Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1911-02-17

"Pm afraid I've spoiled your Christ
mas by objecting to the presents" she
said, with conjunction In her tone, as
she fingered by his side.
mot At all, my dear. wouldn't be
surprised Il this turned out to be the
happiest christmas we ever had"
For long while after his wife had
departed Ar. 'Tiddieberry waited in ST.
lence, and when he had quite deter
mined she must have retired he tip
toed softly to and fro between the par
lor and the hall closet under the
stairs, his stockinged feet making no
sound on the carpeted floor.
First he united package and look
ed with unstinted admiration upon n
cotton Grape kimono In gay tInts OF
red and yellow, pair Of brown kid
gloves and book that his wife had
longed for. He found pair Of stock
lngs In her darning basket and hung
one beside Linnie's, putting nuts and
candy and big orange In first. Then
he stuffed In the kimono and the
gloves and laid the book on the shelf
above It.
Into Llnnle's well filed stocking he
dropped tissue paper package con
tanning a silver bracelet, and into
BOb's there went pair of skates.
After he had solemnly executed a
highland fling on the hearth rug Mr..
Tiddleberry extinguIshed the lights
aud went to bed much pleased with
his own shrewdness,
Later Mrs. Tiddleberry arose from
beside her sleeping husband and crept
down in the darkness to hang one OF
his socks beside BOb's She heard him
stirring and fitted back again with
out noticing any additions to the row
Of stockings ON the shelf.
Just before daybreak Bobs door
opened softly, and u ghostly figure
made a journey down to the parlor
and returned. II was not until the
cold Christmas sun was peeping over
the rim Of the world and gliding Lin
ME Tlddleberry's bedroom window
that the little girl stirred from her
warm nest and tlmldly slipped down
the stairs over the prlcking carpet
Just as she reached her bedroom
door her fathers voice roared in mock
feroclty: MERRY Christmas! Who goes
thereT
me" cried Linnle. merry Christ
mas, everybody"
That was the signal for all the It'd
dleberrys to arise, for 1t was Christ
mas custom with them that they
should all. 20 downstairs together on
Christina morning Mr. Tiddleberry
looked very compliment and self salts
fed as he hurried into his clothes.
His wife was beaming with some hid.
den happiness, while Llnnie and Bob
sat on the top stair fully dressed aud
giggling joyfully.
1t was solemnly happy procession
that wended Its way down the stairs
that morning. Remember, children"
said Mrs. Tlddleberry, II told you not
to feel disappointed II Santa Claus did
not remember you very bountlfully
this year. Perhaps he has forgotten
you entirely. We are all 10 happy"
she looked around at the little group,
that IL seems us though we had ev-
cry gift that Christmas can bring,
health and one another and pence and
good Will"
And lots Of love-" burst out Llnnle.
"And the pleasure Of working for
each other" added Mr.. Tlddleberry en-
phatically as he opened the parlor door.
"Whoop-peep shouted Bob, making
a dash for his plethoric stocking.
"Ohp cried Llnnle dellghtedly.
"ohl" echoed her astonlshed mother
as she claimed her own stocking
Great smoker CALCULATED Mr. It'd
dleberry, feeling Of his own dependent
sock. whats here, Anne2 Wearing
out your pretty eyes over n knitted
scarf for mel And what Is this and
thisT He held two objects to view.
II gave you the knife, and I want n
penny 80 as not 10 cut friendship"
shouted Bob from the folds OF his bath
robe as he strapped on his skates, "and
I gave mother the halrbrush, and !
made Linnie the doll house out Of
soap box and some wall paper"
"And l gave you the pipe, father,
and the perfume IL for mother, and !
knitted the toboggan cap for Bob out
Of my old sweater-I unrayeled II"
cried Linnie breathlessly.
Mrs. TiddIeberry was crying softly
over the contents Of her stocking. 81
thought was the only one who could
sacrifice for the others" she said
sha mefacedly, but they all fell upon
her with caressos.
Bob" said his father. how did you
do IT."
"Sold my rabbits didn't want 'em
anyway" said Bob deHantly.
81 ran errands for Mrs Mosber, and
altogether | earned 40 cents" declared
Llnnie proudly.
"Anne, you made plum puddlngs."
accused her husband
ayes, and there's one for dinner, with
other good things" she said happily.
How about your, Henry2 How could
you afford ~ Does your delay In get
ting home nights account for ~"
Mr.. Tiddleberry nodded. Been clerk
ing In a bookstore nights to earn those
things. Bully plan too. Guess III do
II every year"
"This IL the best Christmas we ever
had" declared Bob enthusiastically as
be flung his arms about his mothers
neck.
~ guess II must be because we all
love each other so much" said Llnnie
saRely And that WAS really the SO.
cret Of the whole affair