The Topeka state journal., 1916-12-25

orphans faces were grave, for they
had learned to listen for the baby walls
and baby gurgles in the few short
weeks since she had come to be one OF
their big family.
1t was the night before Christmas
and two dozen little orphans were sup
posed to be sleeping soundly in their
checked gingham frocks fold ID on the
chairs at the foot of each bed 3ut
four of the little orphans weren't
sleeping They were huddled on the
floor at the end of the dormitory-
"And Mis- Bradbury says he's mos
the bestes' man ever was, and he sent
US the nices' apple sauce and pun kins.
and listen
Here the four little heads drew close
and the leader whispered. Mis- Brad
bury told me cause 1 was helping in
the kitchen when they came. He's sent
IS many as eight chickens. SOS we can
all have real chicken dinner. That's
why 1 wanted us to get together and
do something. We ought to give him
a present. That's why l came around
and whispered to each of you to get up
and 'scuss it with me-
.Tll give him my blue pencil only
it's mos gone
1--WE got a g'ranium plant all my
own. He can have that on'y I wanted
to give it to Mis- Bradbury"
"And 1 could give him my i'll woody
lamb, on'y 1 wanted to give that to our
baby
Then there was a silence.
Finally, said the leader: why not
give him the baby?"
Four heads were bent nearer to-
gether.
Mis- Bradbury said it was mos the
preciousest thing she ever saw, but she
didn't know how she could raise it.
There are so many of u.s.
.I can get it and bundle it in my
blanket, and two of US can take it over
on his steps with From friend
| marked on a paper just the way he left
the apples,' suggested the ringleader.
who's got the dast to go with me =?
| We can explain to Mis- Bradbury to-
morrow. Who's got the dast to go
down the side stairs with me and then
across to his front door,"
st have" said the smallest of the
i four, "'cause Mis- Bradburys gone
away. 1 saw her going out my ownself
just after we finished supper, and old
Margaret never would hear"
"Margaret's awful stone deaf. Mis-
| Bradbury says So.''
! Then there were four suppressed lit
tie giggles of satisfaction, and two
little orphans went back to bed while
| the littlest one and the biggest of the
four went off to fetch the baby.
| Next morning, when the two dozen
| orphans went to wash their pearly
first teeth at the oldfashioned long
(! lavatory where the water ran as cold
mornings, the four conspirators whis-
| pered fast and low. The other or
phans didn't notice them, so intent
were they on conjecturing with each
other as to what surprise would be in
| store for them downstairs.
| Mis- Bradbury said there was going
| to be the biggest surprise and wee
be the happiest little orphans in the
| world one was saying.
Meantime the conspirators had mat
| ters more important to discuss.
''And we vented all the way over
| said the smallest one, land there was
MT any light, so we knocked. And
called out and said: It's only me
merry Christmas, Mr.. But'sby.' AND
no one came to the door and so he
couldn't have been home and we
couldn't leave the baby cause she
| would have freeZed."
$3.50 we had to bring her home
again." put in the older one gloomily.
| "And now he hasn't got any Christmas
| present at ALL
But even the four forgot their
| thwarted conspiracy when they reach
ed the dining-room. For there at one
| end of the table sat Mrs Bradley and
at the other end, where Margaret
usually sat, was-who do you think ?
Mr.. Buttersby himself smiling, radi
ant, ana IOT all the WOrlQ IKE santa
/ Claus and old Margaret. beaming. had
had her place midway of the long
! table.
| And the tables were trimmed with
! holly and there was so much joyous
ness that it was too much for one little
orphan set of eyes to take in at once.
! But this is what Mrs. Bradbury said
when they got thru with the prayers
and the little orphans each scrambled
, to place at the table:
"Children, 1 have a great surprise.
Last night I went to town to get your
Christmas presents and while 1 was
there Here the dimples deepened
and the rose tints in the plump cheeks
became scarlet.
"And while we were there" went on
Mr. Euttersby, from the other end
I'VE went around to the parsons and
got married. and now I'm going to be
the father of this big family and she
is going to go on being the mother,
same as usual. / wanted her to give
up the work when 1 asked her a few
days ago." he said, with something of
apology for ever having entertained
such an idea, but she wouldn't, SO all
I could do was to take the whole fam
I lily. But 1 guess the board of mana
Ind