The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-01-24
A CHRISTMAS STORY
proper Gander)


was raging so, there were many peo-
pie who died in different communities
around Abbeville. In a certain COM
munity there were several fathers
and mothers who died and left their
little ones to be taken care of the
best way they could.
Among those were Mr.. and Mrs.
Brown who died leaving children, 2
boys and two girls. They were not
wealthy people at all.
Instead of these little children be-
ing sent to the orphanage, Mr.. and
Mrs. Folk, who had no children took
them to feed, clothe and educate,
These people had plenty of money.
When Mr.. and Mrs. Brown died
Christmas was very near. These lit
tie children had never known what
Christmas was. They hardly knew
when it came. They had caught on
about father and mother being Santa
Claus. Their Christmas had never
been any pleasure to them. All the
people in the community were very
kind to these little children. Mrs
Folk tried to make them believe there
was a Santa Claus.
When Christmas came, all the peo-
pie gave money to buy them some
.oys. There was a large sum gotten
up, as the people were so interested
in these little girls and boys.
The Christmas tree was fixed
Christmas eve night in Mrs. Folks
sitting room. 1t was full of gifts for
the little children.
Christmas morning large fire was
built and the children were called.
| They dressed and came down stairs.
They were happier than they had
ever been since their father and
mother died. The smallest child, who
was about fie years old, seen<,d to be
happier than any of them. He got a
little wagon and tricycle.. This Vas
something he had never seen before.
After they had taken all the gifts
off the tree, they spied the fruits un-
der the tree. Then they ate fruit un-
til they got enough.
When they had eaten breakfast and
were. sitting by the fire, some one
.ang the door-bell and Mrs. Folk went
to see who it was. AS she opened the
door, there stood four little girls with
their arms full of things. They came
into the room where the little chill
dren were and handed each one of
them large box just packed full Of
toys. They were so happy that they
didn't know how to act. The little
girls that brought the things were
just as happy after. ling the life they
had lived. All during the day different
people came in bringing them things.
A lady came and brought them box
The children were very proud of
If oranges and apples:
them.
The next day Mr.. and Mrs. Folk
and their little adopted children
were invited to church to Christ
las exercises. The little children
were very happy. Each one was
dress in lovely clothes. They would
take better care of their clothes than
other children would do.
The little children did not know
what it was to 60 to Christmas exer-
cises. They ere glad to get to go to
church any time. The people were
all glad to see them out at church.
The exercises were enjoyed very
much by these little children.
During all the Christmas holidays
the little Children were invited to diff
ferent homes in the community. They
were taken to the movies most every
night. They were seeing things they
had never seen before.
The sad part of this story was that
an uncle of the childrens' came to
see them about the latter part of
Christmas and begged Mrs. ok to
let him have one of the children. Mrs.
Folk told him that sIe did not want
to give any of them up. This uncle
was real wealthy. He told Mrs. Folk
that he would educate this one and
oive him whatevar he wished Mrs.