Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-01-10
The Lime Bows
Gift

(By Francis Harmer.)

scamper across the snowy path to the
church for the midday service.
| "Oh, / have one more thing to say
children" cried Miss Winter. the
teacher. you know that we decided tt
have a Christmas tree for the factory
people, the day after our own tree, anC
we hope to fill it, or nearly fill it, from
your gifts. Now, will each one promise
some one thing definitely"
Gladys Gray and Hilda Leslie spoke
together, as they so often did.
I'll bring doll!'
Winnie Brown and Mary Short said
We'll make candy, and tie it up in
bags. We can bring as many as you
want"
What sort Of things do factory chill
dren like?" interrupted Bertha Paul.
Just what other children like.
should say" Her brother, a little
younger, was rather apt to show that
he thought her questions lacking in
sense-a too frequent habit with broth.
ers; but for once Bertha was able to
reply, triumphantly:
Don't you think it would be wiser
to give them useful things, Miss Win
ter? Stockings and pinafores, per,
haps?"
Everybody looked anxiously at Miss
Winter, who thought for moment.
NO." she said slowly. cat Christ
mas time, it would be nice to give
them something extra, don't you
think? To put little beauty and
grace into their lives?"
Then everybody talked at once
eagerly.
"I'll manage pair Of skates" cried
Fred Jackson, whose father kept a
hardware store. dad will give them
to me II l run some messages for
him."
1--WE a box of paints I've never
touched" added Joe Brown.
In fact, it looked as If that tree
would be well supplied. Only one of
the scholars had not promised any
thing, and had not even spoken. This
was Robbie Grant, little boy who
limped rather painfully, and who was
very shabby. He should, indeed, have
gone to the Sunday-school on the hill.
the little Mission Sunday-schoo1 for
the factory children, seeing that his
father worked in the factory. But his
home. lay at the foot of the hill, and
the minister thought it better for Rob-
bic to come down on his tricycle. to
the school that was more easily
reached.
Robbie could think of nothing that
he might offer as a gift for the fac
tory Christmas-tree! He knew that
It was not always easy for his mother
to save out of the many demands for
money even his little offering for the
missions each Sunday. He did not
like to ask her for something else. Yet
he did wish he could add his mite to
the many beautiful things that would
be brought In the day after Christmas.
That night, as he sat by the stove.
while his father and mother talked
about the chances Of turkeys being
given away to the people, as they had
been last year, he turned over in his
mind all his very few and very small
possessions. Nothing seemed avail
ablel
Christmas day came, and he went
to church with his father and mother,
this, time to the Mission on the hill
Far back in the vestry he could see
the tree! 1t was bare of ornament,
but it was a nice tree. What could
he hang on it?
The next day his mother made him
very clean and tidy for the Sunday
school Christmas-tree
II daresay you'll get something very
NICE" she said as she kissed him
goodbye. Robbie smiled, but the
smile faded very quickly. 1t was
giving, not getting, that would make
him happy.
Then the thought came to him, like
a flash Of light! He would give what
ever present he might receive!
When he reached the school-house.
the tree-a much bigger one than he
had seen in the vestry of the Mission
on the hill was wonderful sight to
behold. On the top was a star Of gold,
and all round the star only little be-
low, we're dolls that looked like fairies.
Other gifts were scattered here and
there, thimbles in silk bags, little
needle-books and pincushions, pen
wipers, and baskets filled with spools
of threads. There were small writing
cases, too, besides skates, and sled,
for one boy--but that was really
prize,-and books in large numbers.
After buns and oranges had been
given out and enjoyed, and before the
ice-cream. the gifts were distributed.
Robbie received a book that he had
wanted very much. about the Far
North and the wonderful adventures
of explorers.
While he was eating ice-cream and
cake, he looked at it, and felt that
he could not give it up. After all,
why should he? Would 1t not look
ungateful to the kind teacher
and superintendent who had chosen it
for him?
He took it home, and read it as long
as his mother would keep the lamp
going for him. He placed it under his
pillow, to feel the edges when he
woke. He cared for the book too
much to give it up.
So as he had nothing to offer, he
did not join the other boys and the
girls in the Sunday school house. In
stead, he sat at home and read his
book.
Don't you go to the Mission Tree,
SOM asked his father At supper.
mo, father" Robbie flushed little.