The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1911-12-19
ESTABLISHED 1876

r. 49, 49, O-@A A0bA@A@A1
ut won't seem like Christmas eve,
Angela, unless you do run downtown
and do little shopping" leased her
husband
I'm safe this year." said Angela.
and she really believed that she was.
At odd moments during the next two
days Mrs. Ray stole up to the attic
and sorted out and wrapped up her
Christmas gifts.
The day before Christmas was given
over to the final preparations. A big
tree was placed in the sitting room
and the door locked against the guer-
rtlla like incursions Of the children.
Grandmother Ray was In the kitchen
directing the little maidserYant In the
stufing Of the turkey and keeping a
stern eye on the toothsome contents Of
the pantry. where the shelves were
laden with good things.
Mrs Ray was packing a market bas-
ket with good things for the Hogans,
who had had bad luck that winter and
were In need Rory Hogan, the father,
had broken leg on Thanksgiving day
and was still confined to chair, rest
less and unhappy at sight Of his frail
wife overtaxing her strength at wash
tubs and ironing board There were
two children besides and an aged
grandmother.
Let me see. There's the little
roast Of pork. some potatoes. apples,
turnips. onions. glass Of Jelly and a
mince pie" enumerated Mrs. Ray as
she twisted the top Of paper bag
containing nuts and candy for the lit
tie Hogans
did you put In tea and coffeeT'
asked thoughtful GRANDMOTHER Rag
Eyes, and q can of condensed milk
and some butter and bread-therel
told Mrs. Hogan to come around some
time this afternoon and get the bas-
kets. Her Jimmy is getting to be .
big boy. and he can carry this basket
Of food"
! How about the presents7 Are they
ready?" Grandmother had been max
Ing warm flannel nightgowns for the
entire Hogan family.
Eyes; everything is packed in the
big brown basket at the head Of the
stairs. couldn't tug II down. Jim
my Hogan can manage it. It's won-
derfuI how strong he Is when one con-
Biders what little nourishing food he
must get"
"They win be mighty happy" unused
Grandmother Ray as she sewed up the
turkey.
Mrs. Hogan came for her baskets at
moment when q hundred things de-
manded immediate attention In the
Ray household. Mrs. Ray was enter
tanning a caller In the parlor. and
grandmother was still holding sway
in the kitchen.
MAY tn Virgin bless all yer kind
hearrtsv' cried Mrs. Hogan as she en-
tered the fragrant kitchen. "Pvo
brought me Jimmy along to carry n
basket The young villun Is CROWN
fat in spite Of tn little he gifts to ate,
poor choild" Mrs. Hogan warmed
her red fingers over the glowing range.
and Jimmy sided close beside her and
accepted red apple and a handful OF
cookies from grandmother, with an
ecstatic grin on his freckled face.
'sThere is another basket at the head
OF the attic stairs. said grandmother.
II wonder II Jimmy Is able to bring %
DOWN."
"Shure. ma'am, I'm as strong az q
horse" assured Jimmy as grandmother
/ pointed the way up the back stairs.
"a big brown basket at the head Of
the attic stairs" she directed him, and
presently Jimmy came down. bearing
| its bulk cheerfully.
When Mrs. Hogan had departed,
leaving a shower Of blessings upon
the entire Ray family, GRANDMOTHER
finished her tasks and sought her
daughter-in-law. whose caller had just
departed.
| 1.-THE Hogans came and got their
things. Angela, said grandmother
| placidly. f - f17
81 am 80 glad! Did Jimmy bring the
basket from the attic"
Eyes. | told him it was at the head
Of the attic stairway, and he brought
it down. They were as happy as could
be, poor souls" said grandmother joy
ously.
II am glad, mother. You had better
| lie down now, and then, about 10
o'clock perhaps, you WIN feel able to
help Harry and me dress the tree"
| The Rays were still sitting around
| the supper table this Christmas eve
when the door opened suddenly ana
Mrs. Hogan appeared, bobbing delight
ed curtseys and streaming tears Of
blissful Joy.
"Oh, tbs the kind hear-rts yen have,
Mister Ray and familyP' she ejaculat-
ed, wiping her eyes. .'Niver hev tn
Hogans had SIGH Christmas in their
loves! Th' beautiful food. sure 1t made
our mouths wather Jist to look at I'll
4 An whin Hogan found his handsum
poipe wild tn goold band about 1t ana
his inishuls and all on it, he fair cried
wild Joy, he was that PLACED. An the
terbaccer! SEE he. 'Biddy Hogan.
they've even got me inishuls on tn
| poipe, though they be hindside before
his name being Rory Hogan and the
inishuls being H. R. Mister Rayr
Mrs. Hogan paused for breath and
| Henry Ray cast a startled glance at
his wild eyed wife.
"And poor gran mither-th' wonder
full shawl wild thick fringe-tiz Ike
blanket, and she has 1t on her bed this
minitI Owe put the worruk basket
an tn beads away aginst tn tonne
whin me little Maggie gifts older. but
Jimmy-th' poor spalpeen Is Almost
crazy wild JOY over tn movin' pictur
machine. May the Lord bless ali Of
yez fer the hndest people he ever
made" She wept noisily, and the
amazed Rays glanced at each other
and then at the motionless form Of
their mother.
Angela recovered herself with an
effort. Her lips trembIed. az she
mentally saw the mistake that had
been made. The excited Jimmy had
overlooked the brown basket at the
head Of the attic stairs, but his keen
young eyes had searched the depths
Of the attic and discovered the big
brown basket. In which the Christmas
gifts for her family were hidden. They
were all unmarked as yet, and so the
Hogan family had accepted them and
were rejoicing in their possession. and
It was too late to recover them Pa
tient Biddy Hogan had not marveled
that there was no present for herself
| the Joy Of her family was enough for
her.
Il have still another basket for yous
Mrs. Hogan" said Angela quietly. HIt
contains more useful things Henry,
win you bring It DOWN. It's-at the