The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1911-12-23
some poor to feed-there always had

soine poOr U leeu-tueIc always uuo
been so far.
Then came the oath day Of Decem-
Der. heavy snowstorm and much en-
barrassment for the old couple. Each
had secretly sent all the children pres
ents and letter, neither mentioning
the other. and the lawyer had called
on them and told them that 1t was
time to drop the divorce business and
make up or push 1t and have 1t over
with. They almost drove him from the
house, and he laughed as he went down
the street.
About noon John came in, gruff and
shy, and put great armful Of holly
on the white kitchen table. She looked
at him till he explained.
"May Carr give it to me. They had
too much Mt the church, and she give
me no chance to say didn't want it
you know Mays way. She said the
Christmas tree was the biggest the
church ever lad and there were more
children needing things. She asked II
you had anything pretty or useful you
didn't want, and said ! would ask
YOU"
They had missed the church woeful-
ly and had always helped out with ev-
erything. They had always been cheer
full and charitable. This appeal touch
ed them both.
Mary rummaged about and sent an
offering that rejoiced the hearts Of
those who were trimming the tree.
John took 1t to the church, and every
body shook hands with him and in the
general gladness seemed to have for
gotten that anything was wrong.
About A. while Mary was alone rest
ing after putting up all the holly, n
telegram came for John. She did not
know where re was. and she suffered
the usual agony Of simple people un-
accustomed to receiving kilograms. She
dared not open 1t and imagined the
death and burial of all her children
and grandchildren, one after the other.
While she was In this frame Of mind
another message came. and the boy
had scarcely gone when third arriv-
ed. Then she sent a neighbours boy
for her husband and received him al
most fainting. He was as frightened
as she. but the first read: Meet g
o'clock train tonight. Mary" The Sec
ond said: Meet q o'clock train to-
night. Paul" The third babe him
meet the G o'clock train and was sign
ed elizabeth" While they stood star
ing at each other boy brought an
other. This was different.
"AIeet 8 o'clock train from west for
little Christine. Alice died suddenly
yesterday. Mother. give her home
till can get to you. Letter Inter" 1t
was then. They stood staring mo-
ment. and then Mary fell to Diling
wood on the fire and spoke briefly to
John.
Father. you'll have to hurry TO get
to that train" He went out TO the
barn and htched the team to the dou-
hle cutter. When he came back he
lifted down to their grandmother's
arms her daughter Mary's three chill
drcn. three OF Pauls and one of Eliza
beth's. They were all laughing and
shouting. and each was ticketed "Aler-
~ Christmas am n gift to grandpa
and grandma"
They were barely fed and warmed
when John went to the later train and
returned with the motherless three
year-old Christine in his arms. She
had been put in the conductors care
and was sound asleep, with tears on
her cheeks and her yellow curls tou-
sled. OH her grandfather's shoulder.
Her grandmother reached up for her.
John" she said. ''she is ours. We
must keep things together for the chill
dren. John. I'm awfully ashamed Of
how hard I've been. and / amt asham-
ed to say so. VIII you forgive mer'
He stopped suddenly and kissed her
as he put the child In her arms.
"AIa," he said, 1--WE been an old fool.
and I'm the one to blame. I'lrgo and
straighten things ut church. and IL
you'll have me for Christmas pres
ent all right" And she smiled hap
PLY up at him.