The Meeker herald., 1916-01-01
CALISTA'S
CHRISTMAS
The One That Brought q New
Light Into Her Life.
., cLAa,ssA aAck,s.

For twelve Iosg years Calists Tnofp
had fought against that grim fats
which had removed Der ioved ones
within the space Of short twelve
month and left Der hopeless and dry
eyed In the midst Of an empty house
Sbe was frati little woman. with .
bruised heart. which she hid behind .
cold exterior. defiant blue eyes and Q
bitter tongue. Ali the softness Ut her
youth had conSeaied She was -,
tranged from nappiDexa-
Twelve times since that awful year
bad 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 Caiista Oiled
them with shining eyes and swelling
heart Then when Christmas morning
dawned and she awoke to the bitter
ness TINT awaited her In the silent
house and In the sight Of the row Ut
buiging stockings hanging before the
smoldering Ore she would ny down to
the sitting room and tear them from
the shelf and empty each one Of ita
burden
The bureau drawers in the slant
rooted bedrooms were 6lIed With the
little treasures Calista had bought for
her loved ones.
Again It was Christmas eve. and
CaIista had come home from shopping.
Her arms were full Of parcels. and the
snowtiakes powdered the dark hair
that framed her small pale face
paler than usual. for the young minis
ter had met her at the corner and
walked home with her.
At the gnte he hnd timidly relieved
himself of u burden that troubled him
He Ind demonstrated with Calista
Thorp because of her selnshness.
Her cheeks burned as she remember
ed bow his spectacles Ind reflected
the moonlight until they seemed Ike
luminous supernatural eyes reading
her soul.
He had ventured only a few words
and bis concluding sentence still rang
in her ears:
"sureiy there u room In your heart
for others outside your loved ones
who have gonei God grant you . hap
py Christmas. Miss Calistar
He was very young and very poor
and very much In earnest. and BE- had
q young wife and family At home
awaiting him. yet be hnd found time
~ ra1tuta Than
the most skepticai member Of his
Hock.
For the nrst time q light broke in on
Calista's brain. For the 6rst 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 q napkin
II was not those loved ones she was
beneHting: 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 berself
In this world Of her own selfish max
ing? Twelve year,.
A shame came in her heart that she
uJ hHiF wuuC luhCb wv ~
II 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 . desire
-, o. I'D h.
stnin.
The parcels ratified to the noor-the
pipe which her father would never
smoke. the soft woola which her moth
er's fingers would never knit. the toys
with which Bobby might not play. the
wax doll which could not afford little
Ann any delight!
The next morning. when Christmas
broke over the world. Cniista Thorn
was stirring around her house. Two
great baskets were filled With gifts
from the overiiOwing drawers In the
closed chnmbers. and Caiista's bes,
cloak and hat iny on the sofa.
The pOorhouse was three miles awny
on the highrond and a snowplow had
leveied broad trRck to the very dUOr
80 Calista. clad In her hest. put on hel
overshoes and started forth. q baske
In either hand
DR. Reyes was the overseer Of tn,
ClOverdale poorbunse, and It was Gun
sidered the best managed institution
Of its kind In the stnte.
breakfast was being served in tn
long dining hall when Caiista ring tn
bell. and when the door opened tn
blum. brown eyed doctor himself stoo,
before Aer.
merry Christmas. Miss Caiistai =
you are playing Santa Claus this morn
ing! arm glad OF TINT, because som
Of my old people are feeling very blu
today"
He relieved her of the baskets an,
ned the way into the CHEEKY warmth o