The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-12-22

any more?" laughter as her
father released his hold and she slip
ped to the floor acted like magic upon
them all. In a moment deafening
hubbub filed the room. After it had
subsidized little the Kid, who had
served as master of ceremonies on sew
eral occasions, assumed the leadership.
Though he was the youngest of them
he knew how things were managed
out in the great world Therefore he
escorted Mrs. Shave to the seat of
honor with his very best company
manner. and there never was a man.
ner like it anywhere, so his comrades
heartily declared, and I'm quite sure
they were right.
The great barrel chair which Jerome
usually occupied was drawn up to the
center Of the hearth, and as soon as
her mother was seated Betty brought
all her new. treasures and displayed
them with great pride. while the men
nudged one another slyly as the former
owners were recognized. No matter
how hard they tried to appear uncon-
scious, a quirk of pleasure or a
I-mustn' t-appear-as- i'll had ever seem
that-before look was a sure indication
when all other signs failed. And Betty
always found them out, shouting glee-
fully at each discovery. while her
mother smiled in gratitude, no less
pleased than the little one. Well, why
shouldn't they be glad, too, to give all
that pleasure? Somehow there was
such a cozy, comfortable feeling about
it they felt good all over, and they
couldn't keep quiet. That was too
much to expect. So the old room rang
again and again with their mirth.
"Sing to US now, dear, my little
own" Elizabeth Shave said when the
gifts had been duly admired. 'Sing
the old song about this blessed day."
Betty leaned against her mothers
shoulder within the happy circle of her
arm.
"You, too" she whispered; lust like
we always do?"
Eyes, darling; in our own way"
The child's glance went round the
room, taking in the joyful faces that
smiled back at her in friendly fash
ion; then she met her fathers eyes,
and, reaching out, she took his hand in
hers, drawing it close, until it rested
on that other hand above her heart.
A moment later she began to sing in
her sweet little thread of voice:
ct saw three ships come sailing in
On Christmas day-on Christmas day:
1 saw three ships come calling in
On Christmas day in the morning"
Elizabeth Shave took up the next
verse:
"Oh, they sailed into Bethlehem
On Christmas day-on Christmas dayi
Oh. they sailed into bethlehem
On Christmas day in the morningp'
1t was Betty's turn:
And all the bells on earth shall ring
On Christmas day-on Christmas day;
And all the bells on earth shall ring
On Christmas day in the morning"
Again there came the fuller, richer
tones Of the sweet antiphony:
"And all the angels In heaven shall sing
On Christmas day-on Christmas day
The voices of mother and child blend
ed in unison. filling the room with hap
by, ripping music:
"And all the angels in heaven skall sing
On Christmas day in the morning"
At signal from Shave the men join
ed in the next verse. waiting for the
first line to be given and then going on
with the simple iteration until the lit
tie carol became a mighty triumphal
chorus:
''And all the souls on earth shall sing
On Christmas day-on Christmas day;
And all the souls on earth shall sing
On Christmas day In the morning.
"Dang tibet hjck'ry.' old Jerome
grumbled In the hush that followed
at do set a man splutterin' ez never
wasr'
THE END.