The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1923-12-21

lANx4 ms, Faith and Jenny, when
$snNTE they came to spend the day
pWN before Christmas with her.
Il know It," said Faith. "Tm to
be in it."
$50 am l." cried Polly. "Come to
my playrOOm, and I'll show you my
dolls that are to be in the tabelo."
Polly meant tableau, but that was
quite near enough for such little Bit
OF a girl to get to such strange
word.
Faith and Jenny had brought their
dolls to take part, and the little girls
were soon very busy seeing that they
were in proper order.
Il need new doll dreadfully," said
Polly, with very sober face. II told
Cousin Phil so, and he says I better
speak to Santa C'aus about 1t. But
| should be afraid to, wouldn't your"
Il don't know" replied Faith. Hes
kind, they say"
Yes; and when he's comm right
here p'raps might. Just see. Betsy
Bobolink's hair is all comm out, and
Little Miss Mufets eyes won't shut
any more"
""I'd ask him." said Faith, encour-
agingly.
Early In the evening a number OF
other little children came with theil
mothers, and no house ever held o
merrier Christmas Eve party than that
was: AS it got little later some of
the papas quietly stole into the front
parlor and looked on, which made
everybody more anxious than ever
that things go on well.
1t was great fun getting ready for
the dolls tableau.
"My doll won't do" said little Bes
sic Plummer. She was looking at the
fine dresses of the other dolls, and
Polly saw that BesSle's doll was very
poor-looking and shabbily dressed.
"Oh, yes, DEAR" said Polly's mamma.
She'll do for nurse. She'll make
q very nice nurse"
"Why didn't you bring some other
doll?" asked Polly.
II haven't any other" replied Bessie.
Polly looked around at her dolls, say
ing to herself: II do believe I'll give
one Of my dolls to Bessie. shant
need all my old ones If Santa Claus
brings me new one"
The dolls tableau was great sue
cess. Not one of the actors In it
moved q single limb"
If my space was bigger, might take
more time to tell about the other tab
lcaux, and of the dance with songs and
laughter around the Christmas tree, at
the end of which Santa Claus himself
stood behind it, and in kindly, gruft
tones invited each little boy and girl
TO come and receive a Christmas gift
The last tableau was the very thine
to wind up a Christmas Eve. 1t was
a picture of room at midnight. Even
the hands of the clock were fixed te
show half-past twelve. One or two
small white beds were in the room, OF
the pillows of which could be seen
little curly heads and closed eyes.
But one pair of blue eyes were still
watching for Santa Claus. At a half
omen door stood a cunning white
robed little figure peeping out as the
dear old fellow knelt before the fire
place. Some stockings hung above 1t
and he was in the very act of filling
some he had taken down.
And then-what do you think tina
darling, funny Polly did?
All the evening her head had beef
full of the doll she had been wishing
TO ask for. But since she had seel
poor Bessie Plummer's shabby doll
well!
AS she peeped through the door, still
wondering If she dared, she saw tina
Santa Claus had laid aside his Ion
cloak. There was something in til
curly head above the fur-trimme
Jacket that looked very familiar. Fol
getting all about being in the tableal
and all the people looking at 1t, OF
bounded the little bare, dimpled fee
ooh, Cousin Phil" she shouted, rur
ming up to him, won't you give tn
very incest doll you've got to Bessi
plummerT
I "Oh-h-h-h!" exclaimed Faith an
Jenny in a shocked whisper. "She
moved. She's spoiled the tabelO."
But the papas and mammas said, Q
the party broke up with a deal
laughter:
at was the sweetest. prettiest thin
we have seen"