Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1914-11-20

A Emmy shook her head. Il got
4 seven Christmas present rela-
tives and ten Christmas present
friends. and lie only spent
$3.50 on 'em ALL she said. for ma
terial. But I've made little things for
every one Of 'em. 1t don't seem as If
that much had ought to hurt any one"
Jenny looked past her out the win
dow, somewhere beyond the snow.
'They's something else.' she added.
1T amt all present giving"
Nonsense " said Mary Chavah.
Take the present trading away from
Christmas and see how long it'd last.
| was in the city once for Christmas.
I'll never forget it-never. l never see
folks work like the folks worked there.
The streets was Bedlam. The stores
was worse. 'WhatT | get himf' I've
just got to get something for her. 1T
don't seem as If this is nice enough
after what she gave me last year. |
can hear 'em yet. They spent money
wicked. And l said to myself that |
was glad from my head to my feet that
L was QOut WILL I'LL LlldSa AnQ 1
been preaching it ever since. And I'm
pleased this town has had to come to
it."
ut amt the way | feel" said Jenny.
She got up and wandered to the win
low and hardly heard while Mary went
on with more of the sort. 1T seems
kind Of like going back on the way
things are" Jenny said as she turned.
Then, as she made ready to go. she
broke off and smote her hands together.
"Oh," she said. 'it don't seem as If 1
could bear it not to have Christmas
not this year."
you mean your and Bruce's first
Christmas" said Mary. Mark my
words, he'll be glad to be rid of the
fuss. Men always are. Come on out
the front door If you're going" said
Mary. "You might as well use 1t when
it's Open"
AS Jenny passed the open parlor
door she looked in again at the bare
room.
Don't you like picturesg' she asked
abruptly.
Il like 'em when | like 'em." Mary
answered. II didn't like 'em l had
up here-I had a shot stag and a fruit
piece and an eagle with a child in its
claws. I've loathed 'em for years, but
I amt ever had the heart to throw
'em out till now. They're over behind
the coal bin"
Jenny thought. ''They's a picture
over to mother's.' she said, that she
amt put up because she amt had the
money to frame it. l guess I'll bring
it wei after supper and see If you
don't want 1t up here. frame or no
frame" She looked at Mary and
laughed. IF ! bring 1t to you tonight"
She said. lit amt a Christmas present
legal. But if l want to call it a
Christmas present inside of me the
tow2nean't help that"
Whats the picture?" Mary asked.
Il don't know who 1t represents.
said Jenny. ''but it's NICE
When denny had gone Mary Chavah
stood in the snow shaking the rug she
had left outside and looking at the
rlean. white town.
1T looks like it was waiting for
something" she thought.
A door opened and shut. A child
shouted. In the northeast a shining
body had come sparkling above the
trees-Capella. of the brightness Of a
hundred Of our suns. being born into
the twilight like a little star.
Mary closed the parior windows and
stood for a moment immersed in the
quiet and emptiness of the clean
rooms.
''This hooks like it was waiting for
something, too" she thought. "But it
ought to know it won't get it." she
added ENTHUSIASTICALLY.
Then she went back to the warm
room and saw the letter on the shelf.
She meant to go. in a moment to the
stable to make 1t safe there for the
night: so, with the gray shawl still
binding her head and falling to her
feet, she sat by the stove and read the
latter: