The Washington times., 1917-12-25

MS Nlie, ana drew MIN ASIDE into the
tiny parlor OF the nat. Did you get
the baby's sled?" she asked anXiously.
MARY. how could Il" he replied,
watching the light die out OF her
eyes, as he had watched IL die many
times before. "Johnny's new shoes
cost me IS, and II he bau not had
them we would have had to take
him out OF school. I want my chill
dren to have an education. even IL
1 am only a $1,000 Government clerk. -
"lts a shame they don't promote
you the wife declared. Frank
Howe's in Congress from our old dis
trict; you must go to him and tell
him about it,"
Mary" he said. wearily. Il have
told you forty times that Frank
Howe doesn't know who ] am: It has
been ten years since I could AFFORD to
go back home to vote. Besides -
and his brown eyes took on the cring-
ing look OF a whipped dog. I'm afraid
I'm in bad with the office: when I
got there this morning found on
my desk a lot OF my work returned
for correction. Do you think that
means anything"
Il think you're tired and hungry, :"
she responded. And dinner is ready.
Corned beef and cabbage, you know,
you like that"
NO turkey tomorrow, Mary" he con-
tinued, I'm sorry. but what can ! do?
It's 40 cents a pound. But l got a
good cut OF steak and a peck Of
potatoes"
So singly they passed out into the
Kitchen where the children sat at the
table hungrily awaiting them.
Christmas Eve.
Christmas Eve, 9 p. m.-Two middle
aged people. a man and a woman, sat
in corner OF boarding house par
loT. the lower end of which was
screened of from the public gaze.
They were evidently under a mental
strain OF some kind, for the woman
nervously plated handkerchief
which lay in her lap, and which she
now and again raised to her ewes
The man fidgeted about in his chair
and plucked at an imaginary bit OF
lint on his trOuser leg.
. ITS no use going on. Gilbert" she
was saying in 4 mohOtOnous .voIre
which evidently covered some deep
emotion. Lets face the facts. We
have been engaged to be married for
twenty years, both working in the
- iAAANAA SNINItt. on get Twelve
hundred and ! get q thousand. and
there's not much hope OF more for
either OF us. Besides, what is there
in 1t for us now? You are FORTY
eight and 1 am forty-hve: there would
be no children, and IL kept on work
ing as l would have to there would
be no home. And the worst OF il is
that neither OF US cares for the other
as We used to. I'm not much on
words; l don't know how TO say it
but we are both withered."
yes, Anna" the man said slowly.
we are withered" Then with the
tears gathering in his eyes he rose
a little blindly and burst out, Il can't
stand any more tonight: welI talk Il
over again. Good by"
Christmas Morn.
Christmas, a. m.-We look again
into the nat of John Spalding in time
to see the baby Waken and hear him
scream with joy, SANDY Claus. Sandy
Claus!' He brung my sled" over
10 the little heap Of presents piled for
nlm he toddles and delyes about.
But what he is seeking is not there.
Mamma, where Is my sled?" he
shrieks, and falls to loud wailing. as
the truth bursts on him that there is
no sled among the little packages.
santa forgot it, darling" his
mother replies, cuddIing him to her
breast, "but see, he left this beau
tiful big candy cahe."-. Then she
turns TO her husband bitterly, why
can't they have what other children
have?" she demands. And John
Spalding. with the beaten droop in
mis- back. cannot answer.
Christmas. . p. m.-An oldish young
sat by herself at a cafe table
over the menu card with an
Eye to the price. Turkey she must
have, at almost any cost, and also
mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie,
he rest could be dispensed with. As
she sat waiting for the service OF her
frugal Christmas dinner. she fell TO
rejecting on the chain Of clrcum-
stances which had brought her to
his point Of life. At twenty zone,