The Lubbock avalanche. (Lubbock, Tex.) 1909-1922, 1921-12-16
BOYS AND GIRLS
CHRISTMAS STORIES

a club house as long as the Half Dozen Club
exists, and come for week-ends whenever con-
venient and for our long summer vacations"
Every one was silent for a minute and then
they all exploded with laughter.
Molly! OF all the cheeky things | ever heard
you say this is the worst To virtually tell
your hostess you would like to turn her out and
own her house instead o Molly, for shame"
Il don't care" returned Molly stubbornly
Miss Silver said we could wish all the lovely
things we would like TO happen, and, of course
! wouldn't want to turn her out of house and
home, but you know how we have always loved
this little cottage and | thought while / was
wishing for something might as well make il
as impossible as | could"
Miss Silver laughed and gave her hand little
pat. She understood Molly very well, even bet
ter than the girls and she knew what she
meant by lots of her queer little speeches.
Il wish another wish, girls. | wish that ev-
cry one of your wishes would come true even
to the funny one that Molly has Just made, for
if | ever give up this little house it will be be-
cause my own wish has come true, and If | go
abroad would rather you girls had my house
than any one else | can think Of
Now, if we are all going to stay awake until
midnight think we had better stir around and
get something to eat don't your
The girls were soon busy with the refresh
ments. Molly was an expert at toasting cheese
proved herself the only one capable of moking
the chocolate over the hot ashes without burn
ing her face or upsetting the pan in the fire.
The girls ate and talked and fed the fire.
The wind continued TO howl about the little
house, and the hands of the clock slowly moved
around TO ~. In ten more minutes the old
year would be gone and new one commenced.
A little silence fell upon the group and they sat
gazing into the fire, each occupied with the
20 Of bat atr brip
Suddenly they all jumped, for the silence of
the little house was rudely broken by the sound
of the telephone. They looked at each other
in some alarm, for the sound of the phone at
that hour of the night seemed ominous; it gave
them the same sensation of fear that the sight
of telegram usually gives those TO whom il
has, at one time or another brought a sad mes
sage.
But that fear was soon dispelled at the sound
of Miss Silver's voice. They listened as it rose
TO a crescendo of happy surprise. "You don't
mean itp' they heard her exclaim. Are you
perfectly sureg | can't believe i'll Yes if you
will, please" and then pause as a short letter
was evidently read aloud by the person at the
other end of the wire. Il never was so happy
in my life, Mary, and thank you thousand
times for calling me-"
As she turned from the phone she was more
beautiful and adorable than she ha dever been
in her life before. The girls never forgot how
she looked at that moment.
Girls" what do you Think she exclaimed.
IL have won the Europeon scholarship. Isn't
that too wonderful TO believe? special del
livery letter had been delayed and has just ar
rived at my room, and Miss Hodges knew what
il must be, so she called me up about it, and
read ii to me over the phone. | simply can't
believe il is true"
She came and knelt by the fire, while the girls
poured out their happy congratulations. The
first stroke of IL sounded from the clock above
them on the mantel.
Miss Silver" said Molly suddenly, your
wish is the first to come true. DO you realize
it?
Something in Molly dark, wistful clever face
pulled at Miss Silver's heartstrings. She re-
membered Molly's unhappy home and the fact
that very few of her wishes ever came true. A
sudden impulse came over her and before the
old clock had got half through its solemn an
nouncement she turned to the other girls, al
though il was Molly's hand she reached out to
clasp lovingly.
"Yes, my wish has come true, and because Of
that | am going to make another wish come
true | give, to the Half Dozen Club, this little
house for their very own, with the only proviso
that they elect Molly its caretaker. and allow
me to come and visit here when come home
from abroad
And as she finished speaking. the old clock
sounded its last note, and the new year had
come, bringing with it a great deal OF happi-
ness for those about the blazing fire.