The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-12-18

1 uVOA ORChCu anu 1 8A Cob OA0eA - light fell across the street from a house that stood there. She knew the house, although what It was she did not know. But she passed it every day and 1t had a cross over the door. There were letters, but she did not know what the letters were, of course. Some- times there were strange singing sounds coming out of the house. Once she had peeped in to see what this singing was, and there were many people standing and singing out of books. A woman stood at the door and asked her to come in. But she was frightened. Why should they want her to come in? She was only a girl, and no one could want anything of her for good. She had shaken her head and run away.
 Still, this square of light looked warm now. She dragged her bun- de a few steps further and dropped down in the light, sitting flat up- on the street. At this hour few people passed, and she could sit un- molested for her ten breaths. But she must not stay more than the ten breaths. She must remember not to stay more than that. She looked in at the open door.
 WHAT WAS THIS? Did she look into heaven? But where save in heaven grew such tree as that, covered with lights from top to bottom? What were those fruits that hung upon 1t glittering? There were children, too. standing ana singing. Their garments were children, too, standing and singing. Their garments were whole, every one of them wore clean, whole garments. with all the holes patched and neat, and they had shoes upon their feet.
 Now what was this? There were packages under the trees. Eacn child was being given one. She had 6 sudden wild hope. Perhaps they were giving things away here! Once somewhere in the row or huts where she lived there had been an old woman who said that in a famine she had known there had been people who gave things away, old clothes and little food not much, she said, but she could live that winter through. And it had not been so bad a famine as this, either. No, 1t could not have been so bad, because af- rewards the old woman had starved. Her husband was drowned in the field as he ploughed. and she had run away alone, and there was no one to feed her. She had eaten less and less and before any of them really knew 1t, there she was, dead. So this was Q worse famine.
 siu May pressed forward to the door, trembling, and peered In. The room was full with people, grown people and children. Someone was talking, man. He said, rms year because of the famine, our day of rejoicing cannot be very rich in things to eat. But we have managed for every child to nave a little package"
 Siu Mays heart gave q leap. They were giving things away! She took @ step almost to the threshold. The man went on, TO every child who has come to our school, then, -" Her heart sank. Then this was q school - these things were for school children! She had never been to a school. No, in her village there was no school. It had never been thought of, nor if 1t had,. would she nave gone, being a girl. She .shrank would be none for her. and stood looking speechlessly at the lighted tree. An, if it had been that she could have been boy, and If It had been that there was no such year as this cruel year, no. and no flood, and her mother living ana if the land had done well by them and if her father had said, "Son, you shall go to school" well then. she would have said, "Father, will go to such school as has the heavenly tree in It." Yes, 1T all these things had been, so she would have answered. Then would she have stood there among these others, her garments patched ana whole and shoes upon her rect, and one would have come to her and said. "Siu May, this package is yours!" She stretched out her hand without knowing she did, her face lit with Q blissful, dreaming smile.
 Suddenly someone came and looked out. Siu May. standing m the shadow, was not seen. It was the man, and he said, T had bet ter shut the door, the night grows bitter and cold"
 The door closed and the square of light was gone, and gone the happy children with their pack ages, and gone the heavenly tree.
 Stu May stood alone in the dark ness. Her hand dropped. She looked about her dazed. What had she been doing? They were wait ing for her all this time in the mat hut. Even if her father had been lucky and had handful or rice, they were helpless without the grass to cook 1t. She shifted It's weight on her back and turned away to the north again. The wind came in gusts through the streets, sweeping through the ai- leys. She struggled on against It. muttering anxiously.
 "And I do not know how many breaths I drew. standing there dreamingl"