The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1921-04-28
THE INVISIBLE GUEST

By Eliza Orne White, Author OF
The Blue Aunt, The Strange Year, etc.
"Well all have to give up something
this winter" said Mrs. Marsh, land
send the money to the hungry little
children abroad. am going without
new suit" and she looked down at her
shabby black dress. "Tony, what are
you going without"
Tony looked thoughtful. He was
small boy, even smaller than ms
twin sister Laura, but he seemed old
er. for ever since his father was killed
overseas, he had been the man OF the
family. Z,
"Tli give up my Christmas money"
Tony said. . III -
your Christmas money, are you
asked Laura. -. ~
ayes, all of it," he replied, with
little sigh. "It won t go very Tar"
"Well, I'm not going to give all OF
mine. Pm doing to save enough to
buy a sweater for my precious Ter.
aldine," for Laura adored her newest
Just then their pretty Aunt Laura
came downstairs in an evening gown.
She was going to a great dinner IN
Boston for the benefit of the starving
children abroad and there was to be
a vacant high chair on the platform to
represent a hungry little child.
III am so sorry you are not gong:
too" she said to her sister-in-law, who
was helping her into her wraps.
But Mrs. Marsh was not sorry, she
was Going to have her own good time
at home: for the invisible guest could
be at every table in the land.
When the dining-room door was
opened, the children saw the hlgh
chair that Tony had sat in When ne
was a tiny child at the head OF the
table for the invisible guest, and the
high chair that Laura had sat IN next
to her own place, and in it sat her
newest doll! H..
ooh. YOU set place for Geraldine:
how nice!' exclaimed Laura,
They ate their supper without say
ing very much. while the candle burn,
ed lower and lower at the place OF
the invisible guest. Tony was thll1k-
ing of thu great and good man why
planned the dinner in Boston, and
ionged with all his ardent young SOU
to grow up brave and true, so ne
could do some big work that Woulo
count. Laura thought how GLAD she
was that she lived where food ana
coal were plentiful. She had never
felt so thankful for her blessings be.
fore: and Mrs. Marsh was thinking OF
her husband, who had gone across the
sea to lay down his life that other ma.
tions might be free. and there might
be peace in the world. Freedom had
not come as yet. not peace to all, but
nerhaps when her children grew up
something of this dream might come
true. 81
Then she told them over again OF
the work for the starving children ana
added, "We'll send our contributions
tomorrow"
The last spoonful of stew was eaten
and the last drop Of cocoa drunk:
even Geraldine's portion was gone, Tor
Laura drank Geraldine's cocoa, and
gave Tony the dolls share OF stew
"Because am not so .awfully fond OF
stew as YOU are" she said, then glanc-
ing at her mother. she added. II am
90 glad YOU let Geraldine come to the
table,"
"I thought it might be a good les
son for her, too" said Mrs. Marsh:
''It is" said Laura with sigh. "She
syeater."
Begin at the Beginning
Seventeen states are working Tor
legislation providing for the establish
ment of kindergartens upon petition
Of parents, and their success will indl-
cate distinct educational progress.