The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1912-12-21

: Then the children were called In
I'd saw them for the first time. Eff
l was about seven years old. and
srong healthy child. while ~ was
rther delicate Effie had hair
! Cd eyes. while Jack " Eith
tght curls.
Hacks father hal wv
burning mats may
Ahel1 the wick of one
Il ahdles. After that the
Gers began to light the rest Of the
/ enlieS. and in a few minutes all were
| eowfrIg even up to those just beneath
| te Cardboard angel on the tiptop OF
free.
| tut what was Effie doing all this
! Nile? The moment she entered the
Tom she saw me at the base OF the
lee, and, getting down on her knees
| Afore me, read the card in my lap.
| zen took me up in her arms and gave
he hug that shall never forget
ike little mother she carried me
bout the room, holding me up for each
3arson to admire All said that l was
tie prettiest doll they had ever seen.
| md | confess I began to be puffed up
With pride.
Jack, after he had lighted the drst
sandle, began to look about for his
presents and soon saw his doll boy.
EBut he didn't make as much fuss over
ls1im as his sister did over me. l sup
| pose this is because boys never be-
come mothers-only fathers-as girls
10 after they have grown up.
Well, the tree was kept lighted Tor
| IN hour, during which everybody ad'
nired 1t, and ! confess | never felt 30
pleased with anything. The glow from
80 many tiny candles was so SOFT that
II seemed as IL it must come from
Ieseaven. There was present on OF
Kinder the tree for each grown person.
I&eyery one having been carefully provid'
ed for,
n When the candles began to be burn
led down to their supports they were
blown out, and all left the room, JACK
|sIcarrying his boy doll aud Effie carry
hing me. The children went to the
Nursery. where there was bright hre
lof logs burning on the hearth. and
E{there they played with their Christmas
1plfts till 1t was time to 20 to bed
ieouldn't keep my eyes off Jack. he was
teuch pretty boy. but he didn't seen
Ito take much interest In me. Though
be was delicate, be seemed TO have
martial spirit within him. for he play
led with some Ieaden soldiers SAINTS
RNClaus had brought him all the while
Nstanding them up in ranks with thei'
4 beptain at their head. furnishing him
the music for them to march by OF
drum and his trumpet.
By and by the lady came into th'
room and undressed the children her
self-there was no nurse, and ! fancfet
the mother would not give up the carr
sof her children to any one-put OF
Zfheir nighties and heard them say thei
rayers. Then before going to thei
edroom Effie gave me hug and Sc
be on chair by the fire. dolly
I'M be cold" she said. cause the dr'
nearly burnt out So she nut =
g0n1e more = AS rney went OUT
wished had d voice to say. "Good
night. Jack: wish you would give me
a kiss before you 60 to bed" But Jack
forgot me in his soldiers. whom he
wished to take to bed with him. But
his mother persuaded him to leave
them in the ranks till morning.
AS soon as | was alone the fire took
q fresh start and burned brightly.
was sitting very near 1t and soon be-
came too warm. ! couldn't move back
because | was only a 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 1t was wax
from my cheek.
My little mother had been too kind
10 me. too solicitous for my comfort.
Just as human mothers often bring up
their children too tendery. and when
adversely comes they have no strength
to bear it. Desiring to keep me warm.
she had made me SO hot that was
melting away. What would she feel
II. lying in her crib. she could know
that I was giving way before the hot
Ore?
Presently my hand. that stooh
straight out before me. began to melt.
and then my feet. my legs. my arms.
and at last | felt my head running
down all over my body. The wax
dropped on the floor. and at last | WAS
nothing more than a headless. limbless
trunk.
In the morning the maid came into
the room and. seeing what had hap
pened, uttered an exclamation Of sur
prise. Then she got a dustpan and a
brush broom and took up the wax
from the floor.