| Show wa the gift that s came back 5 by R SWAIN JU asak jt tj 2 11 WAS early morning and the toy department of the big sto store re was comp qui quiet t al at though christmas wis w is only a week away in his den surrounded by all jill that was ras brightest and best in sat santa claus benign red coated white furred car thoughtfully his half yard of snowy peard As yet no confiding infants hid been pushed up to his chair cb ur by parents there to make male artless pleas for a dolly as big as a real baby or a train 0 cars with a wind up inglus so the good saint had leis ure to indulge in certain holiday rec ree collections and longings of his own in other w santa alius w was as I 1 ome sick not for the north pole but for snowy mount tins and a little town nestled in their in dst ast from which w aich be he had been an exile for many months suddenly S sinta strita trita pulled himself to gether with a start as he realized that a small girl with a wistful look was standing before him well my dear santa claus held 0 17 VIP VI P a out his hand and his bib kindly voice noice and confidential smile seemed to reassure he little girl tor for she came nearer and nearer and smiled back tim tint adly louve come to tell me what you want ant here s bour our mamma honey 1 I I 1 ha haven ven t any she he ed in a tone of gentle resignation putting her little hind h ind into his big one I 1 ame by myself because its aunt bertha s present I 1 w i anted to ask you about and she t hear I 1 asked ler ier to wait a minute for me around the orner of that big pile of dolls I 1 L see santa s rosy cheeks grew aust t a little redder foi bertha was ras he name that had been in his houghes a moment before and frivol inta rily for that name s sake his man er held a special friendly interest for he plainly dressed thin faced little arl well do you know what your matle wants me to bring her santa ailed behind his beard at the incon reous situation but the child s look vas gravely concerned just the trouble mr kris krisi but I 1 know there theres s something she slants very much she ras w as crying yes erday and when volen I 1 asked her bow how he could feel bad so near Chrict christmas mas he said that was ras just it and when I 1 asked her some more questions she pla ined that she had a lovely christ mas present last dear and she lost t and it w m as her own fault and no v shed he d never have it again but she wouldn t tell me what it was don t you remember what presents she had last year oh she t live with us then ahe he s my pepa s sister 5 ou know and he wrote and asked her to come and take c care cire ire of me when nhen when nhen mamma died tied the brown ea aies es blinked beavely kunt bertha lived way ay up n the mountains with grandma and grandpa so of course I 1 don t know a about b 0 ut her christmas presents 1 I thought maybe as 3 ou oure re a a i sort of a fairy you would know how to find out and where does she live he asked with bis his heart thumping under the scarlet coat in a manner ill befitting his age and dignity the little girl g gave an addre which he lecog recognized n iced as a small street in a section of the city near his own modest lodging now don t you worry any more about it he charged her as he wrote it down I 1 feel sure that w we ere re going to find out what that christmas present Is and see that she gets it too and we hope it will make her all happy again don dont t we bun run along dearie 1 I must talk to these other little folks now it a our secret and I 1 w m on t forget he nodded to her once more as she disappeared in the crowd and his eyes followed her progress to the distant doll corner just one glimpse he caught of the tall girl who stepped from behind the showcase and smiled down into the happy little upturned face but it was ras enough to make the glittering scene look 1001 misty for a mo ment bertha here in the same store with lilma him I 1 the city to alich wl ich he had drifted almost at random during the cretel ed pir P ir following their foolish vas was now her home and he was goins going to see her again I 1 only nine 0 clock ten hours at least before he could see her santa claus sighed in a manner in consist ent with the jolly red nose and rosy cheeks but almost I 1 limet hately he smiled again as he softly patted the left side of his broad chest hidden under the gay coat in an inner pocket lived the little ring thus honored be cause it had been worn on bertha 4 finger for a week one thing was tain this niece bleet elect should have the merriest christmas in his power to betow |
