Mountain Home maverick. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1906-1911, 1910-12-01

WIZ a load Of presents
Tor her almost a roOmful she de-
clared to herself as they were taken
down one by one and opened for her
inspection and admiration
Nita was an only child, and this
was another reason why her parents
made much of the day for her sake
There had been another but it had
died before Nita could remember. She
had been told about her dead baby
brother so often that it seemed to her
that she could recall him and there
were times when she felt he was
looking at her and wanted to be at
her side.
This Christmas day was so long.
somehow. She had but just run to
Nurse Amy to ask if it were not
luncheon time Not that she was
hungry, but she had got so tired of
playing by herself Nursey had said
it was only II o'clock. and she had
thought it was almost night
What were playthings, anyhow? She
had always had them. They couldn't
run around the big grounds and play
with her at hide and seek as she had
seen other children do-as she had
done with her cousins. when. as she
sometimes did, she visited them in
their far away northern home. 1t was
dreadful cold up there-much colder
than in her own southland. where one
might play outdoors all the year
round. but she would be willing to live
there if only she had playmates like
other children.
OF course everybody was good
Papa was good. and mamma was good,
and nursey, too but they were so
often busy and they were grown up.
too and couldn't be expected to play
games with a little girl
1t would be nicer. she thought if
papa would remove from the country
to the city Then she might play with
the neighbors children.
Mia yawned
'I'd be willin' to let EN- play with
everything / have and wear my watch
some and ride nay pony She said.
magnanimously
~ do wonder why they don't let me
sec mammal She asked herself fire.
orently Here it's been about a week
since I've seen her. and every time
] start upstairs to her room. governess.
or nurse or the doctor push me back
with a You mustn't disturb mamma.
for she's sick As II ia disturb my
dear, dear mamma for anything in all
this world
Il b1ieve I don't care for toys any
more l guess I'm gettin too old for
them. b1ieve III tell papa TO give
mine away to some poor children that
don't have any"
Here she strobe to a mirror. before
which she stood and stretched herself
to her full little seven-year height
81 reckon III have to grow heap
more before I'm a woman. she sighed.
"but. anyway. I'm gettin' tired of
Chrismases and birthdays and toys. If
] just did have somethin' to amuse
somebody TO play with that isn't
clean grown up
Anc then this blase child of seven
stretched herself out upon the floor
and soon was fast asleep.
When she awoke Nurse Amy was
standing beside her.
Il reckons yer mariner wants ter
see yer. honey she said. with a smile
Without questioning. without reply
ing. the little girl sprang to her feet
and fairly flew up the broad oaken
stairway
20 mamma" she cried. as she
sought to throw herself into that par
ent's arms.
But gentle hands restrained her and
then she was shown something that
thrilled her with delight.
"A Christmas present. mamma, and
brother. too. 1t is my brother thai
vent 10 neagenf"
mot that one, Gear. but another
sent from heaven"
Give him my presents. mother AL
of them. He's worth all of them anc
more, too. May hold him. mamma p
And Nita's heart overlooked witt
Joy when this request was granted
her
"This is Gods present, isn't il
mamma Jesus present You know
you told me how he loved little child
rem. He knows what little girls wan
better than their mothers and fathers
DO"