened with his great black
eyes wide open.
as that alp he asked when the
story was finished. "Tell me another
'But, Joe, this is real, true story
Joe looked skeptical. Its nice
story" he said, "but don't believe
It,"
Miss Merton had cared for children
long enough to realize that the mind
of an unframed child cannot be reach
ed by abstract reasoning. He under
stands by tangible demonstrations.
So she told Joe Of the Christmas fes
tival and of the gifts that would come
to him on the birthday Of the Saviour
She taught him prayer which, If h
said 1t every night, would make hin
good boy.
Sometimes be confused his praye
with the jingles she taught him ant
said the rhyme Of Little Bopeep'
instead of Now lay me-"
She always came In the evening t
hear his prayer, and DR.. Knight woul,
come and listen. But his LADY" neve
spoke to DIR. Knight and never seemet
to know that he was near.
Christmas eve came. Miss Merton
took Joe down to the hospital chape
In his wheeled chair. At the door b.
shut his eyes tight for second ant
then flashed them open.
The room was full of light and tn
warm, sweet smell of fresh pin
branches. Ropes of holly and ever
green draped the ceiling and the walls
and from the ropes hung little re'
bells such CHEEKY little bells that the.
seemed to send out with their ros.
color a Christmas greeting.
In the center of the platform at tn
end of the room stood the Christina
tree.
It was tall and wide and covere,
with twinkiing candles, glistening OF
naments and packages tied with re-
and green ribbons.
On the floor were piled more pack
ages, so many of them that the foo
was covered.
The patients were all there. OF,
Miss Curtiss, palsied and helpless, wa
in chair near the platform. Her fac
was radiant. and occasionally she life
her one sound hand and pointed to tn
tree.
Mr.. Furr, who two weeks before ha'
lost both legs, was brought In on
stretcher. The oldest inhabitant, pan
alytic, was vheeled in on her bed
The conyalescents with canes an,
clutches sat in easy chairs or lay o.
pillows on the chapel benches.
The surgeons in their evening clothe
on their way to Christmas eve dinner
had come IN and were affecting tn
antics of joyful small boys
The first package taken from tn
tree was for Joe. Another was laid ii
his lap and another. They came fast
They filed his chair and lay on tn
floor around HIM
There were toys of all kinds, balls o
all sizes and colors, tops of every style
animals Of every material, banks wit
pennies rafting in them, games, pu2
zles, paint boxes, picture books,
lovely, many cOlored clown that wave,
hoop.
There We're shoes, stockings, under
wear, suit CT clothes. neckties, hand
kerchiefs and mittens
After the happy child had been pu
to bed and his toys placed where h
could see them Dr. Knight came in.
where's your lady, Joer he asked
Downstairs
Did she hear you say your pray
ersF
Yes, and she said her prayers toe
They aren't like my prayers. And sh
cry-just little cry"
what did she say when she pray
ed, JoeY'
"She put her head down in my GOV
ers, and she say, Dear father, / low
him and I'm so lonely. And she or,
and say something about Harold. Who
Harold z"
Harold Knight dropped the child
hand and hurried out of the room an,
downstairs to the chapel. Miss Mertol
was there alone. He walked quickl,
up to her and took her hands.
Edith he began-"E Edith, 1 want
/ love you-I'-
She stepped back and tried to dray
away her hands. The movement O
her head brought her cap close to
candle on the tree. The thin mul
famed suddenly into a blaze. d.
knights fingers closed over the burn
ing cap, and the fire was extinguishe
In his hand
He drew out the pin that held tn
cap in place and lifted from her III
harmed hair the charred badge Of he
profession.
She caught his hand and tried t
open 1t. He clinched it and the cap i
1t.
as ityour cap you want?" he asked.
mo, your hand; it's burned
I've been suffering for weeks an
you haven't cared"
You wanted a silly Irritation, and /
you were hurt it served you right"
"Will you marry me, Edith? l shaI
not ask for any more clandestine meet
ings. I'll try to be patient till yo
graduate. Can't you love me? Yo
love Joe and old Miss Curtiss and tn
babies. Can't you care for me instea
of for all those people?"
Pm tired Of caring for people.
think I'd like-Fd like to have some
body care for me-
Before the next Christmas cam
round Edith had taken off her nurse
uniform to don a bridal dress. Harol
Knight was the happy man, and it wa
arranged that the wedding should tax
place at the hospital among those VIII
loved both the bride and the groom
Joe, Of course, was present and watcf
ed the proceedings with eyes wild
open.
When the ceremony was over an
congratulations had been over DR.. an
Mrs. Knight drove away to their ow'
home.
And that is why in the happy afte
years DIR. and Mrs. Knight always ri
ferred to Joe as Santa Claus joe.
Watch for opportunities. Things are
best done in season.