The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-20
EVENING STORY
A Merry Christmas.
(By Lillian Hall Crowley

"Oh, dear" she sighed, Il haven't
the heart to tidy the house or even
myself. To think of Christmas only
three weeks away. and not one guy
for the children and no hope of get
ting any. 1 am. glad they are at
school; 1 can at least have good
cry!"
Just as she was getting out her
handkerchief preparatory to enjoying
this unusual luxury she heard the
postman's step on the porch. Habit
forced her to gulp back the tears aud
go to the door. He handed her sew
eral letters, all of which she recog-
nized as bills. with the exception OF
one, which bore the handwriting or
her sister Judith.
Anne. dear she wrote. at last
can visit you, and shall be with ycd
in a few days"
'Oh deari oh, dear! To think OF
Judith visiting us at a time like TINS.
when we can hardly manage, with the
high cost of living, to set the table, let
alone having holiday time!
Mrs. Midgely INDUCED in the de-
sired cry. then, realizing there was
much to be done. she dried her eyes,
and with the relief that the shedding
of tears gave her she started in to put
the house in order.
AT least We'll be Clean" she said
to herself, as she made broom and
buster fly about
Some months before this time Henry
Midgely had lost his position as book
keeper on account of the failure OF
the firm for which he worked They
had had no idea of impending condi-
tions and were almost staggered by
the blow The Midgelys had four
growing children and every month
had lived up to the salary. Mr.. Midge-
ly had just found another position.
When Anne wrote hume she did not
tell her family of their loss and she
al
ing up for the months when debts had
accumulated.
Christmas! That was the hard
part. Nothing for the children. They
had mad such jolly times before, with
presents for everyone. Now she had
more work than ever to do and less
time for making presents, even if she
had the money with which to buy
material.
Il shall have to tell Judith re
said to her husband that night when
they were seated by the lamp and the
children were in bed, "how sorry we
are that we cannot make her visit
pleasant one"
1T is too bad" said he. judith is
such a slave to your father, looking
after his every within and never think
ing of herself l wish she had home
of her own. l always planned to give
her q really good time whenever she
should make that long deferred visit"
"At last I am here! Are you quite
well, AIMEE"
"Oh, yes, dear" Mrs. Midgelys
voice had a strange note in it, Judith
looked up quickly.
You don't look well, Anne. What
is the matter?"
Poor Anne let the floodgates of her
tears open and told Judith her
troubles.
Its only that we don't want you to
have a stupid time, Judith"
Never mind about me-" answered
Judith. II am wildly happy just to
be here with you all. But l am glad
you told me-"
The children were delighted to have
theirsaunt with them. They had often
visited the pleasant old white house
that had been their mothers home,
and it was happy party that sur
/ rounded the dinner table that night.
Mrs. Midgely, too, almost forgot to be
worried as she smiled at her sister
high spirits.
Next morning after Judith had
kissed the four children as they left
for school she turned to her sister
and said:
Anne, dear, we must take an inven-
| tory of stock and see what we can
make for the kidlets for Christmas"
There is nothing" said Anne.
Wen find something" determin-
eddy answered Judith.
You can make things out of com
paratively nothing" laughed Anne
but you can't make them out of alb
solutely nothing
Yes, we can! I'll send for my yarns
and knit a cap and mlttens for each
child. They are using bright coIors
and combinations of colors. In that
way we can use your leftover yarns
too. Wen have plenty without buy-i
sWarr 7 L..
done lots of this work for the Red
| Cross"
She made looms with empty spools
and pins. from which each child
helped to make round string which
they worked on at odd moments. They
were to be sewed on the mittens No
more hunting for the other mitten 5"
The children were entertained with
the idea of being useful and of help
ing Aunt Judith.
The sisters looked up discarded dolls
and seWed up legs and arms painted
the faces and restored the hair En-
| tire outfits of clothes that could hc
taken off and put on were made from
bits of cloth found in the scrap bag
and they crocheted lace enough for the
trimming. These were for the two lit
tie girls, Martha and Peggy, aged
seven and nine.
How to make eleven-year-old RaIpll
happy with left-overs was the prot
lem IIhen judith remembered that
years ago she had been the recipient
of a stamp book which she had rot
used. She wrote her father for it, and
then invested in some mixed stamps
for Ralph to make a beginning with.
A few new puzzles and toys from the
ten-cent store made a goodly array OF
bright things for Tommy. who was
the youngest child.
Now for the dinner said Judith.
Let's not try to have the usual Christ
mas dinner. but think up something
different"
Il did so want to ask Mr. and Mrs.
Lambert" sighed Anne. They came
! from England several years ago and
are so alone at Christmas time. / har
hoped to have them, but of course 7
cannot do it this year"
That gives me the very idea. Anne.