Graham guardian., 1914-01-09

IL guess | will. And Belle Sturgls
said she'd die happy If she could have
some of her great-grandmother's old
bedquilts."
Give her some"
81 WILL" decided Jane. And Sarah
Smith can have the cherry table. and
Elsie Finch wants clothes hamper.
I've got two. Then Elsie's husband
would set store by fathers saddle. I'll
send that to him. You know, he's
fond of riding that mare he raised
Then there's an old blue teapot that
belonged to my great-aunt. Flora. Why,
Mary Moore, I do believe | could tit
out the whole family with things they
want! One of Dora's girls would like
that wine colored velvet used to
wear. She could make it over for this
winter"
isn't 1t great?' cried Mary enthusi.
astically. "And then after you've tied
up all the things I'll have Lew bring
the box wagon around. and he can
cart your presents around to all the
folks. And then you can have big
Christmas dinner and invite them all
to come"
christmas dinner. Mary Moore.
can't afford to buy turkey for my
selfr'
Has any one invited you to dinner
YETI"
Yes, every one Of them. but some
how 1t hurts me to 60"
"Foolish Janer' laughed Mary ten
derly. Now, listen to me. You told
me you had 400 cans Of fruit and pre-.
serves In your cellar that you brought
from the big house. Well you know
was sick last summer. and | didn't put
up speck of fruit I'll make trade
with you. Give me some canned fruit
and I'll sell you one OF our biggest
turkeys. and I'll make you plum pud-
ding and some pies. and you can trHde
out all the vegetables you want.
What say?"
MARY. there's nothing to say except
'yesr" cried Jane tearfulIy 81 have
feeling this is going to be wonder.
full Christmas"
"I've no doubt 1t will be the linppipSt
one you ever spent" said Mary as she
folded up her work "I'll come over in
the morning. and wen plan ont the
whole thing"
II was certainly the happipSt Christi
mas Jane Gray had known since her
childhood 1t IL one thing to set out
to do Christmas shopping with well
filled purse and fine disregard " the
price of things. and it is another md
more peasurable thing to go over on s
belongings and select things that VIII
directly appeal to the heart Of the re-
cipient. IL the giving implies sncri-
fee on the part Of the donor the gift IL
the more blessed.
Jane smiled happily M she pulled
out the carefully preserved articles Of
furniture from the carriage house and
wrapped them up in gay papers, and
the searching through her twenty
trunks was like straylng through for
gotten chambers of her memory.
There were pretty fans and laces and
quaint trinkets and bits Of iPwelry to
gladden. the hearts OF the girls and
their mothers. old fashioned books and
toys for the children. and for the men
folks there were books and interesting
curios from the collection Of her fa-
ther. a retired sea captain.
And all the relations who had feared
to give very much to rich Jane Gray
because 1t might be interpreted as a
desire to seek favor with her gave
lavishly from their grateful hearts on
this particular Christmas day. And
each one accepted James invitation to
dinner until the little house was over
flowing with merriment and good
cheer. They set two tables. one in the
dining room for the grownups and
another In the sitting room for the chill
dren. and when the delicious meal was
over they all declared 1t was the hap
piest Christmas they had ever known.
Seems as If we love each other more
this Christmas" said little Sammy
Finch wisely. and the elders all smiled
at each other. The young girls who
had always feared Jane little gath
cred about her and kissed her for the
pretty old fashioned gowns she had
given them to make over. and Jane
recognized that warm glow that
Mary Moore had described as the right
Christmas spirit.
Seems as II I'd Just learned how to
be happy" sighed Jane as she watched
the last sleigh drive away under the
/ Christmas stars.
A dark form came scudding through
the snowy orchard that divided James
cottage from Mary Moores house.
1t was Mary Moore coming to cry
on James shoulder and tell her how
happy she was because she had found
the long desired seal cloak rmOng her
Christmas gifts Jane felt pang OF
remorse because she had not given it
before.
! But later. when she blew out her can
die. she stood In her window and look
ed out at the soft radiance OF the win
ter night.
81 thought this cottage was small"
she mused. but II Is much larger than
the big house, because II has held so
much more happiness tonight. It wns
full to overiiowing. guess there's
enough to last me the whole year, and
It's taught me that giving alone amt
all It's loving and giving that count
most Of all"
.r- = ...''F W ''-r-r y '-- ---~-r--'-.T- -''F