The Alaska citizen., 1916-12-25

of holly and mistletoe around it. with Santa Claus painted on the door, because it is the most Christ mas-y machine that ever was.
 We didn't get it until the middle of last April. when the leaves were beginning to come out; nevertheless, on the twenty-fifth of the December before, 1t figured large in our scheme of things.
 The way we came to buy Dobbin is quite a story. You see, Dad is one of those dear generous souls that never can save money. He is in the Ice business, and there is good deal of competition nowadays, yet we have always had good home and good times and pretty fair clothes. Even since we children have been earning money ourselves, Ddu Has SlNtH uo loIo VI '''' like a talking machine and records to dance by, and the new side porch with dandy big couch hammock.
 But when we all began to talk automobile, he looked sober. I don't suppose the poor man had ever had five hundred dollars at one time in his life, and the winter before had been the worst in years for ice. The ponds had hardly frozen over at all, t had been so warm and muggy all through December and January.
 We live three miles and half from big town. There aren't any trolleys, but there is one train down and one up, week days, and Helen and Bob and I go in 10 our jobs every morning, and come out on the 6:10 at night. There isn't sign of a way to get in, evenings, so we nave tO stay "ltu SOIAt Ol Oul II AAoAi4'7 if there is anything going on; and on Sunday it is dreadful, for the only train is the milk train, which goes down at 5 A. NJ.
 Some neighbors of ours, the Mar tins, bought car last year, and were just as kind as they could be about taking us out; but there are six of them, besides two grandchil- lren down the road way, so we did not ride very often
 One Sunday morning in November, Helen hopped out of her bed just as it was getting light She's the prettiest thing in her nightie, with her fluffy hair and blue eyes, but she talked more like a business man than a doll baby.
 Wake up, Sleepy -head!" she said. I want to tell you something"
 udu Itdu Ulllll all ilDdAop tii' night before, and I just snoozled down into the pillows and covered up my head with the quilt.
 It's about an automobile" she went on.
 At that I sat right up in bed ano
 
 in the world I wanted more than another, it was car
 q have 1t all figured out" she went on. If we didn't any of us Dad and Mother, or Bob, or you, ol I-spend one cent for Christmas, anC took what money we usually save up for presents, it would go a long way toward buying a car"
 You're crazy" I told her. eve don't spend anywhere near five hun dred dollars!"
 She poked under my nose some figures she had jotted down on Sunday school quarterly. Look here," she insisted. We three have already wheedled out of Dad the promise of what we want most: your watch, and my coat, and Bob's camera. They will cost about $25 apiece-thats s75. Then Mother will spend $50 more, easy-you know how she does. There is $125. Last year I began saving up in May, anc my list ran over s30. I am suro yours did, too. And Bob is awful ly extravagant. It's safe to say that we could raise s9O between us, and that's s215."
 But that isn't half enough" l broke in. Whats the use in talk ing? It can't be did,
 "If we didn't get the car until spring. when the roads are settled there would be three months more" " she argued Suppose we three chil dren saved fifteen a month and earned fifteen a month extra, some way, there would be ninety more s305. We surely could get the rest some way"
 "The Lord helps them who help