The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-01-23

PACK from the cleaning. colorful
tree.
Il think it's; gorgeous Janice
exclaimed In her thin high voice,
looking To- Allan for approval. A
| tear trickIed down Elsie Grants
chesssand she furtively< wiped it
we used % have trees just like
4 that when1 lived back home" she
Whispered to Noel apologet icaily.
I The moment wasoover and CON-
.straint filed the roon again. Noel
knew Mrs. M.rchand was disap-
/ pointed. Il IL 'i@a}Qtd
I'VE ought tc< sing a. Christmas
carol noW---ws always did after we
trimmed the tree the hostess sugL
gested. Allan gave his mother q
sympathetic. gla.- ce and Noel.
understanding the unspoken APP
peal for support. started the beau
| tiful solemn words Of Silent
Night" Patheticaily wistful voices
Joined in an Gni1armonious choral
As theacaroi died into:the corners
OF the room, loud yelping Of the
dogs in the kennel vas heard. An
ME broighs in astrays Of seggnoggs
and quietly whispered to Allan:
| u cant quiet those dogs. MIR.
Allan: somebody must be around
the house"
| Noel saw Allan leave the room
and followed him out to the front
steps, while The barking continued.
"The lantern Is gone from the
barn door,, Noel exclaimed.
lIG9iTts still burning inside. Some.
-Rpe is there Allan started down
tie steps. turning back to add,
YOU'D better 90 inside, Noel" But
she followed him silently.
They peered through aropening
in theNwooden side wafl~A woman
huddled in a dark wrap rested
against the corn crib.
There's something in the crib"
Noel's voice was close to Allan,s
ear as they tiptned into the barn.
TEesMusic " Bells
CLARIFIED, the woman turned
- to face them She seemed young
in the gloomy ligt:: but her eyes
filled with fear and with an in.
stinctive gesture she threw her
arm over the crib. Noel smiled re.
assuringly and walk q toward her.
From the depths of an old blank.
ct a tiny blends, head half lost in
the straw met Ncel's glance.
Don't hurt him." the strange
woman begged and Noel whisper
ed back, "Sssh we mustn't wake
him"
The woman got UP and walked
with Allan to the other side of the
barn. Between low sobs she told
him she'd been on her way with
the child to her parents further
upstate and that she'd had to get
of the bus because she had no
more fare. Shed started walking
along the road. lost her way of the
main line and had seen the light.
Il thought we could rest here
until morning she sobbed. Little
Jimmy was so tired" =,
well find YOU bed" Allan
told her kindly.
Noel stared intently at the sleep
ing child. tears in her eyes. She
moved away from the crib and said
in voice filleG with pity and awe:
I'VE were meant to light that
lantern"
When the stranger who said she
was Mary Johnson started to pick
up the child, Noel stayed her with
quiet gesture. ALLAN, 60 get your
mother. I,want fserto see this baby
here, before we 60 In"
The other guests followed Mrs:
Marc hand and Allan back TO the
barn. They stood grouped AT the
door, gazing in on the strange
scene.
| over the h,d from the small VII
4 lage church came the music Of
bells. breaking the nights quie.
tude, ushefiug in the first moment
OF another Christmas. II filed the
barn and reached the spirits of
/ those who stood there. Tears fell
on Mrs. Marchand's cheeks.
| They took the child aIfti Its
mother into the house. Awakened:
little Jimmy cried he was hungry
and while Annie hurriedly heated
some milk and got food ready. Mrs.
johnson told them her Husband
4 bad died in New York and she was
Al Ting her child back TO the farm
She had left to be married. q
II want more" Jimmy begged
\ as they filled his cup again with
warm milk. his glance. q little
frightened, taking in the strange
kitchen, His mother ate hungrily
And finally the two wayfarefs
were put in room on the third
| floor, and the Others returned 10
the living-roorn.
Il was the same froom-but dit
ferent, The people in it were dif.
ferent, too, Christmas had come to
them In the spirit OF little Jimmy
and they mingled now. at ease
I Their awkwa.I restraint had gone
with the scene in the barn.
| Quietly Mrs Marchand and AL.
Ian brought boxes and packages
which they placed under the tree.
Noel added hers too and one BY
one the others went to their rooms,
| bringing back their own little gifts
for Mrs. Mkpcaand.
we'll. operi hem in the morn.
ing, before dbreaisfast.." she sug-
gested. Butt she was waiting for
something. Her glance Travelled TO
1.-The lace 81. her SON and she said
sadly, I rWel have no presents for
~
A4fnk4y1a.AFe.s. ~ So
(Coagr36kt. isss. Anosic Lordsn)
! geiaefrsw: Merry Christmas,