The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1917-12-20
ORPHANS TO RENT
A Children's Christmas Story.
By George McKinnon.

Il was Christmas eve at the Bay-
V!lie Home for Orphans, and three
little boys sat in the chilly dining
room looking out at the flying flakes
of snow. 1t was after supper, and
there was clatter of dishes in the
kitchen.
"They say" said Jimmy, there's
going to be big Christmas tree in
| the parlor tomorrow, with candy and
presents and everything, but I'd ra-
ther hang up my stocking than have
all the old Christmas trees. You
betcha l wouldw
$50 would I!' echoed Bobby and
George.
THAT trustee who was here today
would make dandy man for a fa-
ther or an uncle" said Bobby.
Hes awful rich"
And he amt got any children or
any folks at ALL"
Il wish he'd 'dopt me-" reflected
George "He patted my head"
HE must be lonesome without any
folks,' began Bobby. Then he lean
ed over and whispered to his COM
panions.
Fifteen minutes later three little
boys, the oldest ten and the young
est six, let themselves out through a
basement door and hurried across the
snowy yard to the opening in the
hedge which led through patch of
woods to the village. Mr.. Barley,
the trustee, who often visited the
home, lived in big house with a
wonderful garden. Everything was
blanketed in snow now, and the big
house was dark save for few lighted
windows on the lower floor.
Soon they stood on the porch peer
ing in at cozy library, where, Mr..
BARLEY sat in big chair before the
fire, looking very lonesome. A big
dog, aCcollie, sat beside him with his
head on his master knee.
Suddenly the dog lifted his head
and barked. Mr.. BARLEY looked to.
ward the window and saw the three
frightened boy faces peering in. In
jiffy he had jumped up, opened the
window and lifted them in one at q
time.
Good gracious me! What are
you doing out there?" he demanded
Please, sir, we're from the home,' ,
said Bobby. "We knew you lived al
alone-and-we thought maybe
/ you'd like to hire us three kids tc
} spend Christmas with you. We done
want any tree" explained Bobby.
, I'VE just want to hang up our stock,
} ings and wake up-something like
home-before we came to the 'sy.
lum.' Tears were in the boys ewes
now.
Mr.. Bartley fourished handler
chief and tried to laugh, but his voice
cracked so queerly.
4 Now, that's a funny thing" he
declared. 81 was just wishing / had
three nice boys to spend Christmas
with me-and maybe live with me all
the time"
by ana by Mr.. BARLEY called a
man-servant, and together they took
the three little boys up to bed.
Then they hung their stockings on
the corners of the big four post bed
stead, and in two minutes they were
sound asleep, while the servant, Mar
TIN, nodded in chair outside i'm the
hall and Mr.. Barley, buttoned into
fur-lined overcoat, went striding
down the snowy street to the bright
ly lighted shops.
l don't know who was the happier
that Christmas morning, the three
little boys with stockings full of trea-
sures or big Mr.. BARLEY, whom they
called "Uncle Dick" And the best
OF it all was that Mr.. BARLEY adopted
all three Of the little lads who came
to him that Christmas eve, and they
are growing up into fine, big bows.