Show A VICTORY from the boomerang anne surveyed her array of christmas christinas presents with a sigh that promised ill for the christmas spirit the christmas cheer that shows itself in every shop window and every home is supposed to indicate the prevalence of the spirit of christ that thrives only within the human heart anne anna had welcomed tho the christmas spirit early in december with ten dollars and dext erious fingers she would be able to shower her gifts on all who could claim her benevolence she had made her list early there were father and mother and the brothers and sisters in order of age henry 14 fay 11 jennie 9 and robert RoberL 6 5 anne anie being the oldest had bad been assistant santa claus claua for some time in tact fact she was the main feature of the christmas program she added to this list her four most intimate girl friends her two grandmothers and her favorite favo orate rate teacher thirteen presents and ten dollars but she could manage it ye do it unto the least of one of these ye do it unto me it was the christmas spirit that spoke urgently from within im giving to all the children and im in no position to go beyond my own she urged on the defensive but the christmas spirit was so in ind sistena that annie had to make peace with it lets see theres old mrs crosby mother will send her some christmas dinner yes yea ill make her a pair ot of those bed slippers shell enjoy benj OY those the christmas spirit was mollified and anne went joyously about her preparations As with the best made plans 0 mice inice and men annes annea plans were suddenly interrupted A letter came I 1 from orn cousin helen with a most urgent invitation to come to her home for the holidays helen who lived in the metropolis had spent part ot of her summer 1 at the farm the letter was brimming with plans of parties and good times in conclusion it said you must be bere iere by the because we are to help with the community christmas tree mamma Is chairman of 0 the on cheer boxes it will bo be i lot of tun fun we shall help buy the gifts for the boxes j mother she cried eagerly what shall I 1 do I 1 simply must go but I 1 wear 0 mother that little dress we were looking at yesterday but maybe we can get it answered mother who was willing to sacrifice ill it hurt so that anne might go al 01 0 mother youre a darling I 1 know you cant afford it but ill go without a lot 0 of other things and and this la Is such a wonderful opportunity to live just think to hunt through all those big stores and buy loads and loads of things not just window shop 0 mother dear it will be a real christmas just think of all those poor children that well make happy already anne was felling the joy of the great philanthropist and the christmas spirit waxed strong anne began to formulate her new plans lets see that means three more presents ten dollars well she would mariage manage she struck mrs crosby off the list the christmas spirit winced she bought father a tie ile instead of 0 house slippers by getting cheaper material she made mother a cap tor for fifty cents less than the original plan the christmas spirit protested about the cap but anne had no time for christmas spirit she made sundry other marked changes and now when she had the fifteen presents wrapped and ready she felt strangely dis satis fied with them all the dis satish action was momentary however ho weTer the excitement of racking packing and setting getting ready for the trip subdued all other emotions it was the 0 of december anne was to take the early train on the following day M other mother I 1 have a pain behind my car this information came from deb bob well I 1 have too bobble bobbie said mother we must have a cold cold said fay when halt half the school is out with mumps mumps well ive had the mumps of course bobble bobbie but wo well li watch him in spite of the watching the next morning bobbi bobbies es faco face looked like a full and he felt fine but mother was very ill anne felt an icy chill steal over her there was clearly nothing to do but offer to stay atheme at home no mother protested you go ill be all right tomorrow father will be home all day the day before christmas the children were not so generous they wanted her to stay A nice christmas well have with mother and bobbie sick and you away said pay fay decorate the christmas tree it was as just halt half an hour before train time knue anne went to her room to hide the tears and decide You cant go and leave your mother ill at christmas time it sounded like the christmas spirit but in the same tone came the hasty reply but think of the cheer boxes and the great christmas tree you were boling go ing to help make hundreds of children happy anno anne began unpacking hurriedly when she took the new gown from the bag she hesitated the hesitation was fatal back it went you silly she thought why sacrifice tor for nothing it if there were any reason in 1 it 11 but those miserable unsightly mumps nothing serious be all right now it it were something really serious id never think of going on went her hat and coat and seiz 1 ing the two bags she bade a hurried farewell and started tor for the train accompanied compa nied by henry who carried the bags the bitter conflict between agnns unrelenting conscience and her eager desire to go continued as she hurried on tears shining rebellious tears stood in her eyes the christmas cheer died out of her heart and she felt desolate but the christmas spirit entered and began bean its subtle operations she went to the ticket window 1 I wish to send sead a telegram she said she wrote hurriedly mother ill I 1 cant ant be there lovingly anne the victory for the christmas spirit was complete I 1 know for mrs C rosby crosby received a dainty lace cap for christmas |