Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-12-13
1%heForgotten
Christmas
1t Turned Out the Happiest
One Of Ills Life
BY CLARlssA MACKIE

~ WIS very Vulei III tue SlHttlH h"hA'
Of Roger Burdick. Servants lifted
noisclcssly through the halls, and now
and then the chime Of u golden tongued
clock broke the silence. From the
library came the monotone of Mr.. Bur
dicks voice debating to his secretary.
THAT will do for today. Henry" said
MIR Burdick as the young man laid
the neatly typed letters on his desk
Tomorrow morning you may begin on
the translation Of that Simonieff man.
useript No hurry about il; ! shall
spend the day NJ the museum and will
not need you for anything else"
Tomorrow will he Christmas day
said Henry Lees.
And this is Christmas eve. Well.
Henry. that puts another face upon
the matter OF course You will not
come tomorrow wait moment.
please lie drew his check book To.
ward him and wrote rapidly
Il wish you a merry Christmas.
Henry" he said pleasantly.
Thank YOU very much MIR Bur
dick. said Henry. tucking the gencr-
Gus check IN his pocket and holding
out his hand II wish YOU many hap
ny returns of Christmas day"
For long while after he was left
alone Roger Burdick sat there staring
into the glowing heart of the fire.
II was Christmas eve. and he had
forgotten.
He closed his eyes. and in RETROSPECT
tion other Christmas ewes came and
went. from the joyous days OF his
childhood until the time when he had
asked Doris Allen for the greatest
gift In her power 10 bestow and she
had refused That was black Christ
mas indeed and. being n lonely young
man. il made him more lonely. so that
as time went by he grew TO detest the
anniversary that brings all hearts Ia.
geiher and for II few brief hours makes
all men brothers
Nonsense" he chided himself sharp
~ IL must call up MIR Hodges and
ask him 10 get ont those books for me
in readiness for tomorrow ! shall
have busy day"
He drew the telephone toward him
scum. who Informed him In a tone 81
reproof that the library Of ancient
documents as well rs all other depart
ments OF the institution would he clos
cd the next day
Roger Hur,lick pushed back his chair
and went 10 the dining room. Uncle
Peter the butler. had darkcncd the
room SO that Roger in cropping for the
sideboard. where there was n carafe
Of water found himself In the dim
GOODNESS Of the buffers pantry. The
sliding window into the kitchen was
wide open and from that room came
the sound of animated voices. Rogers
own name mentioned in tones of inf
mite compassion detained him for a
moment
Nanny Jo was speaking.
Pore MaSsa Roger He's .ettln' 10
look n heap Ike his Uncle Roger. who's
daid. this berry mint cause he loved y
lady who wouldn't mah'ry him.
"'Taiu't no scusc. nahow. 10 him
to get mean ana rantamkerons and stop
k'epin' christmuSs bccaws he's dis
pinted IN love" .rumhled Sukey the
housemaid.
Oats right. chile: he can't stop
Christmuss comm right straight or.
long ehcry yeah
NANNY" said Uncle Peter lis yo'
done got present 10 Marse Roger
"Shorc | has" returned the old WON
an warmly Amt ! been Savin' n
present 10 him each yeah and not gii
tin no chance 10 give II 10 him:
Cause why: Chile. dat man has made
II n pint To run away cbcry Christ
muss. What he rink care 10 u
dress patterns he ordered sent 10 me-
from de store: What Uncle Peter here
care 10 De gold spectaclcs MasSa i,o.cr
order sent him 70 Chrlstmuss: Hey:
Muffin. 'Taiu't de coSt-it's de- givln
OF II dat I 'prcriates. I'd rather MaSSa
Roger say like he useter before dat gay
Miss Allen done give him de mltten
say: iii dcre. Aunt 10. merry Christ
muss to YOU. | hopes you done got u
big turkey is got Christmuss ap
pertite" Nowadays he pcrtendS deere
amt no Christmuss But. Peter
Hey" asked Peter.
''Massa Roger amt gwine away dis
time. He done forgot II was Christ
muss"'
''Lawdy" CALCULATED Peter.
lie shore did Aud now all YOU
chillcns kin get out dem presents You
got laid erway 10 Massa Roger bat
pore man won't have a yearihy cir to-
morrer morun' 'cept what We gives
him"
The other black servants glggled
childishly aud broke into m excited
chorus as Roger Bnrdirk tiitocd ont ~
the buffers pantry. through the dining
room aud back 20 his library. where Ii"
stood IN the middle ~ the floor nn1
looked around him with the dnzcd -
preston -, u man who has ipsi awak
encd from u long sleep
sIBur.. MnSS4 Ra.sprfs.' Ia r..t,..af..I