The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-12-25

come In the past twenty-four hours that had
seemed 20. covering and desol.ts that frat
evening. He opened the door softly. and In
their noise and busy hurry. they did not al
hrst perceive him. The babies werv raSing
joyously. They had no doubts that this tree
was the best Of all possible trees. and a. 10
Jean. who sat near the window stirring some
thing vigorously in . yellow bowl abe had
erovn young over night, almost as young
as her year,. She was laughing a. be
opened the door. and he saw plainly at the
corner OF her mouth the place where another
day or 30 of prosperity would put dimpls
The box stove roared until the thick frost
which the cold had fostered into a festhery
plush began TO melt in dark circles at the
center OF each pane Suddenly she perceived
him. and the children hurled themselves
bodily at him. He must resxamine every
detail Of the trees splendor. must-tlss-
listen to the marvellous voice Of the born
again and again. It was Jean who tacttully
diverted them Quietly her question dropped
into that maelstrom and silence succeeded
HAS any one seen Peepsy this mornins7-
For Peepsy had been shut into box IN
the kitchen the night before, and now. SAID
Martha, the box was empty. Like an answer
to the question a strident note OF Joy sounded
from upstairs; steady, rhythmic. victorious
football was audible in the silence, a small
and stately stride that went and came about
the bare floors overhead. passing from one
room to another in a sort of march while
the happy voice pealed forth:
-Kdswk, Dawkut-' Triumphed Peepsy.
Il believe she has. said Jean in an aved
tone.
As the meaning OF this march and song
came home to them the children, with their
dolls under their arms, went upstairs 70
congratulate Peepsy and collect her eeg. and
as the halls were cold. Martha pursued them
with sweaters. but Thomas stayed behind
II was not a long hunt, for though the
house was large, only Thomas room. with
It's packing boxes and chintz, made any pre-
tense OF furnishing A long hall ran down
the middle. with four rooms on a side. Fcc-
for the hired help Of the old prosperous DAYS
OF the farm. four for the ner's family
But the doors OF all were shut except ~
three inch crack in one. Opening This
door wider. they saw a stairway leading up
and followed it TO a region OF creosote stainei
chimneys and a huddle OF sap buckets an
maple sugar pans.
And there, in a far. dusky corner. upon
a handful Of corn husks lay Peepsy's Christ
mas egg exactly as Tweedledum and Twee-
dledee had predicted
They returned. bearing II with them and
singing. Peepsy. however. had preceded
them TO the kitchen and wxa on the table
helping herself to . bowl Of mush. II seemed
strange that the chatter Of her bill upon the
china should not have attracted the attention
Of Thomas and Jean. Even when with .
Eulty squswk. abe upset the bowl and nev
down, the two in the next room made no
sign They did not even turn their heads
when the babies stood In the doorway shout
ing the nsws and holding the sgu on high,
II seemed - some spen Wa upon them pre-
venting them from seeing anything but each
others faces. N did not seem at AL strange
to Tweedlodum and Twvedledss, however,
that . gentleman should be On his knees 70
LADY and holding both her hands TO his lips.
They merely ran In and added Themselves 70
this Agreeable srouptng.
Martha stood for . moment hooking 81 Der
yosns srseA9 With . snils haff maternal.
half vtstf1lI rsaas.ans that ~ bad yAssse to
. NV ovn~ snA vAs . boy ne ,oassr. Thsa
sAs vatAArsv. inviting the babies 70 ,o,n her
In the kteehsn for . eonfsrsnoe - 10 Just
hSv Ps.psyS sgS should b. COOKED Hsr the
Christmas dinner.
foa~AuAf, YSxis ~ 49,