The Wise Woman made her wa.V Christmas gifts for the two elves "There!" the old lady said. dump- ing her hamper Oil the floor DECIISMBER 19. 1933 one of these." But Pennytop was "It's not a scrubbing brush!" ex- claimed Pip. lifting out ask you to take Christmas Eve duty for me. Nan?" Grace. the "Why, yes," Nan had answered slowly. "I suppose I might as well be on the job as anywhere." 3 es :- es ..,.....-.--.-....---.-. ents.. on Ohrlshnaa Du. she hur- ried back from church. changed On the morning of Boxing Day she checked the carol recordintl and revised th time-table. for oosnrmand an PAGE TEN fl-IE GUARDIAN, CHARLOTTETOWN 2Q9J'U't.L-dimvw" ' r -' ”' Th Le dsOfChi' .i . . , b x , e gen ristmas I . . . . . ' - l E , -. -- .' 1 '. 5 o ,. ' 3 consider inviting all the ciinmm There In almost as many cm-lsti ' . '- ,-' I - i not when the mo-on indicated mas moods and ll-lperstitloris is . 3 I. l ' I that it might be unfair to choose there have been chrlstimases. I y I gum. ., in. t not g countless customs from the old : , . ; go” gnu, .34 pm”; 3.11. log, world have been absorbed through E , '. . : Vgyy gmly, gh. mmu oh. 911.; the centuries into the celebrations -, - - - - -- - 1' of me: It was her now. and it um we pguclpne in today. A ow, - " i3 t I3 x ' 0 ' '- " would succeed or fail on her Ilnu owcver. V9 been-DI-Iced dcw ....".'..'f';.ii'.:..."'i:.3"':'.I ' 35-or .. ' - ” - .. ' 5 -W -M ....... ' ...H':...u” l5."”,"i'.'i'.' to "W '3 - 0 : Th ah than ever. I I I lime- starched loneliness at the hall desk . . : sh, . now ugh 9. The Indians of Canada, for egg. of Rldgeds.le's ten-bed community - ; o ' 0 , . - 5,1,, m. ohmkn .t, 1.13 an ample, believe that the deer kneel . hospital, stared disconsolately at a :'-'0 ' ' 5 mg. mm, mg .,g .".n.t,hmy, in prayer each Christmas Eve. All --by-- Pip, coming to mm and taking the the tiny table tree which she had ; t ' , 5 5),, ".,,.n...g ah. mung to early inisaionary' probably is re. Ylulcl M. Williams present in his hand. "It's a won- just finished trimming. A 1 l "W, H um "3", room; m. aponslhle for the idea, but it gull derful my bus. I've always wanted "Would it be just too much to ru A o 0 ' Much. munuug und mm. 9.... lingo:-a uidwlly Indian have glwgyg attempted to catch the deer in the act. . In lngland. it is believed that . I C m, e Pip squatted on the floor and :.l.1,:::'..gh1,.::-w t:2:lmAllttl(l)c USE ;.3.....?... ran the present up and down. Other llltfhl nurse. fjld 35"” he? - into her working clothes and lost Pmnvhp and Hp uvedu H was --you wok jolly siuy nmnlng 3 some days ago, I know you hum; in m N.” of pup"-mg the beesexpress veneration for the Chiguuus E... .md me cm-med q scrubbing brush up and down like SP9!” 801118 10 be M319 90 EN Jellies and cream and cakes I-lid IWUV"-Y by 3min" In me” NVB6 , I f 5 lu.h-ml, ..uum.,..d that," sold Pennyfop cro.-Lsly, home for the holidays anyway,and uu mu mm” nu; chug” 11;. at midnight. The bee hives are al- argc l”'""e' ' ' my family is right here in town." at chi-mm... ways adorned with holly sprigs for the Yuletide season. In Europe it was custom for 5 young girl to creep to the family huapm, cmmmus to Wu bump my, the next of the old unomans gifts. - V this year; see you iiizikc the most Plll. 100. he Said; I hope its bet- :10 e 1: ollll Gib Onetl 19Im5- 4 -y H v u even lu-go: group than anticipated hum touched H mm uuck Wu u 01 "Wm!" "Y. mm the last ".e hm be 0! e P3 mm nmom ' l2 A ' ' "at" mum” in ommummn straight one Awith no kncta trad- P""'V””' mi Pip ””””"d me you Ct-mam mu" mymm W- "Tod S 'th I I and I : "Md ”l”"'-"'" W p”""” ” ""' itlon and that she would have I. wise womuu very much mdeed ter, " said Pip. Really, Penny- ly dml ers. w what ! -I-my mm, M" u body oggmrm. uood hmb.nd' uudu when Sm. mu uuue, may top- Then he gave a. gasp asllong-It-tin ed complaint shell have i uuoup," ut gw,.m;,,n, some or Fume" m Europe .1” Sum pushed me hamper uudemenm -Pennytop untied the yparce-l now, Nan groaned. ' mum wen old”. mun me upwt. torch” to their chndrm um mm the Christmas Tree with the rest What a wonderful mart hr She Ollelled Elle ,d00'- M” . , 3 ed, and all of them. at least in than mum mo the umue mu. uu the” p,.u5(,uL5- cried. We shall have to take turns Smlthueter) grey hair in place. . : they, umgude pg hm-I wu.-5 qulte um um the mm”. The mice cab lloohv I can huuyy Wu” uum wearing that. Pcnnytop. What urns sleting ubolt upright in bed. 1 . ; unlike the cmld,-an in hex olm. upm." um mom! "He an to murumug sighed peunymp, lovely colours in it. u I Itm expecting a visitor tonight. ' y ,',v 716 5 I. -rmy chm”,-ed 1,, gm 1-All ma H” hem” me uppmucmng ung- ..Ne1mm. can nu agreed pm Pip! Whatudo you mean? cried Where is he? the old lady snap- .u E jubbund: may 5” u". bu.,m,",y new "And if we sir. hm staring at our-,Pfenny:oo.V Indlsnantly. Its a hor- peg! luhwsm n.w-mans i which she"hadn't looked at for In only Gummy u WM 3 bum parcels we are sure to opm them 1141 YHOW DUSTER- olllyollhuhsks for You. Of -- ' "”TT"T years, to storm : they explored uh” Wu!” mmeu mm wme duru before Chrlsllnils Dal"--mid that come 1-1 bl”-:2 him UP-, Non Cut out the number-squlai'es,s.nd the middle of the board. (To find out. Pass a tiny paper-fastener the inside of her grandfather ms the hour more mkuugm on would never do. Let's go lo bed." fufcefi heme” '9 F""'9l' politely. colour them if you like. Then-, the centre, simply pencil two lines my-ough the dog, 1... mm, the mm. clock, t loose in the lounge. chrmmu Eve. ..we have u 10, N do ,u me Mgltso almost Idl1a.l'lnGn0L;10f;it Eng pnste them down. as shown in th: fromhcornor tonuorner Ell 11110 lgack ubeuuunu mm mu hour mud toot uubout maemllluiaito to kitchen ettln ready for tcmor- em ll Wm 9 ll 9 E 9' dl am below. on I lace of boar of t e card. e cen- c s w are ' ' 350 e gunu oaN- . 3 g W p they cross). . mm "I" ”m'” M the 1”" 3"” fully laid out; instead. they eu.in- THE DEVIL! KNELL rowls Christmas dinner, haven't we?" yawned Peimytnp. "I have done it all." said Pip. just hard work on my partl You. make it for Christmas Eve." Mrs. Smith glared at Nan. "It's bad enough being here. let alone try- mecsurlng 85.4: fun by 65'. ins. From the back, pierce a hole in Paste the hands on card and cutl down the points at the back. am. should make a party more excit- mon was to let them sing carols lned her bookcase and the precious ornaments whlch,.slnce she thought they would be of no interest to clutching Flustered. helplessly Seven hundred years ago in the English town of Dewsbury, in Yorkshire. a boy was murdered and "The turkey is ready to no in the inzrto CC1:bT3:9bh1(Llll8." uh M l -- - A ud an hm t bother d to oven, I made the plitldiiig weeks ".m'll0 099 1'5 mo El Cl. l'6.l'5' ch re.n, e no l mu bod thrown in b ago. the mince pics are baked and Smith.' Nan tried to sound sytm- .s ' ' remove. They talked to hot. rolled umuuly-mu mm, W” gmxgaieu the Vegetables are peeled-" P5th9”9- f e 1 about on the floor. became beans mu the murderer, u rich mm "You are clever, Pip," said "Oh. you-you're young and 5 I beneath her woolly rllts. WIN named Thom” 4, Soothm um, Pe""-Vmp- ”dmm"g13" ,5l.t:mg' Md Wenu uh” 5 3”” jab", :22:-z 3 ?e"e”e': 31" "M1? M51 sented as a penance a tenor bell "It's not a case of being clever." e Woman Si: 6. " ow well I V . , u gnor e caro un one o - I D b ch L Th be” beu said Pip, solncwlmt scvcrely. "It is remember Christmasses when I Thy” Vihme meg” bmj me llmms in? at mmfm bemafi ":1 dgglglmn uvdungu teen-year-old called: "Please Miss. ugmegowx uuutifel DJu,u Kneu W” yuux, age. 5” down a minute MIC!-IAEEL .l..ANE Nady taken foim in ier mn an out ii any .y 88 ll: huvmu Wu Rot uome Jlve.,.. ""1 way Ohrmmu We 1': u to”- ed onoe for each year of the Pen yto , can dust the rooms and and I'll tell you about th tim . . I g lay nthe pmbye as your ,ha,e..m-3. we ...v 8 C When the news went round that lng than any child could imagine, and so ffmfiuritlgf thilgl W :25”! her time-table. she turned on the mmmun "Jena", thing in the morning. mind! It "l'm so sorry, Mrs. Smith, but W” 53” W" Rm"? t Ch”-?""” She WW 5”" W?” Wm" 0” If; 'f,”f”M W13, radio and they gathered around ' should have been done today, I have some thlngs'I really must 9”” I" ch”d"”' her mend” Pepp".w"1d d” ” she wanted 8 B V 5' '” huur" h t her. some kind of music that she Wally.-v do-t. were at first hsurpirlsedn and tiherul That 3132; shehdrafted lshcetsl 0: ggedtealgalgtuvrgsogoltrhglege en. er never unwed to was jun whut .. r .. , . . , v , 1 , in XDCI r - . weu' Ive been 80 buck" Mm The old lady lgnmed her excuse" gfmllleelnt): 31,5358 aegcsnllteted, bit: was I(:l7?)Ilels3tmi:!.ss wgxeln, efrore the U21: Two weeks before Christmas. at 2?,3;ndv.?&A:duuvnunuudu my if: 11:3! know." said Pciinytop. hastily. "what with -er --and -umm -- and -” "You've simply been visiting your frlcnds." returted Pip. "Never mind. Pip,” said PPl'lll)'- top. "l'm milking a Christmas res- what you said last ycar. Never mind, you must dust the house ill the morning whilst I cook the din- ner." And. agreeing rasicrly. Peiinytop followed Pip into their little bed- "Hmm!" sniffed Pip. "That wns P lovely scarf-see how nice it look round my neck." "It locks awful!" Pennytop. nearly crying. "I'm 80 crazy!" declared Pip." chocolate. Look. I'll take a bite t show you!" "UG-HI Do stop it! It's soap "Nonsense!" retorted Pip. "It's a shouted ing to open the last parcel and see "Really, Pcnnytop. you must be "This is tell you!" cried Pennytop. "I would just like to have that old Wine -''The time we invited the church choir to supper and to help deco- rate our tree before choir prac- tice." she went on. "Well, sonic- body began B carol as he tied a popcorn ball to a branch. and. do you know, before the last apple 5 "Did you always put a star on the top of your tree?" "Oh. my. yes." Mrs. Smith smil- ed. "I'll tell you just exactly what we did use for decorations. Let's see. now. Theire were the popcorn balls. and cranberry chains..." 0 I Miss salt the person to do it? Most of those who knew her described her as a saint because she had, without quution, without comrplaint. devoted the best years of her life to the core of her in- valid mother, who died on Boxing was a Sunday school class, though she was not a good teachcr and was unpopular with the children. After the merciful release Miss Salt took more time in preparing the lessons, and vowed to make closer contact with the children. since her childhood, she had taken part in a family gathering. A Christmas tree was the first essential. a point of focus. some- thing to hold the children togeth- er. something to syn1bollse...slle could not think what. Then pres- wondered how to assess value through the eyes of a child, how to know what measure, what scale. applied? And then food: cakes, plenty of cakes. and Jellies with cream blobs on top and stand- wlches with the crusts cut off and the end of her lesson, she told the chlldren some of the plans she had made. Then, as she looked round the group of dcwncsst faces. she said. feeling the answer and yet impelled to ask the ques- tion. "How many of you will be clutlon, instead of R New Year one! u than my better. OH," he Wu hung on me nee, we had gum . . .,.. I am going to do all the house- h uh O n W 1 bl u Day five years ago. , ents. graded according to age, 00ll1lnS- dmovmd w-my, may we”) in the wmk in mum... gzoaneli, ha go pulled tagI53APl'"9 gr:n:5 9"” 09 W001 W0 During her mothers life Miss presents of great variety yet not "Fhera was no reply. She waited. c.u,,,,,,,d,. I A pars 1” " 13 9'” 9 ' salts only regular social activity so varied its to cause jealousy. she 'You. Leslie? The child shook Then uh roughly me rwm um his head. "Pauline? Jack? Harry? Surely . .. .Rosemary?" she went round the circle, slowly. Then she gathered up her register and tucked sway her lesson notes. "Very well," she said. "that is all for this afternoon. 0 I I to smile. The time went like magic with them and be a bear or a pirate or admit-with a certain retlceilce-that the house was haunted, or help in an ardent search for schnoodles (she never she announced tea in the other room and they swept her through on a. tide of waving arms and legs and paper caps and streamers. But the routine went wrong when they saw the tree so laden that many of the presents lay scatter- because in the end she had to Join, room, where soon thry both lay Wum h cg...” when the duo, fast asleep Thtftnvcify moment, there was it rang suddenly, Mrsl.)e1slmifl':vl?lF-Ajuigilg and; with tlhfg wmlda in bjomugd Cmm” hats W the side plate” 'md "you we” the Vicar sum to hex. ed on the floor, and Min Bait IL W35 5 1””-V Cm'mm”53' d3Vlllttle flash and a bump and. sure-herself up in' the middle of a no- V” out 57?; C it an 15;: E68 t: cruel-mm She undemmd crackers. when she told him what had ha - hm "cl distribute ma 3”" hem" me mxt m0”””5-'- Pm h””'1”d enough, there was the Wise Wom- tome and chuckled. "Thank you 3(1)-ye m:d:n.?;'3."i.oqu,if.Ef.'.:.e, if ynot ifrngmbmgoiae ?fIf;.s,,'”t penedt "you see in rgglly V3,), 188. dyeing each Plroel 101' the " downstairs .and cooked the break. 3” I 1'" n"'”””5 W 1" 014 50"-N my and so began to notice the respect leer woul: nbeeswhoen decent: difficult. Christmks being such a mac mu” cm” muk ""u"'m' Not all little boys who love Santa faS'b-PEIIIIHOD seemed extra tun mrhmk you for the wonderful delr. NOW You 1118580 I961! that with which she was regarded; but throughouh Wm, mry Hum, mg family affair. You musn't think my ” km mu pnyiu "h" "1 Claus this time of year have a ed' when they had nm5hed' P D Dleselllil" W101! PlP- mnlmgn WW M85m0n-" when Christmas came around echolng the ghoutg of mp-Dy mu. them ungrateful." Then, as a kind WW” be ”','”ned' - sublime trust In the old gent. This of desperate afterthought, he add- T1193 "WY D0'- "D011 "N-' "-519 young man obviously wishes he hurried into the kitchen to wash the dishes. 'You do your zliistllig whilst I wash up. Pennytop." pniitecl Pip, rushing about as fast as he could. dusting on (.'hllSllTlftS morning! l'm dying to sec my prcscills. l wondrr what the Wise Woman has brought us. I've a jolly good mind to peep." Now this was a dreadful thing the llampor. Pip was clattcrillt; the dishes in and out of the sink at. such a speed. it. was 8. wonder they didn't break. He. too, was anxious to see the prncmlts. He llllrrlrd back into the room and there was Prililytop standing by the open llnnlpcr which the wish. Woman has brought them. "Oh! you rottcr" cried Pip. "You've opened the hamper without nlr" Tllvll he saw PPlll'.)'l'0D'S fat-c. "Wily. wll:iI's the lll:tl,tci'?" Pip card says 'To Pclmytop and Pip,' and it's fl SCRUBBING BRUSH!" "Don't be silly. Pcllllytop," said I Pennytop is not as pleased as am. I'm afraid," he added. sadly. "I'm not surprised". said Pcnnyt-cp's tears with her stick. cause I see more." said the ol woman. still prodding. a toy 'bus. to Pip; a. duster and a piece of soap. shone like it new pin. "What a lovely day it's been the wise Woman, "The gifts you SEE are the gifts you deserve!" Penny- began to fall and the Wise Woman prodded him "Take out the rest of the par- cels from the hamper", she told "You must have missed some. be- And-maglcally-thrce more par- cebi had appeared in the hamper! All were addressed to Pennytop. and they lookcd the same to him as a scarf and some chocolate! And when Penny- top looked again at the first pres- ents, he saw them as they really were. and not as a scrubbing brush. Well. Pcnnytop was so pleased Christmas! By the time the Wise Woman rclumed to share the elves' Christmas dinner, the whole place I d "I'm expecting a visitor tonight. Where is he?" the old lady snap- bed- A young man, bare headed. with thmttgh the gloom. "Are you the unfortunate gal who's taking care of my Granny Smith?" he asked. An imperious voice called from upstairs, "is that you, Algerrion?" again she was still without a real friend she did not seem to realize that her reputation for virtue kept at a. distance those who would have her V-";.ence. As a guture of respect to her mother she spent the first Christ- mas alone in the vast old-fashlon- ed house that had been left toher. she dreaded the thought of Christ- mas. For the fourth Christmas she broke the routine and accepted an invitation to stay with the family of Mr. Welch, the secretary of the Rambling society, but even here she could not rid herself of a feeling that she was an intruder ln what was really a family af- fair. It was then that she de- cided to make different plane for the fifth Christmas. When she thought of benevol- those of her Sunday School class. dren. She would be the centre of or- erythlng, she would be the benev- olent power. Everything would be organized to the last detail. each with a different game laid out ready to be played. -At the same time then: would be carols on gramovphone records to keep up the Christmas atmcsph Then the window and the great Christ- mas tree dominating the far end of the room. The presents would be given out after tea-Miss salt was determ- ined about that. because she kemv that children must eat, and must if neoeuuy be made to eat. Then, at six-thirty. back to the other room with the presents and then, finally. a sing-eotng. Miss salt felt obliged to stress that Christmas stood for something rather than mere lollity, and it seemed to her ed: "I hope, Miss Salt, you hav- en't gone to too much trouble." she said, "It doesn't matter. It really domn't matter at all." she was bitter that evening. she there was something to remind her box of tinsel, a half-prepared par- cel for the trec...the symbols of her kindness stabbed her one af- the telephone rang and she recog- nized the vicsrjs voice. "Miss Salt." h.e'said. "I don't know what your feelings are about that party you were arranging. but I've been talking to my wife and she said did you lmow about the orphan- age at Headingtori? It's several miles away. of course. and I don't know what could be done about transport on Boxing Day..." Miss Salt. went to Headlngton the next day and saw the matron. The orphanage was small. but She would give a children's party on Boxing Day. One Sunday in November one A Card to Colour of the party: a scribbled note, a ROM and she was thrilled to see them. eating and enjoying (though they didn't like her sandwiches and she had to get some hunks of bread and treaole) with no particular . s nine-year voice piped above the others, "Wot?" it said, "no crackers?" The assembly let out a concert- salt They streamed but into the lounge and foe a moment there was hesitation; they had seen the room before. its attractions were exhausted. This was the time for the carols, but Mlm Salt did not feel like carols. Once again she had succumbed to her environ- ment: the time-table lsiy crumpled in the hearth; but she dlai't care. "Wanna play murders.” said someone and within a few seconds the cry was unanimous. "Wouldn't you prefer-7" Miss she gave way. and a lanky youth explainod the intricacies of the game, for all of which Miss Salt only understood that at a given signal she had to plunge the were somewhere else. .4. YOU CAN MAKE A BIG CHRISTMAS CANDLE "Then we can open our prescnt.s..' mp bu been luau uud you huve .. - u . b lad 9:0 KHDW h I 11. 3h 3"” like W"! Kmmbled done all the work. Pip. so now you ...e.:3e sthe best of theft: rt.-eel I lit: goo?ntErrt13'i:l' 13.1,:.g:h1:?l::,l-1, could not bear to move around 11119950 but W1”! 1110- Vml W''- --m Pe””Yt”'-I Fm” ”””k””1 abm” are having the fun." we uuummy u mm uueuy m would be u M 0. sum" mules the hougg, wheuver we looked genuine animal abandon. At the You can make a. big. long-bum- ' ' end, when all but it few cekes had lng candle to fit into your Christ- mas decorations if you have a number of odds and ends of partly burned candles around the house. Melt them and pour into card- to do and Pv:'nl1.lv1WPk wuan vgrl: him. She did W9 Mme for the "com uu m,e.mmy they would Rove ln. ter the other. she had time to ad grout. and Mia palod. board containers and remold. Use liiurgaigdetvlfg lfd) atllxdnlorlged lllsldle "There aren't any more". Penny- and third, thoush It last the was to the dining room and see the lndlllse in sell-Pity. "My soodnses:."' she said. "I com- 'ice cream containers, oat meal COH- ' ' t s 'ff d. "1 emptied it myself." f ed to dmit h as l ; tbl h fail r 1' . lelel forsot them." They loved t-incrs or others. Use plain cord op nl c on: a s e w oneLv a e and t e ry lghts around n W” 13!; on Tuesday when Eel, xgr H. for u wick. when the W” 15 be, giilsiing to set. tie the wick to :1 pencil and suspend it in the wax Let set hard. rernove carton and there is a nice candle for your table. 1 I. C. AND 1 A. D. WERE NOT A YEAR. APART. According to our cslerldar. one would naturally assume that be- tween the year 1 B.C. and the year I A.D. there should be a year celled zero. As a. matter of fact. askudu nwuut 1! 0”. m.C5.u.m-I... that he gave the cottage quite a can Col;m- turned up to meet, . ellce and 800d-Wm the '-h0lllhl- 01' that the best way of bringing this even so Min salt did t t fl t mock... cued .,'mm.,,,u ..u.he spring-clean-although it was mm. 0, .,.,,,,y mu uuueu u, he, children; and this led her to think ”” ' " Salt begui. " M mu um uxuu, ,, 1,, ,, h... of the only children she knew- Murders! Murdeisi wmm us mmumuu mu ch, year 1 AD. follows directly after the year 1 B. C. A person born in 3 B. C. would not be five years old at 2 A. D.. but would be four years old when (,'K0.ihW()RD SOLITION sighed Pip. as he crawled into Th . u mentioned the idea to the vicar. ..,.. mu thntnightu ..uw,f,,f7;:'fl':”,fufj:"f;;:.";ef;"3; who disguised his surprise. Later entire house into dam-iua she one u cumuuuuu um u, um Acroggz u Dear Pip. said Pennytop. shurtuu it to .M-,.. in the, afternoon. he said to his went into the bet kitchen and puuou when udumu 3'0. uud A. . Cllristinas spirit squeezing his friend's arm. "1 mm led me Wm. uusmruu M Wm” 1 1"” be"'" M" ' "'”d swlwhed on the mun; rm mm. D yedrs it is neceuary to always A"'"'7"d5 "ca"-V WA." be A hm" ”' mm they entered mom 1..., Mm suum Wltllldt-111,6 children. I -suppose. It moments there was silence, and m'umm one u, cmmumun ,0, sum, now on, I hem out her arm auemonnew m won t: a terrible shame if no- sale bl.(;of.l'g:) tl:1gial;u'lI:clllle1r.i me ye” um ommeu buwem 1 Szilnt Chccrs Hcwn Nicllollts Ira ltfaa Plea Ship 1303 L.S.D. Slnbad And he meant it! CLAUS' COME LETTERS, TO 'SANTA FROM WORLD OVER the visitor. saying at the same time. "You look startled. MissRay- mcnd. I'll wager you never dream- ed an old fuddy-duddy like me could have such a personable rel- ntive." "Well. I guess I did expect-" "I can imagine what you did expect," Mrs. Smith laughed. Then turning to her grandson. "You won't be able to stay with me, as body tumed up. She'd be awfully hurt." Miss salt did not concentrate on her lesson that afternoon; when the moment came for her an- nouncement of the party, she was uneasy and hesitant. more aware than ever of her lack of contact with the children who. sensing her uncertainty, stored and flwetted. Perhaps her preamble was too Ions. for when at last she reached her. doubtleu in her bedroom; ah accepted everything as part of the fun. something flimsy brushed past hcrl a hand clutched at her and then vanished. some- body on the mound touched her on the coir y, she thought. I have only new begun to live. and whlmes-ed: "You'redoadl" they went, 3.0. and 1 A.D. "O Come All Ye Faith- V ful, Joy! and 'n-tum-phuit": well. she thought. joyful anyway. The coach arrived late and there was general confusion in finding: the right coats and hats. Then 01'! shooting down the and waving llld pathway. shou" presents and she brandishing their Me Postofflce officials In Santa we had planned but 1 r-- . - ""”l'- the operative word. "part on There was a call for ll ms and f llowed them nd called as moot A:-fuddm Claus. lnd.. are accustomed to there: a decent little hotel dovm- chlld let, out ,.n "plums, H01: ” uuueurum 90' 1" u I," could 3 we could :emunbrfudby1uy;:,nr that she had when they c N! RC2 Morning Mcttoes Season Ant Yule logs. the ful letters, Claus. Indz" And. then there is the annii overloaded sacks of mail during pi-e-Chrlntrnas rush. Senders want their cards and gifts stamp- ed with the famous Santa Claus postmark. plus thousands of wist- "santa 'CllI.lI, same town. "Couldn't. I stay at your house. anyway, Granny? A hotel's such a lonesome place at Chrietmastlme." Al pleaded. "The house is all closed up," Mrs. smith answered. "But. never gl fear. Just this evening I have boy!" and the atmosphere cleared like magic. Momcntal-fly, she tel: very happy. "Of course you know what chil- dren are." the vicar said to her afterwards, "you can never rely on them. They are much in demand at Christmas." understand, inquest to find the culprit. inquest. however. was not of another plunge into murdered and there had to be an The out of a window and said: "Miss. wool-r and was soon abandoned in favour After the third or fourth game. the children collapsed on thefloor first you muao't. worry about thgm crackers. It was a super party- Back in the house she faced A wild and bedraggled scene: for W thus that she could clearly crop of "Santa Claus" letters wrIt- found a local cure for loneliness." But no hint could shake her of the lounge. and she brought remember it loooked as if some- rsmains one had been there. someone who . Cra chit tcn by youngsters in far away she smll at Nan. "This young confidence in that tau "on a th places. who haven't heard about lady not :37-e this evening and put boy!" and she began efwofm if, 2;.TMAmc3l::'d. w.:"' 5'” "" Md "VN- 5110 Oouldfeel the life Mas; Santos permanent address in In- up so cheerfully with my long. despite her strict manner and her eating they were quiet. and very stul throbbing in the air. and she dlana. U. 6. A. At least a dozen winded reminiscences. that I talk- refusal to unbend. she was all the guodei-iiy nun ant sand: "ahu. went from one room to the other to catch it. breathe it. hold W sleigh it lasted. Then she fell lnw Post dren. what is Christmas?" versions of the time honored note- "'rhls is Christmas." someone while in-the-bottle story find their way ed myself right out of a horrible mood into it pleasant glow. "If same a. popular figure with the children. on the way out ghc ?.:.n H...” Angel; into mehovolltln "WW-Pm 07- you so at it the right way, rm paused on the amp: to button her Wllm WK I chm opposite the tree and let 911' year. sure she can do the same for coat. and as she stood there she "Y": bl” Whllv ll W? will IN her arms hang loosely over the ' beatlnz oxen The notes. sealed in small bot- Al and quickly. "Would hsving heard I chllrra voice. very clear. we having a norm" sides and be: heart was Her gwe' ties and securely tied to Christmas Christmas dinner with me at the from somewhereout of sight. "ml" "To have a good time." said fast with joy. H 3,.,,,.,,,,.,.. trees, are discovered by chmtimi hotel be I good beginning, M... it biuvled. "what d'you think? Old mot-her Volot "oh boy." she murmured. 0" cupon tree dealers. housewives, and even Raymond?" Pepper's giving a party-bet that'll somebody threw an awle con boy, oh boy, oh boy." enlisted men at naval o s and "I think it would," Nan agreed. be grim!" M mm. --ggoomdy mu g-pg V)”; 0 0 0 military barracks: they come from ---e:m-- She did not move for um-.1 .h. mung, ah. mam w. ugun (copyright: N.!'.L.) places like nsnous. a village in Royalty receive some .t,.-.3... moments. What she had heard birthday." l ' ' ' mitigated her earlier happiness "'I'hat's' it." said Ilia Ball. The characters in this story "9 New lrunswlek, Osnsda. boasting Chribtma ti. Th a. total population of so fnhahl- ' Wm" ' K" ”' slam once visited Queen Victoria "that's what I mean." This was Imaginary. No reference is intend" bec sh suse e was sure, sure beyond u u in mm. mm at w my the lnctnuit that lie bad intend- tarils. and was so impressed wlth the all doubt, that the voice which bet The notes range from the win. noycl ”tchens, that his annual her only would be mm was the II to Illa! the carol mom. but while of smut! commut- ml to the deapenlte. requesting wt was always something for the some voice that had exclaimed new the idea seemed at-unclal. 11:: things 4: a mags (doll. a kifoheuu Unfortunately? ltfvras al- sucll: 3 .LlbHlhth"Oht boylzd As I gun theututrloal. Al” wttbdut mbgnmef 3th owuasuu. feast-dll s .asvu era cover-ways-esametypecglt-all-wee on-iesesrugg age nkinc I II Isltacakof ecaecdar 59""l"' shoes. ' var frying pan! ' the temptation to abandon the Specially deilzned for children of the let-use. and. without and. they lea; before the tutti ct cunt Al I I