The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1911-02-23
A STORY FOR CHRISTMAS.
Why the Little Girl In the Car Had No
Bundles.

1T was near the middle of the after
noon. The ear was full of subur-
banites returning home laden with
purchases for the holidays.
A fair haired matron entered the car,
followed by a little girl. Both had
as many bundles as they could carry,
and when the elder of the two had
been provided with a seat there was
only one other to be had. 1t was by
the side of n large man with closely
cropped beard. The little girl was
duly installed in that seat, her pack
ages disposed of to her satisfaction.
and as the train started off she began
He had smiled at her and taken a part
of her burden on his own lap.
awful hard work buying so many
Christmas things, isn't it," she said.
YES. ii must be hard work"
"But l like it. I'd most rather buy
Christmas gifts than to go skating.
and I'd rather go skating than do
anything else 'cept eat candy-and go
to Sunday school," she added, pulling
down the corners of her mouth as if
with a sudden fear that she was be-
coming unduly frivolous.
That's my mamma over there-thaT
lady with the pretty hair. It's all her
own hair too. Don't you think my
mammals niceT
Indeed | do"
$50 does papa. He takes mamma on
his lap sometimes, just like she was
little girl. Don't you think she'd be a
pretty big armful?"
"H'm-nO; none too big"
"Well, | guess that's what papa
thinks. He's a big man-most as big
as you are. And he's just as strong
He carries me round on his shoulder
sets me up on it, you know. l hold
on by his head, and amt a bit afraid
You can't guess what I've got for my
papa In this bundle"
"a pound of candyT'
The little girl laughed gleefully.
mo. 'spect he's got lot of candy
for me. Guess again.
"A-a necktie?'
"No; 'tisn't that, either. Mamma
tends to his neckties. and they're al
ways just right"
Great SCI mean 1 don't doubt it."
YOU'D never guess. I'll have to tell
you. It's a mustache cup, just the
loveliest one could find, and it's aw-
full pretty. Papa, he's got great, long
black mustache. Wouldn't you think
1t would be dreadful unhandy to kiss
anybody with a long mustache?"
"Why-er''-
"Well, it isn't. You get used to it,
you know. When you want to kiss
anybody right bad you amt going to
let mustache stop you"
A tall young girl on the seat immedi-
ately in front of the two was seized
with a violent fit of coughing that
made her face startlingly red, and she
pulled down the blind to keep the sun
out Of her eyes.
"Most everybody In this car is load
ed down with Christmas things" went
on the little girl Its a good thing
your seat isn't full or I'd "a had 10
stand up. Don't you have any Christ
mas at your house,?
christmas? Yes, we always have
Christmas, of course"
Maybe you haven't got any little
folks?
'Oh. yes; I've got little girl about
your size"
rs she a good little girl"
Indeed she isl
Doesn't she ever pout?"
Never"
"Well, | do sometimes when they
won't give me another piece Of cake
Doesn't she ever go Off to some corner
and throw herself down on the lounge
and kick the floor with her toes and
say she's mad and hates everybody
Never"
"Never acts a bit cross and naughty q
"No. never"
"She must be dear little girl. Don't
you love her very much?"
Eyes; oh. yesr'
"Then why haven't you got your
arms full of Christmas presents to take
home TO herT'
Because she doesn't need them. nv
dear" said the man, gently strok;lg
his little friends glowing cheek. "She
has gone to live with the angels."-C
w. Taylor In Chicago Tribune.