_w . That Gobbler i O for “Christmas The! Just Could Not Kill the Bird ‘They Had Watched Groin up from i Bubyhood, "r-wr- I! CLARA DIILAFIIBLD , M». HARM. I might let you i have the cobbler for Christ- , lfll-l." said Silas Iflcks. "He'll ' boailne bii-abytnmautr dunno. He's the only one I've reared out of that brood, and I'm kinder attached to him." HWWOI‘. he promised Mrs. James finally to let her have the gobbler. Silas Hicks was not a senti- mental man. l-Ie was a farmer. and in business for the money‘ it brought him. He had a brother 3°11". who had gone to the city and made money hand over nst. John w" '- (mlsl-Y 01d bachelor and largely devoid of the sense of family obligations. ' There had been a. time, iive years before. when things went badly with Silas. There was s. heavy mortgage to meet, the crops had been a failure. and he had been in danger of ’ ' ... '- h“ wife was on her sickbed. from which she was never to arise. Silas had gone in his despair to the brother whom he had not seen .101‘ years. John had turned him down flat. “Father left you the farm because you played up to him, and kicked me out info the world," he said. "Now I've made my pile, you have the nerve to come to me for help. I don't see it. Silas." "My wife's sick," pleaded Silas. "and you've BOt more money than you know what to do with." "Oh. I can find a use for it." John rejoined caustically. "Maybe if you'd shown a little sympathy for me when I was hoofing it on the sidewalks I'd have a little more for you, Silas." Silas went home. Somehow he managed to survive the crisis. But his wife died. and ha grew lone- lier and lonelier. If he had s few thousand dollars he would have sold out and gone south to live, somewhere away from this bleak New England coast. But he could just manage to make both ends meet. Daily he cursed his brothe in his heart. l-fe started raising turkeys, and that was a failure. Only the gob- bler lived. He used to watch the bird with interest. The gobble would come clucking after him for crumbs. And it was odd how it looked like John. He began to call it John. It had a queer way oi putting its head upon one side and calling as John used todo when he was a boy. Gradually, to old Silas‘ fancyythe gobbler became an effigy oi John. He hated it. He hated it, and he was attach- ed, too. He made-a sort of pet of the gobbler. l-Ie wanted it to love him, so far as a turkey gobbler is capable of love. Then, when Christ- mas came, he was going ic cut its throat very slowly, bending its head back to see the terror in its eves- He would thus have his rsven8° upon his brother. Yes, marm, John's thriving 11W- ly and putting on flesh." he fold Mrs. James. "Here he comes. John! v . Johnl" Upcauiethsbittolib‘ Jwthl! head on one side and survey“! suuwmiiiachadanybreed “Isn't he the cutest thins!" llld Mrs Junes. "I don't wonder yo" cantbeartoletmehavs it. M1‘- VI Hicks. "oh, thaifll he'll! film?- mlmv responded Silas cheerily. An elemental hatred for the lob- bisr had come to fill his heart. Christmas was at, hand He pic- mm: how, on the mos-row, he would grab tbs bird, he would in- sult it with all the turkey abuse that he had picked up from it; then it should die slowly. l5 11° would like John to die. on Christmas morning he found a letter from an unknown corres- pondent in the city. Opening it. h! read that his brother John was dead. John had left forty thousand dol- lars, mu of which was to so to Silas, "in y of our boyhood times together, and in the hops that, any ill feeling, if it existed, has long ago been canceled." Silas stared at the letter. His eyes grew misty. He saw John again as u. little boy upon the farm; his heart went out to him across the years. Gobble! Gobble! The big turkey was standing in front cf him. its head on one side. one claw railed. begging for crumbs: "You great big faker. youi" bel- o. , alarmed, Y a‘; a little step or ‘two. " so. Ricksprm willing to pay for that turksf, but somehow f-I feel! just can't cat him sitar scalars him grow Qp from baby- h . .,, "Wal, rm. Jam .1 was kinder fdeiing that way lf." said Silas Hicks. scratching head. "You see. I'm selling out and lolfll soutinandfwasflgirringontaklns him along and raising turkeys.” He Was Chubby And Plump, A Right Jolly Old Elf. Santa Claus, Kris Kringle, St. Nicholas, Father. Christmas or Noel-call him what you will. Charming legends arc told of the origin of Santa Claus, which is a. derivation of 8t. Nicholas, the in- carnation of all first was good and generous. St. Nicholas, destined to be wor- shipped in various forms by the children of scores oi centuries, was born in Peters, a. town of Lycia. in Asia lilinor, From his earliest days he showed a religious inclination that destined him in take a high place in the Church. As s young man he entered the monastery of Sion and in time he became Abbot and later Bishop oi Myra. His great sanctity and learn- ing made him shine even in the most illustrious company, and he was one of the most notable figures at that wondergul gathering of 31B Bishops, who met at Nicer. in 31B to condemn the heresy of Arius- While St. Nicholas became fam- ous in the councils of the Church. it was still more as the special friend cf the children that his fame swead. What a thoughtful old dear was st. Nicholas-the hero of the leg- end dating back to the sixth cen- tury-Iwho inaugurated the blessed custom of hanging up the sicckins on Christmas Eve! "I‘is told that, hidden within the seclusion of the grim walls of a convent, the young,‘ women boarders each Christmas Eve hung a stocking on the door oi the abbess. Came a Christmas morning when they discovered the stocking filled with "sweets," and their delight was unbounded. St. Nicholas it was, whom they cred- iicd with the happy surprise. Overtaken by a storm (so runs s. story of the lens 18o), the patron saint of little children one nikht found refuge in a. convent. The following day being Christmas, he graciously preached s. sermon to the nuns, and they in turn. rc- quested that he come again. The following year he accepted their invitation, and on Christmas Eve, before retiring. asked the sisicrs to lend him a stocking. This he filled with sugar plums. to the delight of the young folk residing under the roof of the convent. Schoolboys Fought “AMAZING SIB-NIB AT ABER- DEEN SCHOOL-BOYS TAKE POSSESSION." We could not any ‘There's noth- ingin the paper this morning" if we were confronted with headlines such igi those. Yet, had daily news- papers been in existence three cen- turies ago, the worthy citizens of Aberdeen would have mad some- thing like this: The schollars oi the grammar schule maist proudly and n- - tuously barred the schule and held it against the masters and the magistrattis c! the toun, who were compellit to ding in pieces ane of the doors to get possession, and the council, bishop and ministry were compellt to amnit a number oi the said schollars to ward. The great advances which have been made in education since that tune are iiheimelives responsible for the absence of sirch news items today What would the schoolboy of to- think oa- do if he found that the a horities had cancelled his Christmas holiday? In all liklihood he would grin and bear it. fully conscious of the futility of any kind of ’ ‘ iiination. The Christmas vacation is now firmly established. bit it is at least partly to earlier generations of schoclboys that this is due, for it was only by persistent demands, aided by physical violence of the most extraodinary character, that the "Yule-tide play" became a. recognised event in the Scottish school year. In pie-Reformation days it was customary for all schools to riiark the Christmas festival by a cessa- tion from work, and the youth oi the time were not slow to translate "holy day" into its wider signifi- cance of "holiday." The Reforma- tQMlnJlBg with it s. ban on emitting that savored of Catholi- cism, supiIIsed Acts of Parlia- ment the festivals which the Roirisn Catholic Church had held: and _thc bigotry of the Reformers dealt or attempted to deal the death-blow to the Christmas holi- DEIINDING LIBERTY But these nealous clerics reckon- ed without thcs schoolboy. What did he care for religious reforms“ The pros and cons of church doc- trines weie nay-and his powers oi‘ , but he did know when his liberties were being interfered with, and. like a true Scot, he was prepared to defend these liberties. All over the country he made a gal- lant stand against the abolition of his "play". ' In defying the authority of the masters and the town Council. the of Aberdeen gave the lead to Jade the restof thsbountryinloos they started their camnlisn on Proper diplomatic lines by sending a noti- item-written in lltin-iri the huge that such an exhibitim of learni s would impress the more-so the Council, as the result of which they received the mammary holiday. Seven yes-rs later, however, the Council withdrew t-bl bflllllolo. Ibi- five years the schoolboy; had to folio their mill of freedom. but For Their Holidays so obstreperous did y bec e each year at Christmas that before a. boy could be admitted to school he had to appear before the magi- strates and rind canton for good be- liaviouri It was easy for the worthy Coun- cillors to treat thus with each boy individually: as one of a disgrunt- lod. organized Qrowd he was an en- tirely differrmt character. The “dis- ordered balrns took the school." and three days‘ holiday had to be conceded as a, peace offering. AIUL. 0R. The boys regarded this small victory as the thin edge of the wedge and determined that they must get all or nothing. The fact that longer vacations used to be the rule still grieved them. and, having lasted the fruits of success now, they set to with a will. The “super- stitious time of Yule" ‘was marked, by breaches of discipline which broimht forth mrther enactments relative to fines and payment for yam-so done m school furniture. n"? hid a. truly uproarious timei The wily years of the ma cen- hilly saw the war at its height. The boys. armed with Weapons o: every ‘himlfilm. firearms included. took the school and held it against the master. and gave them selves up severally to looting — "souiisicd pow folks oi their gear—geese, fowles and peatr-to the sklander of the hush and magistrattis." What s furore 'in civic head. quarters! As the years went on. the deter- mination and resource of the boys increased. for it was regal-dog s; 5 traditional duty. handed on to them by their p.- ‘ecessors, to can-y on the campaign until the authorities capitulatcd. The rebels reckoned that, if they began their demonstrations in good time before Chs-ismas, the chances cf the vacation being assured would be greatly enhanced. Accordingly, in 1612 the scholars of the Gram- mfil‘ 5011001. B01118 School and Writ- ing School held the Sang School with pistols, swords. and sundry other military weapons from the 1st to the 3rd of December. The Town‘ Council, combining with the bishop and the clergy of the town. suppressed this, the wild- est outbreak to date, by committing some of the ringleadcrs "to ward." It is interesting to note that among these were llew Cumming, brother 0i’ the Laird of Culfcr. Thomas and George Gordon, brothers of the Iaird of Oiuny. John Forbes. son of the Prior of Monymusk, and Robert Parguharson, son of John Far- quharson. of Invercauld. The scions of the noble houses thus early showed their talent for leadership! FATAL AITRAY Aberdeen had the dubious honor of inscribing in its records a case of insuboa-dinntion "wherooi there is no such within any other burgh.” This time the Council blamed the weak discipillne of the masters, who in future v/ere to be held respon- sible for any trouble at Yule. But Aberdeen was not unique, for im- prilonments also took lace at Ed- inburgh. The palin or .. ldness must be awardccthowcver, to the - boys of Dundee. who In fllhtinl for their ‘unnmer play“ on one oe- Chrisflias D01] ~ in Own Home E lather, Father and Children Inn Special Guests at ' Family Faust. h Illls 000K ILIOT M: ALIIJBI‘ flad we're not going to our Grandmothers ifor Christmas this year," , Mrs. Will confided to Mr. Will a week before that great day. "Do you realise we've never had a Christmas here in our own home, just ourselves and cur fam- ilg?" "Yes, I've been thinking of that," Mir. Will rwlied. “let's keep it just ourselves, and give the kiddies one truly home Ciaristmaa to remem- bar." As usual. Mr. and Mrs. Will were in complete agreement in their ideas and emotions. Mrs. Will sigh- ed rontentment. Mr. Will sighed contentment, “too; for after all, such harmony as theirs is not so common in this workaday world of wives and husbands. But as Christmas day grew near- er and nearer Mrs. Will suddenly realized she was nursing a sick conscience. 'l'here was something she had not the heart to conde to Mr. Will. New, Mr. Will had a sick conscience, too. There was some- thing he had not the heart to con- de to Mrs. Will. But fortunately everything was straightened out before Christmas that day of peace. dawned. Billy, their oldest, didn't know what the word conscience meant. Of course he had heard mother and father whispering about how nice a strictly family Christmas would be. He had heard them, buf- perhaps he hadn't understood vieir sentiment. Anyway, at luncheon two days before Christmas, he sud- deniy blurted, "Say, Mom, I've asked Jim Larkin to our Christmas dinner and the tree. You know his folks are in Europe, and he's just staying on at the school. Thought he'd like it here better. More homclike." "Oh, bother, Billy," Lucy cried- thirteen-year-old Lady Lucy. "I've asked Patty Brown. She hasn't any folks anywhere, even in Europe. Just that sncbbish great-aunt who's giving a. big house party, all old folks, and doesn't want Patty around. She needs s. home Christ- mas more than your Jim!" Father was eyeing mother anx- iously. Her bright smile amazed him. “Well, I'm sure there's room for them both. I am glad you have such kind hearts. children." But now Mr. Will spoke timidly. "I'm sorry, mother. but I. too, have asked a guest. Couldn't help it somehow! ‘Iliat young Miller at the office. He's so cut up about his mother's death, and a boarding house is a dreary place to spend Christmas." Mr. Will's voice was timorous. almost pleading. But Mr. Will's bright smile had now turned to a calm. relieved one. "Oh, that's splendid, dear." she said. “For, do you know. I myself have invited that pretty little Gladys Haverhill. She looked so woebegone when I met her at the grocers Saturday and asked her whether she was going home for Christmas. She said a poor school teacher couldn't travel way across a continent even for a Christmas at home. What could I do! And do you know I've always thought Gladys and Ted Miller ought to meet. They're such nice young people-and Gladys is so pretty!" So that's what happened to the Wills‘ precious family Christmas. But not one of the Wills felt that he had been cheated of anything. On the contrary! And Mr. and Mrs. Will are in closer harmony than ever. You see, they are the same sort of pe0ple—n0t s, ego common thing in workaday life. And Billy and Lucy are growing _t_i_|_>_rs.ther like them. casion actually killed a, douce magi- strate. The Town Csuncils and the Church. which was itself still op- posed to the celebration of Cir-ist- mas, had finaly to admit that their efforts to abolish the traditional holiday were unavailing and that the Scottish schooboy was no mean fighter. UNAVAILING Even the enactments oi s horri- fied and wrathiul General Assem- bly. inflicting disciplinary punish- ment on scholars and masters alike, p. ‘need no effect. and the struggle went on until the beginning of last. century. By that time the vacation was legalized and varied through- out the country from s. few days in one instance to five weeks in the case of Trinity College. Glenal- mond. Thus by a dour and determined struggle. lB-Qtlflg over two hundred years, did the youth of the country uphold its traditional rights, and finally establish peace and goodwill in the schools at ihe apropriatc season. EIASTUS‘ CHRISTMAS TREE "Where's yo‘ gwine?" was the question. as Erastus passed by with a good-sized Christmas tree. “Yse been where 1's gwlne.” was the rather enismaticai- answer.- C. O. Hasard. CHRISTMAS _ PATROL i l I! I‘. I‘. FIELD “You are listening to Station RRKX. Montreal. During the next hour we will present the Christmas broadcast of messages to officers oi the Royal Canadian Mounted Po- lice now stationed in the Arctic Circle. Fersonsl communications will be followed by a brief summary oi outstanding world developments. Please stand by." Five Mounties sat huddled close to the compact receiving-set. As the voice from the radio paused, the stillness inside their log cabin grew almost suffocating in its intensity. The expectant silence was broken only by the muffled shriek of a blizzard raging in the darkness outside, the sharp report of stones as they racked under the onslaught of the cold and the wind whist- ling through chinks and crevices formed by uneven logs. A film of white snow crept under the door. A cheering fire roared through its brief span of life in the wrought-iron stove. replenishment forgotten in the thrill of the mo- ment. Cold and monotony of the barren wastes, which perforce must be called "home," were thrust into the background. The radio! A small comfort but how tremendously sig- nificant. The only remaining bond with civilization. “What's the matter now I won- der?” Voicing the group's im- patience, Lieutenant Frank War- ren was the first to speak. "Arc you sure everythings all set for reception, Jimmy?" "I haven't touched a thing since he stopped talking." the "engineer" commented. “But I certainly hope nothing . . J ssh . . .‘ Once again the voice filled the room after what had seemed an al- most interminable delay to the lis- tcners-in. Messages came thick and fast now. Familiar greetings from distant homes. Then. . . . “A message to Lieutenant Frank Warren. Andrian Bay Post. We have the sad duty to perform. lieutenant, oi informing you of your mother's sudden death early yesterday morning. Mrs. Warren passed away quietly following a short illness. Please accept, with those of your many friends, our most sincere sympathies." That Frank Warren was visibly shaken as s. result of his sudden bereavement, news of which had sought, him out even in this distant outpost, could be observed only from the droop in his habitually erect shoulders. During the few moments that elapsed between messages, murmurs of condolence found their way from the lips of his comrades; murmurs which in their very simplicity proclaimed a deeper sympathy and understand- ing than would more eloquent speeches. The lieutenant and his compan- ions were guardlans of that bound- less and rugged country—the Can- adian northlands. Daily they pitted themselves against a cruel existence, fighting continually for their very lives. Each one of them knew how to take a blow and understood how to stand behind a friend who had received one. Once more the voice from the ether rapped out above the con- tinual staccaic of static. - "Among the news announce- ments is the following official statement: ‘Police headquarters an- nounced that Tony Lamont, alias Joe Morrow. is on parole and is be- lievod to be headed into Northern Canada. Royal Canadian Mounted Police are asked to watch his movements . . ." The announcer droned on. Fin- ally the broadcast. seemingly all too short came abruptly to an end. Young Lieutenant Warren re- mained seated, motionless and sil- ent, durlng the broadcast. He now rose and, striding across the room peered out into the gathering storm. Framed against the rude window. he was oblivious to the trickle of snow, borne on the wings of the wind. which found its way through even the smallest cracks. His brother officers had not spoken either since the voice of the radio stopped. Their silence was a gesture of respect, an indication oi real men with whom one would be glad to associate. Frank Warren turned from the window. A smile lit his handsome, weather-beaten face, pulling into relief around his humorous eyes a hundred tiny crow's feet, perman- ent signs of hardship and priva- tion. It was a return mark of cs- teem to his comrades, a silent thanks for their homage to his mother. ' - . - For six days the storm swept that vast emptiness around Andrian Bay; for six days it was a cori- tinual struggle to keep from being snowed in at the Post. Then. as quickly as it had been announced on the stinging breath of the cold north wind, the gale abated and passed on in a final whirlwind oi loose snow. Lieutcna ‘ Warren was now three days overdue in cornencing his re- gular patrol. It had naturally been postponed until better weather con- ditions prevsiled for ii. was impos- sible to start on schedule in the face of such an onslaught of snow and bitter winds. Now, however, he was able to begin his rounds. s trip which involves mushing n team of huskies over two hundred miles of uncertain trails. In his search for miscreants and his settlement oi petty arguments. he visited several small habitations which were. for the most part, the residence of Eskimos. missionaries and the occasional Post factor. The personnel of the Andrian Bay Post rose early, for preliminary observations promised fair weather again. Breakfast stowed away, War- ren loaded the sled and harnessed the huskies, already eager to be on their way. lie was dressed in s fur jacket with the hood pulled up to protect his head and hoe. At least everything was in readi- nessil-Ie cracked his long whip, shouted to the lead dog, already pawing the deep snow, and was away. He looked back over his shoulder but once to sec a group standing before the cabin. A little cloud of whiic curled above the heads as smoke from four pipes accumulated ‘in the still morning air. The troll was uneven and the going hard and Warren at first had little time for anything but man- aging the hiiskies. The stillness was broken only by the sharp patter of their paws as. setting down to hard work, their first excited yelp- ings ceased. An immense wilder- ness, a wilderness of which the young lieutenant knew almost every inch despite its apparent de- ficiency of landmarks and scenery. Boundless si-rewhes of almost un- broken white interrupted only by an occasional group of coniferous trees or the bald face of a mighty rock etched against the blinding snow, both almost startling to the untrained eye. ' In the course of his- patrol. Frank Warren invariably made his headquarters the first night in an almost deserted shack at the foot of Thundred Mountain. The trail towards this region is one in name only; the way leads through a deso- laic country. The lieutenant obtained his first glimpse of the log hut es he pushed through the deep snow and sur- rounding evergreen trees on foot. The huskies he had left outside of the fringe of trees which, he knew, surrounded the shelter on all sldea The oblique rays of the late sun were dissipart‘ a light mist. For a moment, Warren mistook a slight wisp of smoke which rose from the cabin for this fast-re- treating film of vapor. l-Ie stood out from the trees. “Hello there," he called sharply. There was no answer but the rc- trenting echoes. He could see no movement within the dark cabin. His answer came suddenly. It was not a human voice that replied, but s. sharp report, the tingle of broken glass, a wisp of smoke and a bullet whistling with- in an inch of his head. He heard its dull thud as it embedded itself in a tree two feet behind him. He dodged behind a tree. For a. moment there was complete silence. Peering around the trunk of his protective tree, the i utenan‘ could see that the bullet meant for him had been fired through s. glass pane of a window facing him. Suddenly the name flashed through his mind; the name that the radio had droned out last night. Tony Lamont! Could it be possible? Well. only one way to find out. Better be careful though. He drew his revolver from its hol- ster. "Tony Lamont, are you there?" he hollered as he held the gun in readiness, his body crushed close to the tree. “Yes," came the reply and was accompanied by another shot which richoetted from the tree in front of Warren. "Who are you and what do you want?" Without moving from his van- tage point. he said: “I am Lieut- enant Warren of the Royal Can- sdian Mounted Police." "Who?" The question was one of amazement. . “Lieutenant Frank Warren," the Mountie replied. "Just s minute, don't shoot." Tony Lamont unbarrcd the door and walked into the deep snow. His hands were high above his head. l-lc gazed with keen scrutiny at the young Mounties face. "Well, I suppose you'll arrest; m; 1°!‘ shooting at an officer." he said as he drew close to Warren. “Why don't you behave yourself," the lieutenant replied. “You had no business shooting." "I know," Lamont said. “I-I guess my nerves are all shot," "Do you know what day this is?" Warren asked with apparent ir- revelance. ltétllo. What's that got to do with "It's Christmas Dayi" A wave of pain crossed Lamont‘: face. “Oh. God," he said in a faltering voice. A year ago today _ _ _" “What's the matter with you?" Warren asked. “I'm not going to arrest you on Christmas Day even if you did take a pot at me. Brace up man." “It's not that." Lamont said WEBKIY- "Liston." The man's breath came in heavy, rasping gasps. "Listen." lie repeated quietly, his head hanging low. "A ye,“ 58o today I spent with your mother. The next week I was sent up for a long stretch. A few days ago. I heard that she was dying _ _ _ 1 wanted to see her before . . . so I escaped from prison _ 1 mid her I would try to head up north afterwards . . . she said you were hero . . H9 Daused to regain his breath. "She asked me to try to get s message to you." Then, irrelevantly, he asked; "How old are you?" "Twenty-three." Frank replied in a puzzled tone. "I ihousht I0. I Inf thirty-five." Lamont continued slowly. “I rsn "Way from home when I was . . . twelve. Since then I've been mm. ed by the police . . . I wantgd m see . . . mother before she went." He stooped min and, raising his head for the first time, looked straight at Warren. "I m! your brother!" HARD T0 ANSWER . B"y—-Mammal Tired Mother-Wall? BOP-When Santa Claus was a little boy, wlio filled his stocking? -The Country Home. One-Half. Dozen _ Happy Kiddies Young. Woman Gathers in Homeless Tots for Christ- mas Festivities. IyHlAMflIlNG H! dining room of this ek- quisite home was beautiful. spacious and furnished in best of taste. Its massive . Jacobean highbscked chairs, long table, draperies all harmon- ized. But that quality which puts one at ease was lacking. It looked austere and unfriendly. The ser- vants had decorated the table and room profusely. trying to give a little of the Christmas atmosphere. The forbidding look still asserted itself, though. From the length of the table and amount of edibles piled upon it. one might have judged there was to be quite a party, but only four places were eet. The dinner gong sounded. A middle-aged well-dressed man and woman appeared. “And you say Thelma went out irr the car?" "She didn't say where she was going. Robert," replied his wife. “She probably thought Hubert was taking too long in getting over here, so she took it upon herself to so after him." "Undoubtedly." Fremont. Thelma came soon bursting in upon her folks, coat and hat still on. To be sure, she had Hubert with her. "Dad, mother," she exclaimed. "come and see what I have out herei" She led her folks into the front hall. To their astonishment, they assented Mrs. found the butler and a maid occu- pied in removing coats and hats from six children. "Well. where did you get these?‘ said Mr. Fremont in his blustering way. "It's like this. Dad," began ‘Thelma with a rather apologetic air: "When I came downstairs this afternoon and saw that dining room table heaped up with good things-well. I just went for Hubert; together we found the nuns of the nursery or home or whatever you call it. near here and we went over- there. I had the matron give me half a dorcn children, and here they are." She pointed to the group in front of her, who were busy taking in their cuss undings. "Children. this is my father and this my mother. Now, Dad, here is Tony, Rose. “Freder- ick, Charles. Anna and Marie," as she gathered the children to her. “Now. children. we are going 'n and have dinner. Let's see, Hubeii. you take Frederick and Charles. Dad tslae Tony: Mother, you take Anna, and I will have Rose and Marie." The children. ranging from six to eight, were rather shyguntil they set eyes on all the goodies on the table; then they were all excito- ment. ‘Thelma winked at Hubert. and then looked at her dad. He. was busy keeping meat enough cut up for Tony. supplying his numerous other demands, and keeping up with his many ques- tions. The chlldren were fairly stuffed when they climbed down from the table. "We are going to play some games now." said Thelma. "Hu- bert. you get on that sidr of the circle; come on, Dad and Mother." But no amount of coaxing could bring Dad and Mother. Dad thought he had done his share. "What do you think?" said ‘Thelma to the children a little while later; "Hubert tells me 1V.‘ was just in the library, and Sonia left a Christmas tree and some . gifts for you in their." "Where do you suppose slic 20E those things?" queried Mr Fre- mont of his wife. “I can't imagine." she replica]; this must have been ilic planning of more than today- It came time for Thelma to Slit" the dread announcement. iliai they were to leave for tlir homo. Br:- fore doing so sh" curvcvrcl the scene before her: There was Dad. on his hands and knees. criiwlinl! about the floor with Tony, playing train, Tony had succendcri in win- ning over Mr. Fremont. There sat her mother reading a story to three of the youngsters. and Hu- -bert-she could hardly believe her eyes-sat cuddling a little sleeping form in his arms. She went over and sat. down on ihc arm oi his chair. _ “You dear old thing." she said. putting her arm around him; then. “Hubert, look at Dad. Won't voii say this day has been n success?"