New-York tribune., 1920-12-24
Books

Until we saw Barries Mary Rose
i, was our notion that the most odious
word which circulates in the theater
vas "kiddies," but now we have heard
"ghostie," worse than that-"poor little
ghostie."
We had intended to write q Christ
mas story for this column to-day, but
Mary Rose took all the good cheer
out Of our heart and it was quite i'm
possible. However, one reader has
written within the last few days ask
ing us to print again the story used
last year. Accordingly, we feel justi-
fed in saying "by request" and COM
plying.
Once there lived near Bethlehem a
man named Simon and his wife Deborah.
And Deborah dreamed a curious dream.
dream so vivid that it might better
be called a vision. 1t was not yet day
break, but she reused her husband and
told him that an angel had come to her
in the vision and had said, as she re-
membered it, "To-morrow night in Beth
lekem the King Of the World will be
born" The rest was not so vivid in
Deborah's mind, but she told Simon that
wise men and kings were already on
their way to Bethlehem, bringing gifts
for the wonder child
"When he is born," she said, "the
wise men and the kings who bring these
gifts will see the stars dance in the
heavens and hear the voices of angels.
You and l must send presents, too, for
this child will be the greatest man in all
the world"
Simon objected that there was moth
ing of enough value if the house to take
to such child, but Deborah replied,
THE King of the World will under
stand" Then, although it was not yet
light, she got up and began to bake a.
cake, and Simon went beyond the town
to the hills and got holly and made a
wreath. Later in the day husband and
wife looked over all their belongings.
but the only suitable gift they could
find was one old toy, a somewhat bat
tered wooden duck that had belonged to
their eldest son, who had grown up and
married and gone away to live in Galilec.
Simon painted the toy duck as we'll as
he could, and Deborah told him to take
it and the cake and tie wreath of holly
and go to Bethlehem. "It's not much. !"
she said, "but the King will understand. !"
1t was almost sunset when Simon
started down the winding road that
led to Bethlehem. Deborah watched
him round the first turn and would
have watched longer except that he
was walking straight toward the sun
and the light hurt her eyes. She went
back into the house and an hour had
hardly passed when she heard Simon
whistlng in the garden. He was walk
ing very slowly. At the door he hesi-
tated for almost a minute. She looked
up when he came in. He was empty
handed.
"You haven't been to Bethlehem" !"
said Deborah.
"No," said Simon.
Then, whers is the cake, and the
holly wreath, and the toy duck?"
'I'm sorry" said Simon, 81 couldn't
help it somehow. 1t just happened"
What happened?" asked Deborah,
sharply.
"Well," said Simon, "just after went
around the first turn in the road
found child sitting on that big white
rock, crying. He was about two or
three years CID, and I stopped and
asked him why he was crying. He didn't
answer. Then told him not to cry
like that, and | patted his head, but
that didn't do any good. l hung around
trying to think up something, and
decided to put the cake down and take
him up in my arms for minute. But
the cake slipped out OF my hands and
hit the rock, md piece Of tho icing