The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1918-12-21
LEAVING 1T TO FATHER
BY KATE WEBER


wire YOU when / get home won't
come back this way. Good hAe
Numerous relatives were az the sta
ton. and mother WA escorted 10 hor
sisters home aud made $50 comfortublv
happy hat she uncorHciouslN relaxed
aud began Go rest before she knew u
The DAYS were crowded with simple
pleasures ana plans Tot the holidays.
snndwiched IN between the hours de-
voted To- war-work. u was Christmas
eve before mother realized hat her
visit was over ~ moo u wir, anne
Home 81 last Meet sou at the six
o'clock train
The hriof journey home wa
passed IN pleasant rctrospcCitons and
not O few musings ns TO whit fathcr
was doing or had lone toward their
christmns. When SHE did seo him
through the crowds al the station. she
noticed an old hoyish buoluncy IN his
step, e smilc ON mis- face that she
hadn't seen In many wears. lie was
politely interested IN hcr account "
her little visit. but his mind WIS plain
~ occupied with thoughts of his own
smiling inwordlN. mother asked not a
single question, but bided her time
They were whitfield through the busy
streets. through good nnturod crowds
OF shoppers and family parties. intent
on reaching the same place at the
samo time. according TO then conCcn-
truted rushinG FINALLY Michael stop
ped the car. and opened the door.
Welcome homo an u Merry Christ
mas. he said with a flourish.
Father alightod. and turning. picked
his wife up aud carried her bodily INTO
the house but not into the blk house;
up the curving brick walk straight
into tho little yellow rottngc. which
was lighted from back to front. stand
ing in tho doorway stood Della. hor
face a solid NOry grin Behind her.
mothers startled gaze tool az tho dour
sitting room. haihed IN the friendly
mellow light of her own coal-oil lamp:
and the furnishings wcru idcntically
as they had been IN those days Of long
ago cracking logs. fathers chair and
slippers. her brown FORK basket. the
mnIOlica vase, ana "a bowl OF chest
nuts and apples.
"FathOT-o my dear She could
say RIO more. hut buried her head on
his broad shoulder Della crept dis
4 cretely away. and for awhile the two
OF them sat hand IN hand without
speaking. FINALLY
Father. how did you ever think Of
the sweetest Christmas in the world .
u hurts lust n wee bit. hut what q 10y
ful feeling II brings back. why. I can
almost scold little brother Tor being
lat" to supper. OF Jack FOR coming In
with muddy feet Al the old pictures.
All The things I love the most and
OH"
Her csc had ospied Tho f~our-starrcd
service flag which was hanging inside
a wreath OF hOllN In tn" front window
She took fathers head between ior
hands.
Father. dcnr. tell nae iusi how Gar
you have gone with thir Cbrlstmns
" tNAaa H.. aH.aa 4..a.. a. IA aNaN. a
lust for tOmOrroN, or ~ hts oh CHn n
be " III my lttlo home agnin ."
1T IL our only home. little mother
The night reached Kansas city
too tho next train back. and have
been here ever since. with Delin's
able help I have tried ms nearly ls
memory would assist me, 10 make this
our little nest of Ions ago Your pink
checks n bright cyrH tell mo that
You are glad that " wasn't TOO big "a
bunch 10 carry out By the way. here
are "a Few Christmas cards that came
Tor YOU today
Taking from mis- pocket q packaEc
of papers, he laid them ~ her lap
Her eager eye stw fouf cablogrums
which she opened with trembiings
fingers. Merry rhriRtmns. Well and
happy they an read. Through a
mist OF toarn she smiled ~ father
Then aH an official document caugh,
her u~ttontion she looked up laugh
mRll
Father. have You dod.lcd me nm.
other house and lott have about ~
] can manag ia the was of roni -.
tatc already"
Don't know So much about that.
dear. l,ehd what YOU have there
Like an impatient boy father opened
the envelope foi her.
MhcrCnpOn mother adjusted her
spcCtaclcs. and learned in terms
beautifully expressed. that she VIA
the donor 10 her -goNsrnmont OF d hos
pitnl for cunNnlcEcont soldiers. aud
thnt her offer had been most CRATE
fully accepted. \ committee Of ora.
Gers would arrive the coming week a.
makc arrangements for the neccssurs
rcmodcling Of the house.
Father she smiled r%adiantly
Don't ever leave anything to me
again ! could never, have