Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1912-12-21
Some Christmas Stories for Big and Little


when he, too, turned his head and
looked into mothers lovely eyes.
"How-de-do, WlllT she said softly.
saw father cllnch his hands tightly,
then, "How-de-do, Nell2" he returned.
awful block, isn't itp
"Oh, very badp said mother, but she
was looking at me sitting so proudly
at fathers side, and presently caught
the suspicion of tear In her eyes. Di-
rectly a big lump came In my throat
| saw how 1t was. Mother was think
Ing Of Christmas and Of her little girl,
and | was sorry, sorry for her and for
father too. The surface cars banged
their bells, the policemen shouted and
the cabbles swore And all the while
our hanson was jammed tightly next
to mothers, and we sat staring straight
at each other and saying not word.
Just then policeman came up to
mothers hanson and shouted to the
cabby. It seemed that the left wheel
Of mothers hanson was locked in the
right wheel of another carriage In such
a way as to render 1t unsafe to pull
out. The policeman, who Of course
knew nothing Of our affairs, said:
"Step across into the hanson next to
you, ma'am. Its wheels are safe, and
Pm thinking the line will be moving
north FIRST"
Poor mother flushed cruelty and said
not a word, but just sat there looking
with pleading eyes at father But IA
ther didn't move, and neither did he
speak, so | took the situation In my
two small hands and said:
"Father, won't you help mother into
our cabW
Directly spoke to father he was all
attention and pollteness. He stood up
and held out his hand to mother and
carefully helped her across into our
hanson, believe mother would never
have come only she knew that a great
many persons had heard me and were
watching us, and so she yielded grace.
fully, as mother alone can.
When she was In our cab and sitting
down with me squeezed in between
father and herself, she raised her eyes
and said quietly:
"Thank you, Will"
A moment later the line started,
slowly moving northward, and our
hanson went with the others, father
and mother and were sitting side by
side. II seemed so good Just to think
Of 1t, although ! knew 1t all came Of
an accident alone.
After we had gone two blocks up.
town, father spoke-very quietly and
with tightly pressed lips.
"I'll speak to the man and tell him
to stop at the next corner. Then I'll
get out and you and Billie can have the
cab to yourselves"
"There is no need for you to get out
WILL" mother told him quickly. 1T Is
| who am the intruder Have him stop
please, and ! will find another han.
SOM"
81 wouldn't have you do that for the
world" he returned. II shall leave you
at the next corner; that is settled"
Mother put out her hand and let II
rest lightly on fathers arm.
"Will," she cried, please don't make
me feel worse than | already do
was forced in your cab, by accident II
Is true, but nevertheless, did allow
you to help me enter It. But that was
because-people were watching us -
and | thought-it best. Now that we
are out of the tangle, must thank
you and ask you to set me dowu--at
oncel Else shall never forgive you"
And they continued to talk, and the
honsom continued on its way, and no
body but myself noticed that we had
got well uptown and were within two
blocks of the apartment building in
Central Park West, where mother and
live.
So, quite unobseryed, spoke up the
tube to the cabby, and said;
"rhe Strathmore. and quick, pleaser
We turned down cross street into
another, and before one could say
Jack Robinson" we had stopped at
the door of the Strathmore.
"Ohl" cried mother
what Is thisY frowned father
But he leaped out on the snow GOV.
cred pavement and gave mother his
hand A moment later we all hurried
up the steps and-stopped in the lobbyl
THANK you" said mother, you are
very kind"
Father laughed. "Oh, not at ALL" he
told her This is not a case of being
kind exactly"
Wont you come ln-for llttle-a
cup OF tea, perhapsY asked mother
slowly.
| don't know what father would
have answered, so | took no chances.
"Do come" cried. and looked at
mother to further second my invita-.
ton
"Yes, do" she said, without raising
her eyes,
Thanks, wilv cried father and
we all went up IN the elevator together
When we were safely in mothers
pretty sitting room and | had securely
locked the door slipped away and
left them together Somehow II seemed
as II they would get along better with
out me just then, and, besides, | think
had helped u lot as It was TOR a mere
little girl, don't youy
An hour luter-it seemed hours and
hnurs Iotnr oIth,p,,n 10 ,,,u,. ...,....,.