Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1918-12-12

| "There Is nothing" said Anne.
"We1l find something's determined
~ answered Judith.
| "You can make things out OF COM
| paratively nothing" laughed Anne,
"but you can't make them out of abso-
lutely nothing"
eyes, we can! I'll send for my
yarns and knit cap and mittens FOR
each child. They are using bright col
Ors and combinations Of colors. In
that way we can use your leftover
yarns, too. Wen have plenty without
buying any more, and l knit rapidly.
I've done lotD Of this work Tor the Red
CrosAs
She made looms with empty spools
and pins, from which each child helped
to make a round string which they
worked on at odd moments. They were
to be sewed on the mittens. No more
hunting for the "other mitten." The
| children were entertained with the idea
Of being useful and Of helping 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 be
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 sew
| en- and nine.
| How to make eleven-year-Old Ralph
happy with left-overs was the problem.
| Then Judith remembered that years
| ago she had been the recipient Of
stamp book which she had not used.
1 She wrote her father for 1t, and then
invested in some mixed stamps for
Ralph to make beginning with. A
few new puzzles and toys from the
ten-cent store made goodly array OF
bright things for Tommy, who was the
youngest child.
"NOw for the dinner" said Judith.
Lets not try to have the usual Christ
mas dinner, but think up something
different"
II 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. I had
hoped to have them. but of course
cannot do it this year."
THAT gives me the very idea, Anne.
| Wen invite them and surprise them
with regular English dinner-roast
beef, Yorkshire pudding and gravy,
and have roly-poly pudding for des-
sert."
| The days few by with the sisters as
busy as bees. Anne was never happier
in all her life. She had not time for
| repining, and found that by simply
making the best Of everything she had
no real troubles at all. Henry, too.
caught the spirit Of hope, and remark
ed to his wife:
ut won't be long until we have made
up for lost time, and I like my new
position better than the old one, be-
cause it has more Of future to It,"
The Lamberts were delighted with
the invitation, as they were expect.
ing lonely day, far away from Merrie
England.
One day, when Judith came in from
shopping, Anne met her with the news:
"A nephew, John Leigh, has surpris-
ed the Lamberts. He has seen service
in France, and is sent here by the
! British government on a mission to
| Washington. He has weeks vaca.
ton and has come to spend II with
them. ] insisted that he come to our
Christmas dinner, and they are all
going to call tonight"
"How interesting" exclaimed Ju-
dith. "Perhaps he can advise me about
my Red Cross work."
| Everyone was delighted to meet the
handsome young soldier and eager to
hear stories Of "over there from one
| who knew John became Il great help
to Judith with her plans for the chill
| dren's Christmas and her Red Cross
work. In fact. he thought Of so many
things that he came to the Midgely's
at least once day and every evening.
He trimmed the tree while Judith
made the simple things to adorn It.
One evening Mrs. Midgely remarked
| to her husband: 81 never saw young
| man so interested in children"
He looked up from his paper in
| amused surprise. "My dear. do you
really think he Is interested only in
the children?"
"John. you don't mean JUDITH"
Certainly. It has been evident from
| the first"
Christmas arrived-a glorions day,
with snow on the ground. The chill
dren had hung up their stockings. Into
the bottom Of each had been placed the
bright new cap and mittens, and a gay
bag Of candy on top. while the other
gifts were grouped about the tree.
After the successful dinner was
eaten they spent the evening in sing.
ing carols. John had good tenor voice
and Judith accompanied him On the
| piano. Then he sang military songs
he had learned In the trenches.
The guests took their departure.
| vowing II the happiest Christmas Of
all NFrc Nfs1coy~, &,rvo<1 90 Nor 81