The Washington times., 1937-12-24

Child. Then very CdTelully Sir
placed the figures of Mary ano
Joseph and the Three Wise Mer
from the East.
The creche was shed Of
stained wood that Jim had spent
many evenings carving the year
before He had searched for straw
to thatch its sloping roof and with
bits of board had built a fence tc
enclose it.
Outside were the camels. all in
q row. painted yellow, maroon
blankets edged with gold-theli
huge humps and silly short tails
cut with a Jig saw.
Remember how he loved the
-camels?" Marcia spoke softly to
Jim as he sat sprawled in chair
by the fireplace watching her
'How crazy he was about every
thing?"
p The mans hand went out in a
gesture that was like cry.
Don't" he begged.
QUAINT FIGURES
Carefully Marcia replaced the
Babe of Bethlehem in the stable
stall. She herded the COWS and
chickens, lambs and a pig within
the picket fence and put more
straw on the floor.
For a moment she stood looking
at the quaint foreign figures cut
and colored far away-homely
farm-yard symbols telling one
more time the Beloved Story.
She crossed to her husbands
chair, bent down and laid her
small. oval face against his rum.
pied hair.
And now" she said firmly, "the
tree. It's outside. It's the tallest
tree we ever had and I've got the
brightest star"
you've done all this today?"
he said incredulously. WAS that
where you were, out shopping?"
From tissue paper wrappings
she took shimmering bauble, five
shining points of tinsel, glinting
and cleaning in the freight.
Marcia, how can you?" the man
groaned, his voice thick and
stricken.
He is going to have his tree
and Christmas" she went on firm.
1y. We'll bring him down-and
tell him it is Christmas"
From the floor she lifted box
and before her husbands tortured
eyes took out a bright red coat,
high, shining boots. white-furred,
and round red cap-a long white
beard.
Il tell you I can't. You shouldn't
ask it."
Marcia's voice came evenly
Darling" she said, "he wants his
Christmas. He asked me yesterday
If we'd have Santa Claus agair
this year. I told him we would
It was promise. You must, Jim. y
He slumped deeper in the chair,
what was the last thing the doc
tor said?" he questioned.
REPEATS ANSWER
He had asked before and she
had told him. But again she re-
peated the answer.
1T will be one thing or the
other very soon. He will live, Or
she tossed back a falling fluff
Of fair hair, steadily said the word
-"he will die"
Jim Weston hunted for a ciga-
fette, struck a match.
so you see," Marcia told him,
1--WE must hurry Christmas.
He came to his feet and put his
arms around her, pressing her
yellow head against his dark coat.
"All right" he consented.
Together they went to the
French doors and opened them
upon a broad veranda. Forest
fragrance, spicy and cold, swept
the room. Jim dragged in the big
spruce and put it in the corner.
Marcia brought out the green
iron braces which had held a
former tree taut and straight. Me
chanically her husband fastened
them, taking time to do a careful
job.
One by one his wife took bright
baubles from old boxes and held
them up to him. EndlesSly he
hung them. carefully, method
tcally. Finally they came to the
new boxes or ornaments.
There were so many, fragile and
brittle, each in it's little cardboard
pen. One by one they bound them
to the twigs of spruce to sparkle
and shine in their rainbow hues.
Beneath the tree they placed the
Ted-painted fire engine and a
stuffed dog beside the gay wool of
a snow suit, little rubber boots,
the sled he had begged for all
through the year-his Christmas
presents.
From a drawer Marcia dragged
three stockings knobby with par
GELS and hung them from the white
mantle above the fireplace. Then
Jim snapped out the other lamps,
touched the switch. The tree broke
into brilliancy.
NURSE APPEARS
Silently, her white shoes making
no sound upon the thick rugs. a
nurse appeared and beckoned.
Hes awake" she said.
Marcia put out a hand to her
husband. Come on up" she said
Together they went to the floor
above.
Hello" said the little boy in the
bed, where have I been?"
ASLEEP, sweetheart such 6
long time"