, 1921-12-16

or had o~utgrown. There was Mary's
played with. n the set of little tin d
China dishes were 50 much nicer. OF c
anna. for she thought more of Mari
anna than she did OF all the rest of
her other toys.
Bobbis had his blocks that he
played with before he started to
school. He was too big for them ow.
And then there were h A. b. c.
rhyme books, and animal pictures.
Long ago Bobbie had learned the
rhymes by heart and he knew all OF
his A. B. Cs. When the children
had sorted their toys. mvther had
them put them In a pile by them
selves. Now Bobbie and Mary, you
children are old enough 10 give pleas
ure to smaller children who are not
80 fortunate as you. Wen give these
toys away this Christmas &c little
folks to whom Santa never comes.
and Just for fun. let us count the
times that we are made happier by
being kind" Wont that he SPLEEN
did," said Mary. but Bobbie was not
so Joyous. Sometimes as dear as Bib
bic was. there were times when he
was selfish. Mother understood by
the way that Bobbie acted tina the
plan did not appeal to him, but she
said nothing.
Let US go visiting his after
noon" said Mother. II know the
incest family with four little broth
ers and sisters. and a cunning baby.
who are they mother?" asked Bob
bic. He had forgotten about his toys
and was interested in this new idea.
You get ready and we viii go to see
who they are" said mother. and she
smiled very mysteriously. Bobbie
hoped away and hoped back quick
ly all ready to go.
Mother. Mary and .Bobbie tramped
thrugh the snow toward the house of
mothers new found friends. who lived
through the wood on the other side
of Mr.. Johns house. A little lark
eyed boy saw them coming and shy
ly smiled at mother whom he knew.
He vas about I've years old, smaller
than Bobbie. He was dressed in the
raggediest clothes that Bobbie had
ever seen. but they were as clean as
could be.
'How do you do, Peter" said
mother; there are my little boy and
girl. Bobbie and Mary. who have come
to play with you. Where arc Tom
and Annie and Sara?"
TON and Annie and Sara have to
stay in the house today. ma'am; 1t
Is too cold for them, without warm
clothes. See. I have warm clothes
and can go to the wood to pick up
sticks to keep us warm.
They went into the house and into
a spick and span kitchen where all
the rest OF the family We're. All were
dark-eyed and curiy-headed and as
nice is they could be. but none Of
them had enough clothes to keep them
warm. The three children who had
to stay in the house were sitting on
the floor cutting newspaper dolls and
playing with them. The mother was
rocking a baby to sleep in front Of the
stove on which q pot of mush was
boiling.
This mother smiled rather sadly
and greeted Mary and Bobbie. Soon
all tho children had become acquaint-
ed and were playing together while
mother and the other mother were
visiting. where's your train TomT'
asked Bobbie. at haven't any train"
Where's your mcnagerie, Them
asked bODDlt. maven I aty AOJc -
ALL, said Tom. Don't have enough
to eat sometimes without buying
toys" why don't you ask old Santa
to bring you some toys for Christ
mas? He always brings me lots
Santa does not como to h houses
OF poor people like u.s." and Tom was
about ready to cry.
It was not until then that Bobbie
realized what mother meant by max
ing other little children happy by CIV
ing to them q few of his W toys.
Mother had been watching Bobbie to
see what would happen to him, for
she knew that soone or later he
would be sorry for his ~selfshness
when he saw these children with his
own eyes. Lets go home mother"
said Bobbie. and he whispered some
thing In her ear. 1t was not polite
to whisper in company but mother
forgaye him because OF what he told
her. This is what ne said: Let's go
home. and get all those toys and some
r,cro hoeidas I can snare lots more"