The Washington times., 1913-01-01
For The Times Children
Just Before It's Bedtime
CHARLES CHRISTMAS CHASE.

TT was Christmas Eve and heavy
snow was falling. 1t filled the
great Canadian forests and hid the
road to the lumber camps till river
and field all looked alike-one vast sheet
CT white shimmering in the cold moon
light.
On the side of a wooded hill stood q
cable Of rough logs. the light shining
out into the shadow of the trees. and
the smoke curling up into the chill air.
Within it group were gathered about
huge s-e that snapped and cast a
ruddy glow on the bare floor. the wood
en- benches, and the rough walls. There
were a woman. two young children and
large lad of about fourteen.
Charlie" said the woman, father
has been gone now for a week, and he
was to have been back four days ago.
Here 1t is Christmas Eve. and there IL
nothing in the house for the children
not stick of candy, not toy
Charlie looked at the two stockings
hanging Imply against the chimney.
Then he glanced at the children in their
gowns watching the fianes.- their faces
lighted by the happy. hopes of a visit
from Santa.
Its too bad he said to himself; .1
only wish could help Mrs. Brown"
But Charlie was a poor boy who had
been but a few weeks in the camp. liv-
ing with the Browns. who gave him a
home for his help. He had little money,
and the only store In that part of the
woods was at least six miles away up
the river.
If the father, Mr.. Brown. had only
gotten back IL would have been all
right. But he had been gone now for
a week and there were no signs of his
return. No wonder the mother was
worried and Charlie unhappy at the
way things looked on Christmas eve.
No father, no toys. and two kiddies
expecting Santa to visit them before
morning.
Charlie looked out at the frozen river
and a thougSa came buzzing into his
brain-why not skate to the store. get
some things and get back before night.
He had s. in an old sack and that
would help. Ten minutes later Charlie
swung out of the door and in ten min
utes more he was skimming over the
ice like a bird
Keep the light burning before the
window" he had said to Mrs. Brown
as he left. He looked back and saw its
rosy gleam shining far over the snow.
BY 10 he was at the store and in half
an hour he had started on his return
But Il was cloudy now. The moon was
hidden in fog and snow began to fall.
On and or he sped. his skates ringing
clear out OF frosty air, and mile after
mile was left behind. Suddenly out of
the woods on his let came the awful
howl of wolves. Then the dark shadows
dashed out on the ice after him. Like
the wind he sped on, and by spinning
in a wide circle when rounding bend,
he managed to get far in front
AS he struck out with fresh force
he saw a sled just in front OF him
with a man lying unconscious across
1t. He had evidently fallen asleep
from the cold, resting on his pack
ages. and would freeze or be eaten
by the wolves. So Charlie without
stopping. caught the rope of the sled
and skated with double energy. Be
hind he could hear the howl OF the
wolves again on his track. howl
that rang amongst the trees ana
swept over the wastes OF snow, dying
away in the forest winds. Faster
and faster they came on. but the boy
dashed on like mad. jerking the sled
at his heels
Another bend in the river and he