Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1910-02-18

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had been the sunshine. 10 have her
sous aud daughters 10 future years
sayi
"rheFe are Ave OF u.s." without n
word or thought OF the little sister
gone beforef Then Mollies words
came back 20 her With another aud
ienderer sIgnlicnncei Il do wish we
could have soms kiBd Of q memorial
for little Beth"
A "memorial." not for the eyes Of the
world, but one that would keep alive
In the hearts Of her children the men,
DRY Of that dear lost one. II might not
be an impoHsibility. after all. and the
plan. once started IN her mind, went on
unfolding. aud as tho last spark died
out In its bed OF somber gray ashes
and the clock counted out. loud and
clear IN the stiffness. the twelve strokes
of midnight she rose 10 her feet with
moist eyes. but hopeful smile upon
her lips
"in that way they will be sure to
remember her" she murmured to her.
SELF. "and the little charities given 10
her name will be twice blessed"
II had always been custom In the
Mason fnmily for the children 10 hang
up their stockings the night before
chriatmas-a custom that. as Mrs.
Mason declared. owed It's popularity to
the one extravaganza IN that economic.
ally ordered househod-an open FIRE
In the family sitting room. When
Christmas eve cnme there was brought
forth for the occasion the usual array
II stockings Of various sizes and
huea. from Mollle's. OF conventional
black Isle thread. down 20 little Ben's.
of coarser. home knit gray. and there
was a great deal Of chatter and fuss
and good natured rivalry over n choice
Of places and the huding OF pins large
and strong enough 10 sustain the ex-
peeted burden.
I'm going 10 put mine out here at
the very endF' proclaimed Ben. with a
flourish Of tho article In question aud a
desperate dive for the biggest pin In
the cushion. but his mother laid her
hand gently upon his shoulder with the
softly spoken reminder:
mot there. dear. That's where little
Beth's stocking always hung. you
know"
The merry babel OF voices suddenly
ceased. and the children turned 70 look
at their mother 10 a kind OF nwestruck
wonder as. taking from her work.
basket a pair OF pretty scarlet stock.
lngs-baby's favorIte palr-shc careful.
~ fastened them In the accustomed
place with the low voiced explana.
tiun:
1--WE have no money to build grand
memorial windows or to endow hos.
pitals In the name OF our lost darling.
but we can keep her memory alive IN
our own hearts at least In q humber
way. Now | am going to hang up her
stockings Just as she did on her last
Christmas on earth. and we will each
contribute something out OF our own
stores that viii make some poor chill.
iren more comfortable and happy on
this the worlds great gifi day"
Mollie slipped her hand into her
mothers aud laid her cheek tenderly
against her mothers shoulder while
she whispered, with half suppressed
sob:
"oh. mother. dear that's n beautiful
thought, aud we'll all be so glad to
give something toward dear little
Beth's memorial stocking"
The morning saw this promise faith
'ully fulfilled. aud II was wonderful
when each one set bis or her brains to
work what q number OF poor. neglect
ed children were remembered aud pro-
vidcd for out OF little Beth's gift stock.
Ing.
Charlie found that with a new pair
OF skates he could spare his old ones
for q poor little lad round the corner
who never had so much as top or
ball thai he could call his own. Kitty
was ghd TO give a paint box almost
as good ny new to the crippled girl
who always sat In her lnvalld's chair
by the window and watched longingly
the Gay groups OF children as they
rooped past to school. outgrown pic.
lure books. caps aud boots. u pair of
warm mittens and a knitted scarf for
he ragged little fellow who shoveled
NOW for the nelghborhood aud several
lace bugs Oiled with candy aud nuts
contributed from the private store that
each had found IN his own stocking.
It was wonderful how much and what
variety of things that pair of stock.
lngs held, for whatever was given In
their name was supposed to have come
from their dlmlnutive depths.
Every one gave freely, aud no one
felt poorer for the lack Of what went
to comfort those who were needy. In
Mollie's pretty new portmonnaie was a
two dollar bill with a slip attached on
which was written. For the new
gloves that Mollie thinks will make
her perfectly happy"
The little lass laughed good natured-