The Meeker herald., 1915-12-11
CALISTA'S
CHRISTMAS {;
The One That Brought a New
Light Into Her Life.
BY cLAa,ssA MAckie.

FOR Twelve long yedrb Saiisth lnorp
had fought against TINT grim fate
which had removed her loved ones
within the space Of II short twelve
month and left her hopeless and dry
eyed In the midst Of nm empty house,
She was a frnil little woman. with
bruised henrt. which she hid behind
cold exterior. defiant blue eyes and .
bitter tongue. All the sOftncss Of her
youth had coneenled She WAS rs
tranged from happiness.
Twelve times since that awful year
had CaIista hung the stockings before
the fireplace In the sitting ROOM
mothers warm wooden hose. fathers
large sock. Bobby's two stockings
gaping expectantly, little AIMS white
ones and. last Of all, her own limp
black one.
And twelve times had Calista Oiled
them with shining eyes and swelling
heart Then when Christmas morning
dawned and she awOke to the bitter
ness that awaited her In the silent
house nnd in the sight OF the row OF
bulging stockings banging before the
SHE ny uo"h ~
the sitting room and tenr them from
the shelf and empty each one OF Its
burden.
The bureau drawers In the slant
rooted bedrooms were filled with the
little treasures Cnlista had bought for
her loved ones
Again 1t was Christmas eve. and
Calista had come home from shopping
Her arms were full OF parcels. and the
snowtiakes powdered the dark hair
that framed her small pale face
pnier than usual, for the young minis
ter had met her at the corner and
walked home with her.
At tile gate he had timidly relieved
himself of ii burden that troubled him.
He had demonstrated with Calista
Thorp because of her selfishness.
Her cheeks burned as she remember
ed how his spectncles had reflected
the moonlight until they seemed like
lurainous supernatural eyes reading
her soul.
He had ventured only few words,
and his concluding sentence still rang
in her ears:
"Surely there is room in your heart
for others outside your loved ones
who have gone! God grant you hap
ny Christmas. Miss Calistaw
He was very young and very. poor
and very much I'm earnest, and he had
a young wife and family at home
awaiting him. yet he Ind found time
III C0 tafu Thorn
the most skeptical member Of bis
flock.
For the first time light broke In on
Calista's brain. For the first time
she saw herself In her true character
She saw that In giving herself up to
those who were gone she was hiding
her talent in napkin.
1t WAS not those loved ones she was
benetiting; It was the living she was
denying What right had she to keep
all for the dead. who could use nothing
she would give them?
And how long Ind she shut herself
In. this world of her own selfish max
ingY Twelve years.
A shame came in her heart that she
had nll this while tnken no interest in
single living being at Christmas
time.
There were the children among her
relatives. the children of her friends.
but. above all, the children Of the poor
When she thought of the many little
ones whom even a penny toy would
delight she was seized with a desire
on this Christmas to wipe out the
stain
The parcels ratified to the noor-the
pipe which her father wonld never
smoke. the soft woods which her moth
er's fingers would never knit. the toys
with which Robby might not play. the
wax dufi which could not afford little
Ann amy delight!
The next morning. when Christmas
broke over the world, Calista Thorp
was stirring around her house. Two
great baskets were filed with gifts
from the overtiowing drawers In the
closed chambers, and Calista's best
cloak and hat lay on the sofa.
The poOrhOuse was three miles away
on the highroad. and snowplow had
leveled broad track to- the very door
So Caiista. clad in her best, put on her
overshoes md started forth, a basket
In either hand
DR. Reyes was the overseer Of the
Cloverdaie poorhonse, and II was con
stdered the best managed Institution
Of its kind in the state.
Breakfast was being served in the
long dining hall when Calista rang the
bell and when the door opened the
blur. brown eyed doctor himself stoOd
before her.
"Merry Christmas. Miss CalistaI So
You are playing Santa Claus this morn.
ing! am glad Of that. because some
Of my old people are feeling very blue
today"
lie relieved her Of the baskets and
led the way into the CHEEKY warmth OF
his comfortable office. where Calista