Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-06


tanning a caller In the parlor. and
grandmother was still holding sway
in the kitchen.
MAY tn Virgin bless all yer kind
hearrtsr' cried Mrs. Hogan as she en-
tered the fragrant kitchen. I've
brought me Jimmy along to carry a
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 a red apple and handful OF
cookies from grandmother, with an
ecstatic grin on his freckled face.
There is another basket at the head
| of the attic stairs" said grandmother.
81 wonder If Jimmy is able to bring 1t
DOWN."
"Shure. ma'am. I'm as strong as
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.
THE Hogans came and got their
things, Angela" said grandmother
placidly.
81 am so glad Did Jimmy bring the
basket from the attic?'
| asvac 7 told him ff rCaa NJ fh< haah
Of the attic stairway, and he brought
It down. They were as happy as could
be, poor souls" said grandmother JOY
ously.
az am glad, mother You had better
lie down now, and then, about 10
o'clock perhaps, you will 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 and
Mrs. Hogan appeared. bobbing delight
ed curtseys and streaming tears Of
blissful Joy.
ooh, it's the kind hearts, yez have,
Mister Ray and family she ejaculat-
l ed, wiping her eyes. "Niver hev tn
/ Hogans had SIGH Christmas In their
II loves! TIL beautiful food, sure it made
our mouths wather jist to look at 1t!
An whin Hogan found his handsum
| poipe wild tn goold band about it and
| 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
Il poipe, though they be hindside before
II his name being Rory Hogan and the
II inishuls being Fl. r. Mister Ray"
Il Mrs. Hogan paused for breath and
y Henry Ray cast a startled glance at
his wild eyed wife.
"And poor gran mither-th' wonder
D. full shawl wild thick fringe-tiz like
blanket. and she has 1t on her bed this
mint! OPve put the worruk basket
e an TIL beads away aginst tn tonne
IL whin me little Maggie gifts older, but
e Jimmy-th' poor spalpeen is Almost
re crazy wild Joy over tn movin' pictur
d machine May the Lord bless all OF
It yez fer the kindest people he ever
p made" She wept noisily. and the
d amazed Rays glanced at each other
s. and then at the motionless form Of
IT their mother.
re Angela recovered herself with an
D. effort. Her lips trembled. as she
T. mentally saw the mistake that had
been made. The excited Jimmy had
4, overlooked the brown basket at the
"a head Of the attic stairs, but his keen
young eyes had searched the depths
e, Of the attic and discovered the big
IN brown basket, In which the Christmas
er gifts for her family were hidden. They
were all unmarked as yet, and so the
a, Hogan family had accepted them and
= were rejoicing in their possession, and
70 1t was too late to recover them. Pa
y tent Biddy Hogan had not marveied
Ell that there was no present for herself
the Joy Of her family was enough for
en- her.
lg 81 have still another basket for you.
I'D Mrs. Hogan" said Angela quietly. 'It
r. contains more useful things-Henry
n. will you bring it down? It's-at the
Ed head of the attic stairs"
" When Mrs. Hogan had staggered
! away under the weight of the second
Oh basket, which contained much sensible
re wearing apparel and things to crafty
her own meager vanity, Angela Ray
Is faced her dumfounded family.
II 'She got the wrong basketball your
III presents were inside-I had bought
H. everything-but somehow shall never
ay forget how perfectly happy she look
ST. edr'
All ooh, mother, dear! And so you will
III have to go shopping tonight, after allr'
70 cried Maude woefully.
gu Mr.. Ray had slipped from the room
-, and now returned with his wifes hat,
'io cloak and furs Without a word he
ss' invested her in them and put on his
own outdoor garments.
90 Mother and l are going shopping"
az he said. Were never again going to
H. buy beforehand-we are going every
Christmas eve-its the safest plan