Evening star., 1925-06-28
One of a series of the
years best short
stories.

charge only a few weeks before, and
! she had never heard of the Rieneys.
When she saw the strange children
| in the back seats she came down to
| them She was a tall young woman
| warm friendly smile -.
I'm SO glad to see you" she said.
but | don't think / know you, do I?
ana thought | had met almost all
the boys and girls .
| Tim, on behalf of the tribe. accom-.
| plished introductions
But why don't you attend school"
| When he had told her why, with his
customary directness, her eyes syln-
| pathized, but a little frown of worry
drew a line between them. She left
them, and disappeared behind the cur
tam, where Mr. Jackman, who, in fun
costume. was to impersonate the good
Saint Nicholas, was superintending
the decking of the tree. n
Mr.. Jackman." said the girl, I've
| just discovered a family Of children
named Rigney. They haven't attend.
ed school but they are here tonight"
"ellE said Mr.. Jackman dis
coura gingly.
Their mother is dead and their
father is in the hospital. Somehow
l thlnk they are poor. We must put
something on the tree for each Of
| them
Cant do it." said Mr.. Jackn,an
PRESENTS this year is confined to and
strictly limited to pupils in actual at
tendance, and brothers and sisters OF
same too young to attend. That was
| The resolution we passed unanimous
ana them Rgneys don't qualify"
know. the girl admitted But
can't we stretch a point? They expect
something. and they'll be so disap
! pointed"
They got no right to expect" Mr..
Jackman returned. They're a hard
lot: That da-er-that eldest boy Is
d foul-mouthed young tough
| But he's boy.' she urged.
Perhaps he hasn't had many oppor-
tunities. And-and they're Just chill
dren, Mr.. Jackman, and Christmas
means so much to child"
presents was bought with direct
reference to that resolution" Mr..
Jackman declared with tinality, "and
there amt only enough TO 90 round
as 1t is. They're all ticketed and an
! on the tree. Give 'em to them Rig
| news and some other child it means
just as much to will have to go with.
| out"
! Which was indisputable.
! But your own children are on a
visit to their grandparents over tho
| holiday" the girl suggested. They
aren't here tonight. Couldn't W.
take their presents. Mr. Jackman?. I
Id be glad to duplicate them NV
self as soon as | can-if You'll let
me" :" 80
Which kindly offer Mr.. Jackmsn
turned down cold. His children's
presents We're not going to them Rig
| neys if he knew his own mind ana
| he opined that he did
ana / II say here and now said
hr. Jackman glaring at the rash
young woman, "speakin' as chairman
OF the board Of trustees, that the
presents on his tree is going to be
! connned TO them entitled to them By
virtue OF the resolution we passed.
| on the faith Of which and in accord
ance with which we collected tbe
funds TO buy EN-. and is trustees for
that purpose for each and every sub
scriber."
And that settled it definitely. The
! RlgneyS were out OF it.
Unaware of their hard luck thev
sat through the speeches and the
| program. congratulating themselves
that they bore no part in the iat,er
lhen the curtain slid aside. and the
christmas tree, decked with tfnsel
! streamers and ablaze with colored
candles among which hung myste.
| rious. ribbon-tied parcels, was dis
| closed
The tree was just a saplins
| sWamped out of the brush. But to
these children of Bush Valley it was
glimpse of the fairyland that Won
ana / perhaps saw many years ago:
and for those years in which we have
accumulated h disillusionnent
which men in their folly call wisdom,
| shall never see again. save vicartouslv
through the eyes of the younger gen
GRAFTON. But thus, for a moment, we
may glimpse it. And so among the
fresh eager faces and shining ewes
OF the children the worn, lined faces
of their elders relaxed. and the Bright
Angel that is the Spirit of Youth
touched their tired eyes with gentle
fingers and bade them look again for
an instant with the clear, unwearied
vision of the children with whom
they sat.
Mr.. Jackman perhaps f1attered him
self that his disguise was impene-
trable, but Tim Rigney pierced it at
once.
Him actin as Santa Claus-the
old devil he muttered, and scowIed
at the shore going representative of
the good saint
So the distribution went on. Mr..
Jackman handed presents to their re
cipients with what he fondly believed
to be appropriate phrase. He took
charge of the packages intended for
his own children, and placed them in
| his pack, which was a gunny sack
partially stuffed with waste paper
Not until the tree was almost bare
of its gift fruit did the modest young
Rigneys begin to experience mis-
givings.
Tim" said one Of the twins In a
loud whisper.
Shut up"' said Tim fraternally
But. Tim" the other took up the
plant of his fellow. "aint we goin
to get no presents. Tim?''
Shut your face and watt" Tim
told them. But in his heart he knew
that the worst had happened. There
was nothing on that fairy tree for any
Rigney. Young Barney began to
share this knowledge. His mouth
drew down. and sullen scowl sat on
his brow. Tesse's blue eyes shadowed
by trouble, more for the others than
for herself. And then suddenly 1t was
over. The tree was bare. Santa Claus
disa appeared in the anteroom to divest
himself of his costume.
ITO your tents. o Israeli
Up rose Tim Rigney, and delivered
his equivalent.
Come on, kids. You amt in it,
! Sternly he shepherded his flock to
( the door and outside. But down the
aisle the tall young teacher who had
seen this exodus, came flying, pity in
her heart. Outside, in the starlight,
she caught him.
Come back, Tim Rigney," she said.
NO, ma a'am," Tim refused.
But there are things to eat-cake.
candy. oranges-all sorts of good
things" she pleaded DO STAY,
please"