Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1911-12-22

and Jim sat and talked in the long-un-
used dining room.
1t was dark now-too dark for the
neighbors to see the delivery wagon as it
drew up to the door-but Mrs. Adams
took care not to answer the first sum-
mons that it could stay a moment or
two longer. This failed signally to meet
the approval of the delivery boy, who,
with a second assault upon the door,
dumped the box on the steps and dashed
off with his wagon.
"Oh, JIM cried Mrs, Adams. Just
look here once"
She had tugged the box into the hall,
and now, in amazement, was tearing off
the wrappers. Look at the size of 1T,
will you? This can't be ours"
ITS Adams on the cover, and our
number, too" Jim reported. Let's have
a look"
That was exactly what his wife was
doing. Out from the depths came box
after box, and from the boxes came forth
a blue tea set, fiaxen- haired doll baby,
a drum and a gitterng trumpet"
"Oh, JIM" The woman cried ectat-
icaly. do you s'pose anybody sent them
to us?"
who's there to send?" he answered
glumly. mo, these are for other kids,
girl. There are plenty of Adamses. Put
'em away, and the store will send for 'em
day after tomorrow"
But what have we got to give our
kids? They didn't leave us our things"
It's just our luck" he muttered.
Tut see!' She was stripping some
! bulky object of its wrappers. It's the
cutest dappe rocking horse with a real
saddle and bride! Wouldn't Jimmie just
! love to see that?"
"Well, don't let him see it or he'll bawl
all day" The man turned, and stumb-
led upstairs to their bedroom with a
show of gruffness to cover his sore
| heart.
We've got the kitten. anyhow" he
| called back"
The woman began putting the toys
away slowly, with lingering loving fin
gers. Seems like, when they kept our
things, we could have just one of these
| till ours come" she cried mutnously, car
| essing the wee blue cups with her work.
roughened hands. Then she rose and
stole softly to the kitchen. There in one
corner lay Bobbie. her eldest his thin
| face anxious even in sleep. Jimmie S
curls showed just above the blanket
within the circle OF his brothers protect
ing arms. They were great chums those
boys. Bob, who knew of the forthcom-
ing hobby horse had yielded to the little
fellows demands, and pinned an appeal
| ing stocking to the window ledge. Be-
side it hung another, one of Bobbie' S
own, but a large inscription in his boy
ish hand announced that it was for his
bulged round shape-an orange bought
with a scanty hoard.
The mothers eyes filled over the little
Offering. mo one ever had better boy
than mine," she thought.
There were no stockings visible on the
other side of the room where Katie ano
the baby slept, but as Mrs. Adams stood
looking down on them sudden move
ment of the seepers disclosed pinned t
the under side Of the quilt small soci
and stocking that betrayed that Katie's
practical soul held yet CLEAN of child
ish hope.
Mrs Adams fled back to the hall. Then
her arms full of packages, she tiptoe(
again into the room. I'm going to be-
leve some one sent them to u.s." sh'
said, doggedly, to herself IN tell thu
store folks so anyway, 1t won't hurt 'en
to have the children borrow them
day"
The fierce hunger that had burned il
her since she first touched the toys drov
her on determinedly. Her heart held n
: timid questonings, only a grim, strange
ly glad resolution. Into the babys socl
she crammed some round rubber balls
the horn quite filled Jimmie's, and tn
drum and rocking horse rested beside II
The tea set and doll were put tenderl
= back into their boxes and laid besid
, Katie, while a pair of skates were mani
testify intended by Providence for Bob
| Dle 3 brave, unWearleu Ieel.
f At the bottom of the box bit of pap
5 er fell out. Mrs. Adams read 1t slowl
4 in the Pickering candle-light. 1t was tn
D bill of sale and the account was charge
n to Mrs Charles d. Adams, "a Sumne
e Place. Mr.. Charles D. Adams was Jim
t former employer. There was swii
motion, and the bill lared to flame
4 the light of the candle, and then fell
black flakes to the floor.
t II don't care" the woman told hersel
f fiercely. 1T was their blacklist the
o kept us from having a Christmas of OF
J., own. They have so much they'll nevt
d miss these tomorrow, and Wen retur
them the day after"
r At midnight, Mrs. Adams of Sumn'
a Place was putting the finishing touch'
q to her Christmas tree.
did you bring in all the toys?" 81
S inquired of the tired maid. Il brougl
IS some last things this afternoon"
D. This bundle came tonight, ma'am.'
It what, that little thing!" Mrs. Adam
is eyed the small parcel Indignantly "Wh
s. / ordered horse for Clinton, and dru
v and some skates for the paper boy.
k wonder If it's too late to telephone?'
t, IT'S nearly midnight, maam."
N "Well, If that isn't provoking! Clinic
d will be cross. What's in this, anywa!
70 1t must be Graces doll"
lie Out from the wrappings fell doll, Il
Is deed but a piteous, cotton limbed ere