The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1922-12-26
voice; 1--WE got something else I
70,

voice; 1--WE got something else
| want to do noW.'
The next morning while his
! mother was getting breakfast, Teddy
! brought his work-basket all wrapped
in some tissue paper he had found in
| a shoe box, with the Christmas Seal
' pasted on it and laid it on the couch
/ beside the comfort and the three par
cells that were for him. He saw that
these other gifts were wrapped in
! newspaper, and his looked so much
nicer than they, and so much nicer
| than it looked on the inside, that he
| took the paper off, and wrapping the
handkerchief up in it laid it in the
basket, then be wrapped the package
in newspaper.
After breakfast the presents were
distributed and when the comforter
and Teddy's three things had been
opened and admired, Mr.. Robbins
and his wife thought that the cere
| mony was over. but Teddy nudged
his father and said, "That one
that one"
Mr.. Robbins lifted the awkward
package and saw "For Mother" on it
For me?" said Mrs. Robbins"
for me?"
She opened the bundle, and the
workbasket lay revealed in all it's
ugliness of Powered calico and faded
forget-me-nots. She did not fail
she flashed him the swift look he had
expected. Teddy, Dearest" sheI
said looking at the basket, Teddy
dearest, for me?"
''Well, amt that the workbasket
thought" MI. Robbins demanded,
and nodded at his wife, and looking
at Teddy's shining face, he saw
and the mother saw-what Christ
mas meant to the child.
There's somethin' else" Teddy
said and pointed to a little roll of
paper tucked in the side of the bas-
ket.
This time his mother looked
frightened, as she unWrapped thel
handkerchief.
"She gave it to me" Teddy cri- |
ed excitedly, Mrs: Marten. she gaveI
it to me when 1 took the clothes
home. 1 ask her for tito remem-
Der her by"
Whats that?" said Mr.. Robbins. |
"Took what clothes homer"
Mrs. Robbins hand shook and herl
voice trembled as she tried to speak |
"John," she said beseechingly, I'll
have been helpin' little-just with |
Mrs. Martens clothes. 1 couldn't |
stand it couldn't stand it. want
ed to help along little bit"
Mr.. Robbins started to speak, but |
somehow the face of his wife, eager,
work-worn, looking at him humblyl
and guilty, moved him as he had
never been moved before. 1t was
their family-hers> and Teddy's and
his together and she and Teddy had
tried to live up to their claim. In
the midst of thoughts some oneI
knocked on the door.
Teddy answered the knock and rel
turned with basket all wrapped inl
white, as he had wanted to wrap his,
marked Merry Christmas From ,Thet
Martens To Their Neighbors.'' There
were fruits, bonbons, toys, books,
and material for a gown. This was
only one of the many, many baskets,
some of which contain much and |
Others little, but all alike - filed |
with spirit that uses Christmas, as a
means Of expressing human kind
ness
ooh" said Teddy, staring down at
the things, what lot she sent to
remember her by" = |
Mr.. Robbins stared at the basket |
too, and then looked out of the win
dow at the snowy street and at the |
Christmas hush Of the world. and for
the first time in his life he realized
just what Christmas meant; and
Teddy and his mother, fearing that
he was angry with them. saw him
nod and smile.
ooh, but Teddy" said Mrs. Rob
bins brokenly, There amt none of
these things that I needed like I
needed this basket from you"
"Honest?" said Teddy happily.
SMITH, Junior Glass,