The Oakes times., 1915-02-04

"Wt0 yOm trimming up tree for?.'
her mother demanded. ~ thought they
wasn't to he any In town this year..
ut mint Christmas yet" ellen aaid
only. II guess It won't do any hurt
two dnys before"
While the two worked. Ellen went tn
the cupboard drn wer. aud from l,ehind
her pile NJ kitchen towels she drew
out certain thlngs-walnuts. wrnpped
In shining ycast tinsel ana dangling
from red yarn: u'ishbOnca tied with
strips Of bright cloth: tiny box, made
like house. with rudely cut doors
nnd windows: eggshells penciled %
faces. a mindful of peanut owls. a
glnss stoppcred hottie. long neck.
lace Of buttonhoIe twist sI,ools. A Ger.
tain blue pnper soldier doll that sl,e
had made was upstairs. hut the other
things she brought and fasteped to the
tree.
Her husband smoked and uneasily
watched her. He xaw something with.
In her plan. but he was not ut home
there. III the hoy hnd lived and had
tseen uMhnml,er nxleep nOw." he
thought once. ''It'd l,e something like
to 20 trimming up tree. Rut this
way
"WtInt you lenving the whole front of
the tree bnrc fOr?" her mother asked.
1.-THE blue unpcr soldier goes there.
I want It should sce the blue Dape,
soldier first thing" Ellen said and stop
ped abruptly.
"iOu talk like yOn wis trimming the
tree for somebody" her mother obsery.
ell. agsricvel.
"Mnyl'e something might look In the
window-golng by" Ellen snid.
"Gct III there: Get your heads In
there. SO beggnrx:" snid the old man to
the popcorn. I'D ought to hive some.
body here {. pick up them shouting
Kernels" he complained.
In IL little while. with flMt footed
stamping. lscn Hclders came in. When
he had the rlttern number. by labor.
iOus copying against the wall under the
brncket limp. Matthew suid to him:
"Going to get boy to work out. are
you:"
uclders laughed md shifted.
He's going to work by aud BY" he
said. I'VE allow to have him to our
selves IL spell first
keep him around the house till
spring?"
More" said Hcldcrs. "You see," he
added. Its like this with Instantly
all gone. ull married and got their own.
We figured to get hold Of little shaver
and have sonle comfort with him be-
fore he goes to work for life."
"AdOpt him?" snid Matthew Gu
riOusly.
'"rlat's pretty ncar It," Elelders atl-
united. We've got one spoke for at
the City Orphan asylum"
Ellen Bourne turned. "HOw old?'
she asked.
"ArOund fve-six. we figure" Hell.
ders said 1t almost sheepishly.
Ellen stood facing the men. with the
white festoOnx Of popcorn in her
hands.
Matthew" she snid, "let him bring
,Is one"
Matthew stared. "You mean bring
us u boy?y he asked.
Il don't care which-girl or boy
Anything young" Ellen said.
Good Lord. Ellen" Matthew said.
with high eyebrows, "ain't you got
your hands full enough now?"
Ellen Bourne lifted her hands slight
ly and let them fall. NO." she an
swered.
The older woman looked mt her
daughter. and now first she was solc-
itOus US u mother.
ellen" she said, ''you have. too. got
your hands full. You're wore out all
the time
"That's 1t" Ellen said. "and I'm not
wore out with the things l want to
do"
"Hey. king and country!" the old
man cried. upsetting the pepper.
Don't get child around here under
foot. I'm too old. l deserve grown
folks. My head hurts me-
Matthew: ..:::id Ellen to her hus-
band. "let Helders bring us one. To-
morrow-for Christmas, Nat"
Matthew looked slowly from side to
side. 1t seemed incredible that so
large decision should lie with man
so Intellectual.
Seems like we'd ought to think
about it awhile first." he said weakly.
Think about 1t. said Ellen. when
haven't l thought about 1t? When
have thought about anything else
but him we haven't got any more?"
Ellen the mother mourned. "you
don't know what you're taking on
yourself
flush. MOTHER" Ellen said gently
You don't know what It IL. You had
me-
She faced Helders. "Win you bring
two when you come back tomorrow
night?" she said. ''And one Of them
for us?''
Helders looked sidewise at Matthew.
who was fumbling ut his pipe.
"Wouldn't you want to see 1t first.
now!" Helders temporized. ".And "a
girl or n boy. now?"
NO, I wouldn't want to see it first