The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1911-01-27

A
| eyes wide open
us that ALP? he asked when the
story was finished. "Tell me another"
"But, Joe, this Is a real, true story"
Joe looked skeptical. 'It's a nice
story" he said, "but l don't believe
It."
Miss Merton had cared for children
long enough to realize that the mind
Of an unframed child cannot be reach
ed by abstract reasoning. He under
stands by tangible demonstrations.
So she told Joe Of the Christmas fes-
tival and of the gifts that would come
to him on the birthday Of the Saviour.
She taught him a prayer which. IL he
said 1t every night, would make him
good boy.
Sometimes he confused his prayer
with the jingles she taught him and
said the rhyme of Little Bopeep'
instead of Nov lay me-"
She always came In the evening to
hear his prayer, and DR.. knight would
come and listen. But his LADY" never
spoke to DR.. Knight and never seemed
to know that he was near.
Christmas eve came. Miss Merton
took Joe down to the hospital chapel
in his wheeled chair. At the door he
shut his eyes tight for second and
then flashed them open.
The room was full of light and the
warm, sweet smell Of fresh pine
branches. Ropes of holly and ever
green draped the ceiling and the walls,
and from the ropes hung little red
bells-such CHEEKY little bells that they
seemed to send out with their rosy
color a Clsistmas greeting.
In the center Of the platform at the
end of the room stood the Christmas
tree.
1t was tall and wide and covered
with twinkling candles, glistening or
naments and packages tied with red
and green ribbons.
On the floor were piled more pack
ages, so many of them that the floor
was covered.
The patients were all there. Old
Miss Curtiss, palsied and helpless, was
in chair near the platform. Her face
was radiant, and occasionally she lifted
her one sound hand and pointed to the
tree.
Mr.. Furr, who two weeks before had
lost both legs, was brought in on
stretcher. The Oldest inhabitant, par
alytic, was wheeled in on her bed.
The convalescents with canes and
crutches sat in easy chairs or lay on
pillows on the chapel benches.
The surgeons in their evening clothes
on their way to Christmas eve dinners
had come in and were affecting the
antics of joyful small boys.
The first package taken from the
tree was for Joe. Another was laid in
his lap and another. They came fast.
They filed his chair and lay on the
floor around him.
There were toys Of all kinds, balls of
all sizes and colors, tops Of every style,
animals Of every material, banks with
pennies rattling In them, games, puz-
zles, paint boxes, picture books, a
lovely, many colored clown that waved
hoop.
There were shoes, stockings, under
kerchiefs and mittens.
After the happy child had been put
to bed and his toys placed where he
could see them DR.. Knight came In.
where's your lady, JoeT he asked.
Downstairs"
did she hear you say your pray.
ersY'"
yes, and she said her prayers too.
They aren't like my prayers. And she
cry-just little cry"
"What did she say when she pray
ed, Joe"
"She put her head down in my COW
ers, and she say, Dear father, love
him and I'm so lonely And she cry
and say something about Harold. Who's
Harold?"
Harold Knight dropped the childg
hand and hurried out Of the room and
downstairs to the chapel Miss Merton
was there alone. He walked quickly
up to her and took her hands.
Edith" he began-"Edith, I want
I love you'll
She stepped back and tried to draw
away her hands. The movement of
her head brought her cap close to a
candle on the tree. The thin null
famed suddenly into blaze. DR..
Knights fingers closed over the burn
ing cap, and the fire was extinguished
In his hand.
He drew out the pin that held the
cap In place and lifted from her un-
harmed hair the charred badge Of her
profession.
She caught his hand and tried to
open 1t. He clinched 1t and the cap I'm
It.
us 1t your cap you want?" he asked.
mo, your hand; It's burned"
"I've been suffering for weeks and
you haven't cared"
"You wanted silly Irritation, and if
you were hurt 1t served you right"
"Will you marry me, Edith? I shall
not ask for any more clandestine meet.
ings. I'll try to be patient till You
graduate. Can't you love me? You
love Joe and old Miss Curtiss and the
babies. Can't you care for me instead Z
OF for all those people?"
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