The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1912-12-26

quaiHted hy morning" They went on
arranging he pretty things they had
provided till they were all IN their
proper places. theD4 ulrped off the lights
and went out. Slntting the door be- |
hind them. lea wing VIZ IN the dark,
telt the hand. OF my conpanionp doll
boy against mine. and II gave me com |
fort. for there ~ nothing | dread so
much as the dark. Hut there was no
warmth IN it, suh as there. Is ind
human hands, so that only felt com
forted at knowing there was some one
near me.
When morning came ! could hear lit |
| tie voices somewhere In, the house
shouting in great gee didn't know
what il meant till afterwsrd when |
learned that the childrea were taking
down their stockings ald diving into,I
them to see what Santa Claus had left
for them After awhile the shouting
ceased and | heard nothing more until
late IN the AFTERNOON when the Lady
abd gentleman and several other
grown persons came in. Tley closed
the blinds to the window thought IL
tuOy ulu IL " Siiut Out the hSht' tt
was useless, for the darkness had fall
en- Then the children were called in
and saw them for the first time IF
fe was about seven years old. and a
strong healthy child. while Jack was
rather delicate. Etfie had dark hair
and eyes. while jack was fair, with
light curls
Jacks father handed the little fellow
q burning match and said. You may
lieht the first candle, my boy" Jacks
eyes We're as big as butter plates as
he held the flame to the wick OF one
of the lower candles After that the
others began to light the rest of the
candles. and in few minutes all were
glowing even up to those just beneath
the cardboard angel on the tiptop Of
the tree.
, But what was Effie doing all this
while? The moment she entered the
room she saw me at the base of the
tree, and. getting down on her knees
before me- read the card In my lap,
, then took me up in her arms and gave
, me a hug that | shall never forget
, Like q little mother she carried me
, about the room, holding me up for each
person to admire All said that l was
the prettiest doll they had ever seen,
, and | confess ! began to be puffed up
with pride.
. Jack. after he had lighted the first
!, candle, began to look about for his
presents and soon saw his doll boy
[ But he didn't make as much fuss over
: him as his sister did over me. | sup
pose this Is because boys never be
come mothers-enly fathers-as girls
do after they have grown up.
Well the tree was kept lighted for
an hour, during which everybody ad
Tnired 1t. and confess | never felt sc
pleased with anything. The glow from
SO many tiny candles was so soft that
1t seemed as If it must come from
heaven. There was present on OF
under the tree for each grown person
every one having been carefully provid
ed for.
When the candles began to be burn
ed down to their supports they were
blown out, and all left the room, Jack
carrying his boy doll and Etfie carry
ing me. The children went to the
nursery. where there was bright fire
Of logs burning ON the hearth, ano
there they played with their Christmas
gifts till ii was time to go to bed.
couldn't keep my eyes off Jack, he was
such pretty boy. but he didn't seen
to take much interest in me, Though
he was delicate, he seemed to have q
martial spirit within him, for he play
ed with some leaden soldiers Santa
Claus had brought him all the while
0 standing them up in ranks with theiI
captain at their head. furnishing him
3 self the music for them to march by or
his drum and his trumpet.
BY and by the lady came into the
room and undressed the children her
self-there was no nurse, and fancied
, the mother would not give up the care
> of her children to any cne-put oI
. their nighties and heard them say then
prayers. Then before going to then
bedroom Ettie gave me hug ana sci
; me on a chair by the fire "lpolll
will be cold" she said cause the fire
is nearly burnt ont So size put on
} some more wood As they went out
wished ! had vince To say "Gm-d
night, Jack; wish you would gIre ~"
} a kiss before you "a tu tt'd I;ut Jacl,
forgot me in his soldiers. whom he
wished to, take TO bed with him. But
his mother persuaded Rim TO leave
them in the ranks till morning.
AS soon as | was alone the fire took
fresh start and burned brightly. |
was sitting very near It and soon be
came too warm. ] couldn't move back
because was only doll to be moved
by others and not by myself. The fire
kept burning warmer and warmer till
at last | felt something drop on my
shoulder and knew that II was wax
from my cheek.
NV little mother had been too kind