The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-12-14
By JULIA CHANDLER MANI.


The-Little-old-Lady sat watching the
blue flames lap the pine logs hungriiy'
and leap up the chimney in glee.
moment ago the Goodman, who had &C
companied her through almost half
century, had sat beside her, and they
had been talking of Christmas and The
Seven.
Flew long has It been since We had
them all at home or Christmas Day,
the Goodman had asked suddenly, and
lump so big had risen UP in the throat
of The-LittIe-O ld-Lady that she had to
swallow hard before she could answer.
Not since Margaret was married"
she tcld him.
Eleven years. murmured the Good
Man.
But" said The-Little-o ld-Lady, in
quick defense of the absent family, as is
much the way of mothers, but, OF
course, we can expect them home on
Christmas now that they all have fami-
lies of their own. Every one wants to
be In their own home on Christmas
Day"
II reckon you're right, Mother" the
Goodman answered her, but neither
The-Little-Old-Lady nor her Goodman
were comfoTtedy by the explanation she
gave of the eleven Christmas holidays
they had spent alone in the old home
music OF young voices at this glad sea-
son,
-And you know" added The-Little-o Old
Lady, they always send US generous
gifts" Whereupon the Goodman re-
membered that the mail was in from the
North, SO he left The=Little-O ld-Lady
sitting alone in the light of the waning
December day watching the blue flames
lick the pine logs lovingly.
The shadows nj twilight 71led the r0r-
ners of the room and still the Goodman
had not come back from the Post ONCE.
The-Little- Old-Lady grew drowsy in the
fire-glow, and slipped away into the
Land of Dreams, where heart-aches and
'heart-yearnings are sometimes tempo
rarily assuaged. 1t was Christmas Day
in the Land of Dreams There was
tree such as she had not seen since
the youngest of her babies had become
a man, and gone away to deck trees in
honor Of the Christ-Child in home of
his own. Around the dream tree danced
the bright-eyed youngsters who called
her grandmother. the house rang with
their little squeals Of delight when gifts
were opened. She was all aglow with
her happiness and theirs when suddenly
the touch of the Good-Man's hand on
her shoulder brought her back to the
quaint old room with its old-fashioned
fireplace.
dazed for a moment to ask il the mail
had brought a message from any Of thu
seven, and when she had quite rubbed
the sleep from. her eyes she looked into
the face of the Goodman and did not
net to ask. His mouth was set in
straight, hard line, and he looked be-
yond her into the leapins flames sent up
TT is Christmas Eve" said the Good
Man, YEARLY.
You mustn't blame the children"
whispered their mother, they have SO
many demands upon them now that their
families are larger. Maybe they can't
afford to be sending gifts to us-but did
think they'd write US wee line just 10
let US know that they sort OF remern-
bered us"
The Goodman made no reply because
there was obviously nothing to say. He
had become used to spending the giadest
Holiday of all the year alone with The
I.ittle-OId-Lady, but always the chill
Gren had remembered them generously
with gifts and messages of love.
Now it was Christmas Eve and Of let
tiers or gifts there were none.
When Sarah, the maid-of-all-work, came
TO tell her mistress that supper was
ready she was so excited that even The
Little ld-Lady, who was much absorbed
in her own sad thoughts, could not help
but notice.
Whatever is the matter with you,
sirIP'' questioned the Goodman, when
Sarah upset the gravy, the third offense
of its kind since the simple meal had
begun, and she giggled her way out Of
the room in a very strange fashion, in
deed.
ct is Christmas in her bones" offered
The-Little-O ld-Lady sadly, an explana-
tjou which seemed to satisfy the Good
Man, for he finished his meal in silence,
and smoked his evening pipe without his
usual CHEEKY comment upon the affairs
of the village in which they lived.
But when Sarah insisted on hustling
The-Little-O ld-Lady into bed an hour
earlier than usual with no explanation