The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1940-01-04
NOTHING
TO WISH FOR
LAURA GRAY

In their sumptuous nursey Martha
tried to make friends with the three
little Platts. "What do you want Santa
to bring?" she asked-this being
Christmas Eve. Martha had been call
ed in to have charge of the children
while. the regular nurse was away.
James, eight, stood feet astride,
hands in pockets, bored look in his
beautiful dark eyes. "There amt no
Santa Claus" he answered.
ooh, he said amt" Nora, seven,
looked from her brother to Martha.
"Nana said she'd punish him if he said
that again."
But Martha fastened to divert the
girls thoughts. what do you want
for Christmas she asked.
81 don't know. | have most every
thing! The blue eyes were thoughtful
Later Martha helped Mrs. Pew, the
housekeeper, dress the tree and fill
stockings-with abundance.
On Christmas morning, the three,
in warm dressing gowns and slippers,
ran into the playroom. Ignoring the
glittering tree, they attacked parcels
with wild recklessness, ripped off
beautiful wrappings, tore out pres
ents, thrust them aside, one after an
other, and seized fresh ones.
"Shucks! scowled John, the five
year old baby of the family, when all
parcels had been devasted.
"You haven't looked at your rock
ing-horse yeti" Martha encouraged.
"Don't want rocking -horse!" he
gave it push.
Nora took the lid from box con-
tanning a wonderful curly-haired doll,
dressed in pink satin, but Immediately
pushed the little beauty under chair.
"Christmas is no goodw scowled
James, his beautiful big eyes clouded
with dissatisfaction, "I'm sick of
trains!"
Martha thought of her own brothers
and sisters-their inexpensive gifts,
treasured even to the wrappings; the
joy and interest each had in the
others offerings, their deep happiness
and her heart ached for these three
before her. Here was nothing of the
joyousness that rightly belonged to
all children at this season. What
could she do to help? She picked up
two small boxes and began joining
them, end to end, with string.
"What are you doing?" John leaned
against her knee
Making a train for a boy | know
who has none."
He watched for while, then picked
up box and lid and copied her.
''Tell us about the boy" said Nora.
Martha was good storyteller and
as she talked, telling of children who
longed greatly for toys but had al
most none, she took scissors and fash
ioned tiny chair and table.
"This will make a dolls house for
the GIRL" she continued, picking up
large box.
81 can help" Nora's fingers began
to shape chair.
"I'll get them tree; know where
there is fine one," added James.
Then Mrs. Pew came to say the reg
ular nurse had returned and Martha
might go.
"But you'll come back and tell us
where the children live who haven't
any playthings, won't you?--so we
can take them these things" Nora
begged.
"This afternoon-after you've made
some more," Martha answered
The child with the empty stocking
is to be pitied, but so is the one who
has everything, whose every little wish
has already been granted, who has
nothing left to look forward to.
The poor child at least has dreams
hopes, that some day there will be
a stocking full of wonderful toys-but
the over-supplied child has nothing
but his own discomfort. We strive to
help the poor child; we should try also
to protect the wealthy one from the
dangers Of his wealth. 1t is kind to
leave him something to wish for and
to let him do things for others. He,
too, is heir to our traditions and just
naturally likes to join in with all the
generous giving abroad at this beau
tiful season.