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Show feiday, vTrrmnx 24, t tttt ws Heart Throbs written by Mrs.Marvel A. Smith dis- tossed her coat over her shoulder and ran out of the door. treasures tance searching for own their f""d in Arriving in front of home, they T"'gH Margie stepped out of the car yard." "Umm-m-that turkey looks and paused to admire the Christgood. Wish I could have a drum- mas tree through the large window. "It's beautiful! The tree stick, Mommie," decorated prettier this year is five-year Mazie old little ever before. It's quite a than the huge turkey wistfully eyed of art if I did do it myself. work her mother had taken out of the let I'd If Ralph have his way and oven to baste. allowed him and Mazie to do it, "Well, you can't', snapped had to keep the shade "You children have I'd have Margie. She hesitated as she stayed in this kitchen all day. I pulled.' children. Mazie was the saw wish you'd go outside and play. Dick why he's just and crying, I've so much to do before I'm a small he looked as How baby. ready for the party tonight This he gazed woefully up at his turkey and dressing has taken up sister. most of may day. I don't see why Margie stepped closer to the Jan couldn't cook the old bird. window. She could hear Ralph Its always me who gets the big Mazie. "Don't cry, with outpleading children end. Now you go side. .Ralph, can't yau take Sis. You don't have to eat the Mazie and Dick out to sleigh ride old soup, and I'll tell you a story and help you write a letawhile? maneuvered the ter to Santa. It will be a good Ralph silently two children into caps, snowsuits one too, and 111 bet he'll bring and boots. Tears sprang into you all you ask." "A rag doll too? Will he Ralph? Mazies blue eyes as Ralph led door. them out of the "Sure, he might', and Margie "Can't see why we cant have detected a note of doubt in his drumsticks, and make ginger- voice. bread men to hang on our She remembered then. Yes, v Christmas tree like the Jones' the rag doll Mazie had so addo. "Can't ever have no fun, mired like Juanita's, her play"cause Mommie and Daddy mate. "Yes, I even got the never stay home." material for that once, but have"When they are home they n't had time to make it Anyway, are just getting ready to go that doll I bought was the best again," muttered Ralph. in town. I really shouldn't have Quickly Mazie and little Dick bought it though. We couldn't looked up at Ralph. Mazie dried afford such a price for a doll. her eyes on the back of her mit- Guess I could have made the rag ten. Why Ralph seemed un- doll last night if I hadn't had to happy too. Ralph was just twelve, pick the pin feathers out of that but nevertheless the one she and huge turkey." old Dick loved little three-ye- ar "And Ralph, will you read Ralph always com- about Jesus' birthday? Juanita forted them, but now both sensed says her Mommie always reads his unhappiness. about Jesus to them Christmas "See, Ralph, the snow's so Eve. Will you Ralph?' pretty. Ill show you how to And Dick looking at Ralph, make a funny snow man like wt "Tory, Ralph, Tory?"up did at Play School, won't I, Margie stood watching the litDick?" hastily offered Mazie. tle scene enacted in her own livRalph looked down into the ing room. She seemed poweranxious faces and immediately less to go farther to intrude. regretted his grumblings. She was mother yet she was an "Yes, do! and 111 help. Ill outsider. To her mind flashed lift the balls on top of each other the number of times she and Fred when you get them rolled. Let's had left the children home while go kids." they "partied" or insisted they to bed early so it would be go 'I'll be ready in a minte, Fred. quiet to entertain the crowd. Catch up that roaster in the Card dancing parties, parties, kitchen. I believe everything is canyon trips, yes, even the last in it" Margie was slipping into 'ourth of July they had left the her coat She paused to glance children to entertain themselves. in the hall mirror before going Maybe that was why Ralph was out the door. A trim figure so silent lately; why Mazie and greeted her dark hair carefully Dick always run to Ralph with arranged. The single pearl neck- their troubles. With guilt she lace added style to the neat black realized she had rather been redress peeping from under the lieved when they had taken their coat "Ralph, you see that Mazie troubles to Ralph. As she lookand Dick get something to eat, ed again in the window. Ralph and dont stay up too late. was seating himself on the As Margie went through the davenport and lifting Dickie to door her three children stood his lap. Mazie snuggled close silently watching her leave. Their by their side, a look of content goodbyes were listless. ment on her tear streaked little Margie settled herself into the face. And it was the Bible Ralph car. "Somehow or other I feel a little guilty, Fred, going off to a party Christmas Eve every year and leaving our children, don't know why I should," she mused half to herself, and half to her husband. "The house is spot less and decorated beautifully, and I have their Christmas pre tents all wrapped. There's a can of soup Ralph can fix for their "ilea oft times go great m, so-dea- rly. dinner. Ralph Is so dependable, It was only a few blocks to the looks like Morgan house. Bryce and Jan are already here. I'm glad they are. I'm good and hungry, offered Fred. As they were getting out of the car the Morgans door open td and a gay quartet chorused, Trust Fred and Margie to b last Bring in Old Tom and th trimmings. We're starved." Millie and Frank Morgan did n't have a pretentious home, bu it was large and it was here that the "gang", as they had long ago termed themselves, usually met on festive occasions. The girls rushed to the kitchen to finish preparations for Christmas Eve feast The three men leisurely adorned the more comfortable pieces of living room furniture. Frank and Bryce argued politics while Fred wa content to merely relax and oc easionally make some inconse held in his hand. Slowly Margie made her way back to the car and before she realized what she was doing, she was facing the "gang" in the Morgan's living room. The cranberries were forgotten She was talking to the amazed crowd of friends, shivering with cold, and almost hysterical. Fred had his arm protectingly around her shoulders. "I stopped when I got out of the car to admire the decorations the tree I selfishly insisted on decorating myself. I saw Ralph, Mazie and Dick coming out of the kitchen. Mazie, my little girl was cryingcrying, and its Christmas Eve, folks. I went closer and I heard Ralph tell her she didn't need to eat the old soup and he'd read them a story and write them a letter to Santa. She wanted a drumstick this afternoon when I was fixing that turkey and I was irritated. Rlaph promised her Santa would bring her a rag doll, although I could tell he thought it would be an Fred, let us go impossibility. home. I can still make the doll if you'll help and maybe we can get there in time to read about Jesus' birthday and maybe even Rilph would like to hear it read. Forgive us friends. You keep the turkey all but the drumsticks. Mazie and Dickie wanted them. Please go ahead with your party, but we are going home, aren't we Fred?" As answer, Fred went to find his coat Margie had .been so involved in her own emotions she hadn't noticed the expressions on her friends faces Millie had looked at Frank. Tears had sprung into her eyes. "Margie is right. When Jan and Bryce came this evening I worried for fear they'd hear Mary and James crying. (Mary and James were the two children, seven and nine respective ly.) They didn t want to go to bed so early and wanted to wait up and see the big turkey. Yes, Margie is right. I'm going up now and awaken them and read them a story too. I realize now what James meant when he told Grandma Morgan they were orphans. We can still make it a Christmas for them Frank." It was Jan and Bryce who were silent. Marge was the first to realize that they couldn't go home to children. They had none. "Forgive us, Jan and Bryce. Come home with us." "No,' and Jan went over and put her hand in Bryces'. "We're going home and throw our cloth and go to es into a suitcase Mother Wrights for Christmas. She'll be so lonesome this year, It's the first since Father Wright died and she's all alone." "Jan, do you mean it? Why Jan, that will be the nicest Christms gift I could have. And perhaps we can take our tree to the Thompsons down by the tracks as we go. There are so to- -l jmany of them and I noticed ' And night they didn't have one. "Let me go get them, Margie, few minutes and I'm not sure where I put them. You look too comfortable to disturb." She Juiit dd "Why they're scarcely older noted Margie. than Ralph, 'MavHe next year Ralph can Sleeoilv M, AN vnu mm inn w L i is so fine ' sing carols. His voice ; ua, t red?" sanawicnes, was It turkey . , uu I . made for the carolers mnro in. frj , .' me tree, . but Dick and Mazie each sat on guess the a chair busily attaching an over- over the radio all riw7 nnt- - for. behold. I bring you drumstick. "Silent night. Holy which grown good tidings of great joy, All is calm all k shall be to all people. "Its about time to get up in this Fred turned into the born is day unto been its but 'For you stead of bo to bed. -o in the city of David a Saviour, so wonderful. That rag doll is uwiy asleep He face which is Christ the Lord. looked The you at the tired a masterpiece. 'And this shall be a sign unto painted is lots better than if Id embroidered it and sewed on "Could the Bethlehem you: Ye snau una uie wrapped in swaddling clothes, ly- button eyes 111 bet Ralph will ing in a manger. "And suddenly there was with anel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying. And as Martrie read the words "Glory to God', she paused and listened. "Is it angels, Mommie?" whis pered Mazie. "Glory to God, Glory to God, Glory to God in the highest Peace on earth, good will to men. Peace on earth, good will to men!" "It's the carolers. Let's invite L i them in," suggested Ralph. "Its so cold outside." ij Upon invitation, a group of young children gleefully entered the room. fiMi kfeoine watch over their flock by nignt 'And In the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. "And the angel said unto tnem. J rr ..ir-k1- v fp v. bJ laffti'iiffftfrtwfrtr J' "7".'! W'oTveotti "message of " VTeace'on earth; gxd :V"wiH to men' echoes again tXvover the entire Christian , world in this "happy holiday! V ' tl i iiari 5 our f Tzzzrjr Xseason., Harking .back to ;tie spirit otihe 'f:'fchristmas, first W 'wish for" ' , the joys 'and' 'Vbjeissmi.oi the. season. jfVSHt-al- greeting to you in this f 1 happy season. HMOf v H. -- I. Grass Furniture Store zzz- 3& m.xa m.m. 7 All the fragile beauty of a snowflake symbolizes this shimmering season of joy and happiness. May this Christmas be the most joyous of them alL It's a real pleasure to extend these greet' ings to you. HIPPY HOLIDAYS! quential comment It was Margie who came hurriedly In from the kitchen a little later. "Fred, may I take the keys. I left the cranberries her husband suggested. "No, it won't take me but a Bryce strode into the other room in search of their coats. It was just a matter of minutes until the food was divided. The two Morgan children had been bought down to see the turkey before the carving began. Now they were busy eating their way to the oversized wishbone. Margie and Fred, Jan and Bryce left, calling a merry Christmas to each other as both couples went their separate ways to find "Merry Christmas." The car had hadly stopped until Margie was out and running up amazed the the steps. Silent three children watched as she crossed the room and knelt down in front of them and hugged all three. Fred was close behind. He sat the roaster with turkey and trimmings on the floor and gathered all four in his arms. "Ralnh- - Mazie. Dickie. Mav I read you a Christmas story? The one about Jesus' birthday. I know Ralph has read it but may I read it to all of us? Not bothering to remove their coats, Margie and Fred dropped to the floor. Fred pulled Mazie to his knee, and Ralph lifted Dick on to his mother's lap and kneeling put his arms across his father's and mother's shoulders. "And there were in the same country, shepherds abiding in , It home." FETE PRESS, LEHI, UTAH vice Loiie Eagle Trading Post WATTIE'S CAFE Fine DIMES |