Show f L a II J 1 37 EVERY HEART E l By Vera Tarpley believe In UT THEY dont don't I BUT B Christmas Jim y Jim y o 0 u know that Laura wished she hadn't spoken quite so loudly loudl her remark had stopped In n midstream three running rapid conversations Her guests studied the rug pattern Jim merely looked at l his s wife In silence I mean after all aU she went on its not their heir religion so I assumed as sum d It would be embarrassing embarrassing- to them them to to Invite them to our Christmas party She swallowed uncomfortably And I assumed that this party was for all the fellows In our office Including Ben He smiled then but didn't soften the accusation Everyone In the room knew of at the I close friendship between Jim and Ben they Ben they oI only Y guessed at his wife's resentment of the friendship k Se r r y q jt Ho UlIo asked us to sin sing S 'S Silent 1 I e n t Night and guess what lie He gave us ten dollars And she Invited In ui us in and rave gave us candy and cookies Mr Adams office manager broke the silence next I wouldn't worry worry wor war ry about It too much Jim Alter all aU Christmas Is He emptied his Ws glass and returned it to the coffee coffee And we all feel a lit lit- littie little tie tle differently about the holidays holiday than they do About nine o'clock carolers cameto came cameto cameto to to the door singing lustily and slightly lIghtly off key L Let t every heart prepare him room f The oldest caroler was scarcely twelve He HeI I rattled a box full of coins coin Mr Adams snatched matched the donation box boxI I from him ceremoniously deposited I nine pennies and passed from guest I to guest bowing after each dona dona- I tion Everyone put in nickels and andI I dimes dime Jim put In a five-dollar five billand billi bill and everyone shouted Show Show off 1 i Laura was annoyed but kept still till t Laura and Jims Jim's little girl Bonny I was out caroling too but her group covered a different neighborhood No one noticed much when the telephone rang later In the evening and Jim went to answer It But they noticed Jims Jim's face when h he returned to the living room living room room-it It was white and twitched unpleasantly Laura walked over to him Who was It dear It was Ben Ben he he called to apologize apolo gize gu for not coming tonight His m daughters daughter's been in Children's Childrens Chit Chil drens dren's Hospital for the past month you fOU know Adams broke in In Say that that's right right Ben Ben said laid she he was pulling out of 01 It that it-that that was last week I be be- lieve Hows How's she doing did he say She died this afternoon Nobody seemed to have anything more to say lay after that The party broke up within the next half Just Jut as the were were leaving leav leav- ing Bonny came In from caroling She was wal flushed with happiness and excitement Laura clutched her In her ber arms convulsively Did your group make a big haul tonight Bonny l Did wel cl she gasped We got more than any other group I bet betl betlAnd And Mom we sang for tor that Mr Ben at Daddys Daddy's office and andOh andOh and and- Oh but you shouldn't have havel Laura looked at Jim with alarm Why not Mom He asked us to sing Silent Night and guest guess what He gave us ten dollars And she he Invited us in and gave ave us candy and cookies and gee they're nice And I told them hello from tram you and and Daddy and you know what She cried Isn't that funny tunny mother Jim looked at his WI stricken wife and wanted to take her in hit his arms but Mr and Mrs Adams were standing there then with their mouths mouth open so 0 he be merely grasped her hand firmly Bonny babbled on hap pill And you know what else Mr Ben asked me what the donations went for and when I told him he took all the money out of his WI wallet wallet wallet wal wal- let and put it In our box can you Imagine And then I asked him ithe if it he had any boys or girls like us usand usand usand and would they like to go caroling with us UJ and he said ald no not And then she ahe started crying a again aln and we w. left Wasn't that funny Mr Adams Adam cleared his hb throat By the way Bonny Just jut what were those donations for tor anyway I forgot to notice when they came around here II Why for tor the Childrens Children's Hospital fund fund or or something like that that that-it It was wa all aU printed on the box |