The Washington times., 1937-12-24

| JIM, his skeptic father.
my? Christmas like the other
tine?"
Above his head hung a chart
The date was mixed in clearly
December 18th.
Eyes, it's Christmas" Marcia
said.
Tell about the shepherds-and
the babv in the barn"
Stable, darling"
Isn't stable a barn?"
Yes, of course
Tell about the shepherds-and
the crooks"
They were all tending their
flocks and the sheep were hud-
died together
They saw starr"
"A very bright star-in the
East"
Jimmy turned restlessly on his
pillow-lay still. A small moan es-
capped him. Il hurt" he told the
two bending over him.
But in 2 moment his little teeth
flashed white again. II want to
see my Christmas tree" he an
nounced.
AL right, darling" Marcia
said with swift determination.
"Jim," she whispered "Get-you
know"
Tenderly she lifted her son.
Wrapped in blanket, his feet
tucked in the folds, she carried
him to the staircase.
Twas the night before Christ
mas" she began softly, And all
through the house, not a creature
was stirring"
mot even a mouse" the little
voice finished ecstatically.
SHINING TREE
Slowly, step by step, they de-
Scended the stairs until they came
to the room with the shining tree.
Way down the hall they saw a
crimson coat. Black, shining
boots, a long white beard.
Santa Claus!" Jimmy shouted.
where's the reindeers?" Then
he saw the tree. "My-my fire
engine" he cried, AN rubber
boots!"
One by one they showed him
the presents piled at the foot of
the tree and carried him to the
fireplace to feel the knobby stock
ings.
There was the sound of a car
in the driveway. They started,
listening. straining. THE doc
tor" Maria whispered, guiltily.
Two men came into the hall anu
slipped out of great coats. "I've
brought DR.. Morgan" the younger
man introduced gravely.
"It's his Christmas" Marcia de-
Tended. I'll take him right back
upstairs"
"And now, Mrs. Weston" DR..
Burbank said as he put the child
in the freshly made bed where the
nurse stood at attention, perhaps
you will leave us for a little
while"
Something in the calm, kind
words struck horror to Marcia's
heart. She shouldn't have had
Christmas.
Now that she had done it, she
knew there should have been no
tree, no presents-no excitement.
With a terrible clarity it came to
her that she should have kept
Jimmy right in bed.
Downstairs she faced her hus-
band, "Oh, Jim, I'm afraid
shouldn't have brought him down,
or trimmed the tree"
WELL" Jim's voice rasped, cit
was your idea. You would do it"
No kindness in his voice, no move
of compassion-nothing but stark
fear.
She buried her face in the divan,
praying wordlessly, without faith,
despairingly.
At long last she heard the doc
tors coming, step by step down the
stairs. On the threshold she heard
them halt and Jim spring to his
feet, but she did not lift her head.
Mrs. Weston" it was DR.. Bur-
banks voice. Mrs. Weston, I've
Christmas gift for you. The boy
will get well. We are quite sure.
Merry Christmas, my dear"
The whitenesS of Marcia's face
was marked by ridges which the
cordings of the pillows had cut
deep.
"oh, Doctor" she cried. ooh,
doctor!"
Imply she slipped down to
the rug, close to the creche with
its roof of straw and three clumsy
wooden camels. Weeks of tears
gushed into her eyes.
Through their mist, the bit of
gold paper, cut like a halo, grew
luminous about the head of the
child in the cradle.
THE END
| Copyright. 1887, by Chicago Tribune
New York News Syndicate, Inc.)