Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1911-01-06

characters that became nrmer e~ery
year and marked the Development Of
the twins education. The packages
were there in the nursery. on the it,
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 be had carried
them there with tear brimmed eyes
Afterward he and Hannah would laugh
and cry over their own Christmas re-
membranes that had come from the
same source.
Never by word or sign bad Benjamin
Marlin recognized the receipt Of the
packages. nor had be ever sent any
gifts to his children Il b hard to
understand the bitterness that WAS %
deep welled and Jet 80 near to tender
ness that the man was afraid to open
the packages lest he be moved to tears.
He was fearful to recognize the Christ
mas festival In any degree--there were
such painful recollections Of the arst
two Christmases after the twins had
been born. At frst he had tried run
ming away from the Christmas merry
making. but wherever bis wandering
feet carried him there was the joyous
observance OF the great anniversary.
Benjamin Marlin couldn't run away
from Christmas-it was everywhere.
So be dxed the habit Of shutting him
self In his own house during those
holidays.
Now he looked longingiy at the pack
ages on the beds and with q sudden
impulse crossed the room and laid bis
hand on one. 1t was the drst one. and
Cornelia must have prompted its send
ing. for the twins were only three
then. Cornelia must have had strong
sense OF duty, he admitted as he cut
the cords.
Inside was q small box containing q
very much soiled and laboriously con-
strueted splint picture frame. undoubt-
edly the work of childish fingers. That
was from Bobby. as the attached card
indicated. Another bit OF kindergarten
work was Dorothy's offering-a watch
chain made OF colored beads. In the
bottom was a little photograph of the
twins. Suddenly the picture frame
and the chain and the photograph we're
blotted out from Benjamin Martins
eyes in a mist of tears.
He went through the packages one
by one until he came TO the one that
had arrived that morning All the
gifts were of home construction-there
was one from each twin and always
their photograph. new one. in the
bottom That was Cornelia's mute
contribution. This last package be-
trayed the fact that Dorothy. charm.
ing lass Of twelve now. was a clever
water colorist. while Bobby had cary
ed an inkstand from handsome piece
of Cuban mahogany.
Az the evening wore on Marlin sat
there on the white fur rug beside the
little bed. his head leaning against the
snowy counterpane. surrounded by the
tender remembrances BY the children
who evidently loved their father so
devotedty The last SIX packages had
contained letters from the twins thank
ing him warmly for the lovely presents
be had sent them and begging him to
write to them
II was this last straw that almost
broke Martins proud heart he had
never sent the children q gift II
must have been Cornelia who had
done that In his name and thus Kept
his memory fresh in their loving
hearts.
He did not hear the ringing OF the
doorbell nor the excited voices of Ca
leb and Hannah lifted in delighted
SURPRISE. He did not note the hush
that followed and then the soft foot
falls Of several persons on the car
peted stairs. Hannah's pass key turn.
ed In the door Of the adjoining room.
and then. as il attracted by the light.
the footsteps approached the open
doorway aud paused.
Then BENJAMIN Marlin looked up and
saw his wife and children for the frst
time In ten years-saw them looking
wistfully at him. Cornelia. more beau
tiful than ever. with the proud. spirited
eyes BUNDLED In appeal to his; the
eager loving faces Of his own children
turned to his In joyous expectation
~Can you forgive ne for not coming
to you. dear hearth whispered Marlin
to his wife. Il would have reached
you In the morning."
Can you forgive me for taking them
away from You. my husbandT she
pleaded Il am 20 much to blame"
The door closed softly behind Han
nah and her husband. and they tip
toed down the stairs with awed and
happy faces. When they reached the
bottom Hannah numbered into the tele-
phone alcove and rang frantically.
what you doing. honeyY' demand
ed Caleb
Tin ordering de Christmas dinner,
Of co'se | want de bgges' turkey
can git-hella we're. is dis de butcher?
Caleb executed double shuttle on
the parquet floor and then stopped
abruptly. "Oh. Lordy me. Is got to
git out and find Christmas tree for
dem ehillens and some green stuff and
holly. Well. dis am going to be \
Christmas at iast!"
HOw's This /?
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suv case Of Catarrh that cannot be cured by
Halls Catarrh Cure.
FL. CHENEY 4 co. Toledo O..
We. the undersigned have ksown T. j.
Cheney for the last Is years, and believe him
perfectly honorable in all business transactions
and financially able to carry out any oblgA-
tons made by his firm
wxLprso, KIxsAS 4 MARVIN,
Wholesale Druggists, Toledo, 0
Halls Catsrrh Cure is taken internally, act
ing directly upon the blood and mucous sur
faces of the system. Testimonials sent free
Price 75c per bottle. Sold by all Druggists.
Take Halls Family Pills for constipation.