The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-12-27
CATCHING UP WITH CHRISTMAS

BY MARY DAVIS.
Sydney was very much in earnest.
His blue eyes biazed as he flung back
his head and closed his mouth as
tightly as General Grant himself.
We simply have to make him catch
up with Christmas he urged. Don't
you remember how he moped all day
Fourth of July. and he wouldn't even
come down to the table Thanksgiving
Day? But well make him catch up
with Christmas"
The cousins stared hopelessly into
his brilliant eyes until Margaret bega n
to talk IT went up into the attic
she droned in her curious. harsh voice
that made even the dullest cousin see
what she was talking about. and /
crawled away into the cubby hole
where 1t was pitch dark and stayed
there until I knew how It felt to he
/ should want for Christmas II were
Jamie" She held out a small hand
that looked as If 1t might have been
carved out of marble and counted of
impressiveiy, Things ] could hear,
things that smell sweet. things that
are nice to. feel and things that are
alive"
There was Il little burst OF applause
and the cousins all started to talk at
once.
.One of Queenie's puppies. Uncle
Fred said ] could have one, but III
give it to jamie"
Put our money together and buy
him n graphophone. Grandpa'll help
II we haven't money enough
Learn Christmas carols and sins
them under his window, and. oh, yes!
Well hang little strings of bells on his
he'd after he's asleep and ring them
Christmas morning This was from
Paul. the cousin who was always in
venting somethir
Roivpoly PHYLLIS biushed and smiled
as a lovely idea flashed into her busy
little head Then JAMES mother in
terrupted the lively Christmas confer
ence A year ago she had been the
merriest and prettiest of all the aunts
but now the roses IN her cheeks were
faded and there were silver threads
among the fine brown hair Jamie
wants one OF you to come and read
TO him" she said little YEARLY
There was q tiny moment of silence
In his heart of hearts Sydney hoped
Margaret would volunteer. while she
thought of Paul ''FH GO" sang out
rosy Phyllis, and she scampered away
AZ IL she was going to a party insteat
of rea ding to a silent, moody lad who
sat with his face buried in his hands
and never spoke a word
Svaney's brilliant blue ewes d'mmed
a little ut was better for her To go
he argued to the others. because the
rest Of us have to pick out the bes,
ideas and stick to them"
'"Of course" agreed the others. and
they settled down the best they could
to the Christmas conference again.
The brief sun-clipped December
DAYS sned bv while Margaret dreamed
and sydney gave orders and ROSY
PHYLLIS and the others obedlently did
what they were told. At last it was
Christmas morning In Jamie's big
pleasant chamber a score Of little bells
tangled merrilv TO usher In the dav
OF DAYS Az he opened his sightless
ewes and sat IN wonderinKlv dozen
carols that every Christian child
should sing on Christmas morning
God rest we, merry gentlemen" IT saw
three ships a-sa'isng." and Come all
We faithful" and all the others And
Jamie smiled and forgot himself.
"Merv Christmas. Jamie" roared
the merry chorus. And Merry Christ
mas answered James steadily. II a
little zoberly 80
breakfast was success. too. The
great snravs of baisam pina gave forth
little not OF heiotrope on the table
which Jamie pulled towards him and
kent shifting as he ate a really re-
sne~tahle hrnakfa st. And sober Jamie
actually laughed aloud when the
puppv Jumped IN on his Ian and
licked his face with moist. red
tongue SO the first half OF the morn
ing was as .orlv as the bells on the
little DOGS collar.
And then ii wore on to 10 o'clock.
sydney stole up into the piavroor1 TO
insDect HIS new car1era PHYLLIS disap J..
peared and MARGARET got lost In fas-
einating girls hook. Paul the in
ventor. was scowing earnestly ever
his small brothers engine, which was
in a At OF sulks already. Even the
brown puppy wriggled away in pur-
suit OF the naughty AnRora cat. and
Jamie was left alone with Cbristnaa