The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1914-02-05
'T&hsForgotten
Christmas
1t Turned Out the Happiest
One Of His Life
BY CLARIssA MACKIE

noiselessly through the nalis, anu no"
and then the chime OF a golden tongueo
clock broke the silence. From the
library came the monotone Of Mr. Bur
dicks voice debating TO his secretary
That will do for today. Henry" said
Mr.. Burdick as the young man laid
the neatly typed letters on bis desk.
Tomorrow morning you may begin on
the translation of that Slmonieff man
uscript No hurry about It; shall
spend the day at the museum and will
not need you for anything else"
Tomorrow will be Christmas day.
said Henry Lees.
And this is Christmas eve. Well,
Henry. that puts another face upon
the matter. or course you will not
come tomorrow-and wait a moment.
please" He drew bis check book to-
ward him and wrote rapidly
II wish you merry Christmas
Henry" he said pleasantly.
"Thank you very much. Mr. Bur
dick" said Henry. tucking the gener-
Gus check In his pocket and holding
out his hand II wish you many hap
by returns OF Christmas day."
For long while after he was left
alone Roger Burdick sat there staring
into the glowing heart OF the fire.
IL was Christmas eve. and he had
forgotten.
He closed his eyes. and In RETROSPECT
ton other Christmas ewes came and
went, from the joyous days OF bis
childhood until the time when he had
asked Doris Allen for the greatest
gift in her power TO bestow and she
had refused That was black Christ
mas indeed. and. being a lonely young |
man. II made him more lonely, so that |
as time went by he grew TO detest the |
anniversary that brings all hearts to-
gether and for few brief hours makes
all men brothers
"Nonsensei" he chided himself sharp
ly. II must call up Mr. Hodges and
ask him to get out those books for me
In readiness for tomorrow. shall
have busy day"
He drew the telephone toward him
and talked with the curator of the mu-
scum. who Informed him In tone or \
reproof that the library OF ancient
documents AS well as all other depart
ments of the institution would be clos
ed the next day
Roger Burdlck pushed back his chair
and went to the dining room. Uncle
Peter. the butler, had darkened the
room. so that Roger In cropping for the
sideboard. where there was a carafe
of water. found himself In the dim
cooiness OF the buffers pantry The
sliding window into the kitchen was
wide open. and from that room came
the sound OF animated voices. Rogers
own name mentioned In tones Of inf
mite compassion detained him for a
moment.
Nanny 10 was speaking.
pore Massa Roger He's gettln' to
look heap like his Uncle Roger. who's
daid. this berry mint cause he loved a
lady who wouldn't mah'ry him.
-'Taint no scuse. nohow. 70 him
TO get mean and cantankerous and stop
kepln' Chrstmuss becaws he's dis
'pinted In love-" grumbled Sukey. the
Oats right. chile: he can't stop
comm right straight err
long cherry yeah
Nanny" said Uncle Peter. lis 70 q
done got present To- Marse RogerY
''Shore has!" returned the old wom-
an warmly. "Aint been savin'
present 70 him each yeah and not git
tin no chance TO give II to him?
Cause why? Chile. dat man has made
L pint to run away cherry Christ
nuss. What he t'ink | care TO- de
iress patterns he ordered sent to me
rom de store? What Uncle Peter here
ARE TO de gold spectacles Massa Roger
rider sent him To- Christmuss? Hey?
Muffin. 'Taln't de cost--it's de givin'
" II dat 'preciates. I'd rather Massa
Roger say like be useter before dat gay
Hiss Allen done give him de mtten--
ay: HI. dere. Aunt TO- merry Christ >
nuss TO you. | hopes you done got
Jig turkey is got Christmuss APP
,ertiter Nowadays he pertends dere
lint no Christmuss. But Peterr'
"Hey?r asked Peter.
"Massa Roger Amt gwine away dis J
ime. He done forgot it was Christ :
nussr'
"Lawdyr' calculated Peter.
HE shore did And now all you !.
,hillens kin get out dem presents you
rot laid erway 70 Massa Roger Dat
bore man won't have yearthy cir to- .
norrer mornin cept what we gives :.
him"
The other black servants giggled
'hildishy and broke into an excited !,
'horus as Roger Burdlck tiptoed out OF
he buffers pantry. through the dining !,
room and back to his library. where he !,
stood in the middle OF the floor and !
looked around him with the dazed ex- !
preston Of man who has just awak-
ened from long sleep n
Pore Massa Roger" be repeated ;,
softly. Pore Massa Roger" The man ),
who runs away from Christmuss-the :
poor rich man: God forgive my self n
Ishness. :
II came on TO snow that afternoon. q
and soon the air was full of thick