Deming graphic., 1921-12-13

oning his wife 90 SIT on tne hr" VI !"
"T am glad TO see that others miss
those beautiful holidays and the whole
month before. when the air was fuii
Of mysteries"
"Oh, George. now know what you
we're talking Of when came TO wake
YOU" Molly said. running her fingers
through his tousled hair Tell me
about H."
II was reading some OF the letters
from Henry, for I'd been thinking Of
him all day" began her husband.
"The last letter I read was the one
we got from him last year just before
Christmas, in which he told us how he
and Jane were planning Christmas for
the Youngsters, and how he hoped that
another year he would he home with
MS. I sat here recalling the many
Chrlstmases you and had planned
for our children. Molly. do you re-
member the year We had the Uglow
bows over for Christmas ever he ex-
citedly continued, half rising from his
chair ms the happy past came back TO
his mind IN jumbled snatches. Il can
see them now. the four boys and two
girls sitting around this very stove.
telling the Christmas stories which
they had learned In school. Then, how
their eyes bulged and their mouths
opened when Santa came into the
room. The children danced with glee,
hut the girls were a bit timid. The
boys. however, were real chummy and
asked Santa many embarrassing ques-
tlonS about his trips.
All this he said slowly. pausing now
and then so that he could live II over
again. lie looked up into Molly's face,
,or she had been very quiet and there
he saw big tear drops rolling slowly
down her thin cheeks which now
showed delicate pink flush.
well. well. Molly" began her hus-
hand.
Don't George, know It's foolish
for me to cry. but wish we could
have a tree and children to fuss for.
Christmas comes and goes now with
out much excitement and II makes me
feel as though I'm getting awfully
old"
Molly. let's have a tree and we will
get ready for Christmas just ms we
did long ago"
The next morning the happy cou
pie took n trip to the woods TO choose
tree. BY the twenty-second II De
cember all the things were finished
George found Molly sitting before the
fire looking very sober.
Molly. why do you look 30 bluel
This is the time for everyone TO be
happy"
81 know II, but George, I think our
fun is over. All our planning Is done
and we have no one here to enjoy IT,
No chlldren's voices to sing the lovely
Christmas songs. oh. shall miss IL"
she said sobbing.
1--WE still have three days In which
TO find children. We are going to have
Christmas just as we want IT, feel
as though this will be the happiest." "
The next night, they-again were
cuddled in the big armchairs drawn
before the stove. Both Of them were
deep in thought wondering and hop
ing. Both Of them started when the
telephone rang. breaking up their
thoughts. George answered and was
astonshed when he heard n telegram
read To him. He hung up the receiver
with a slam and ran over to Molly.
threw his arms about her picked her
up and carried her around.
"George. tell me about Il. What
has happenedT
"Molly. I can't talk. I'm so happy.
| knew we would hnd children but
now I mustn't keep you In suspense
any longer. II was n telegram Ike
this Family coming TO spend Christ
mas on the farm. Arrive on noon
train tomorrow. Henry"
Now Molly took her turn In reJolc-
ing. She danced about the ROOM Her
face was pink and her eyes spnrkled
like an overJoyed chllds. I'VE must
get the toys ready for the children
she said, and Immediately went on to
make new dress Tor doii.
The next noon, George and Molly
were standing ON the station platform,
trembling with excitement. The by
standers could tell that something M
usual was happening for the old peo-
ple. Finally the train came.
There they are! I see Jane and
Helen. Where is Henryi" cried Molly.
Here, Mother" answered her boy
and he picked her up and kissed her
"Didnt know me. did yOu?"
That afternoon. the big doors to the
living room were kept closed. The chill
dren suspected nothing for they we're
busy exploring the farm.
In the evening after they came
from church. the doors to the living
room were opened; the children were
so happy that they danced about the
tree and excltedly grabbed one parcel
after another. In their excitement
they could not unite the packages 50
their father and mother and grand