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Show (feiff m THK dny before Christ MIS, Why don't you innke It one of rest, Joel, and begin the new one fresh mid ready uul bright Vor the work before you?" The Itov. Joel Brierly regarded his estimable better half with smiling . thought fulness. "It happens to be a dny when both of us must live up to impcrutUe duty, dear," he replied. "There are the Mason children. I have plared the two older ones with some very good people. The little girl of four and the boy of six. however, are still In need of a home. I have been thinking; suppose you see If you cannot llnd some one to adopt the girl and I will do the same for the boy." "Who are we ever going to get to take them?" Inquired Mrs. Briefly, growing fussy and excited. "I shall trust your busy and sensible mind to enlist the Interest of some of your charitably inclined lady friends," answered Mr. Hrlerly gallantly. "I will undertake trying to influence some benevolent husband or father." So. with holiday cheer warming his honest heart, the best liked minister I'axton ever bad started forth on his misson. Before doing so, however, he sat down on the porch for a quarter of an hour compiling a list of possible pos-sible "prospects." Thomas Dalrymple, the village magnate, was among them, and he listened with apparent interest to the minister's story of how four children had been left homeless and penniless through the death of their mother, u poor widow. "Tell you." said Mr. Dalrymple, "my wife is an Invalid and any variation in our regular life would greatly disturb dis-turb her. I shall be only too glad to Join in a fund to provide for the earn of one of the children at some school or institution." "We hnve none here adaptable locally," lo-cally," demurred Mr. Brierly. "and I promised Mrs. Mnson that I would ex ert supervision and care over her little ones until they were able to take care of themselves." Levi Brodle, a well-to-do merchant, turned out also a disappointment. Two more calls, further excuses and Mr. Brierly entered the office "r ' i ' " ' " ' i ' fi 1 1 If, if M fi d n "Poorly, Poorly, Sir," Replied Dallas Dejectedly. block of the town In quest of No. 6 on his list, to find the object of his visit absent for the holidays. He was somewhat weary from his useless tramp, and as be DfiSSCll the office of John Dallas, who dabbled in real estate, es-tate, he saw Its tenant staring gloomily out of the window. Now the thought never occurred to Mr. Brierly that here might be a possible benefactor. John Dallas was gray and grizzled. He had changed a good deal of late years, and all his old-time cheerlness seemed .--Jo have vanished after his children iil grown i i ami married und went uway. The clergyman had beard that Dallas and his wife lived a lonely and It was said, ruther unhappy life. Dallas Dal-las looked it as he greeted his chance visitor. "Just dropped. In to rest for a minute min-ute or so," nnuounced the latter. "How are you getting along, Mr. Dallus?" "Poorly, poorly, sir," replied Dallas dejectedly. He had left home that morning wretchedly dissatisfied. Insensibly In-sensibly since the youngest and lust of the family brood bad chosen a wife and hud settled In another section of the country, Ilk.' himself, Mrs. Dallas had (hanged greatly, and the holiday season us it came around seemed ul-most ul-most unbearable. The two would sit evenings amid a loneliness that really pluced them aR far apart as If they were separated by Ulumltable space. John Dullus opened bis houI to the broad-minded, genial touted minister who had looked to the spiritual welfare wel-fare of his family for over u quarter of century. He hud not one word of blame, of censure, for Mary, hut hi pathetlcnlly described the fortorniiess of the dull, uneventful life they led. "Maybe It's because we are growing old,'' he sighed. "We don't seem to have any mutual Interests any more 'lli'' house Is as grim ad silent as a iull, with the children eft gone. I finu Mary sitting aJeae crying, and I d like to myself when she forgets t kiss me ROOd by as she used to do mornings, when I would start out for the dny. "Why, you persistent pessimist!" rallied Mr. Brierly, "you two people are in the very prime of life and ought to be bappy as the day is long. You talk about there being no more Christian's Christ-ian's or New Years for you! "House up, John Dallas! what you wnnt Is something to Interest you, to tirenk the dull monotony In your quiet life, and. happily. I am the very man who enn suggest to you how you are going to do It." John Dallas regarded his visitor hopefully, almost pleadingly. "If you will follow my advice," continued Mr. Brierly, "you will bring into your home tonight a gift for your denr wife that will wake tip In her nil the old-time interest In the world and you." "1 hope It I long for It," declared Dallas eagerly. "Very well, ' resumed Mr. Brierly. "I am looking for some one to ndopt ' little Benny Mason, whose motliei died last week. Conic, old friend. SI rp "There Is the Present I Have Brought You." brighten up heart and home with a loving, grateful little guest, who will surely bring a blessing to your threshold, thresh-old, do home then every night to Hud your wife bappy, because she has had some one to cling to her and love her nil the day long, and the happy little fellow will twine himself close ubout your longing hearts." John Dallus urose from his chutr and fervently grasped the hand of his friend and adviser. There was a new born light in his rugged fnce. "Bring along the lad as soon as you like," he suld. "It won't be my fault that he doesn't have a pleasant home, and I hope Mary will say the same," ami Just after noon Mr. Brierly appeared ap-peared with the little outcast. "Mr. Brierly says you are to be my new father," prattled the bright faced little fellow, running up to Mr. Dallas, "and won't you please take me to my new mamma?" Not Ithln five years had the old-time old-time cheering, winning smile deepened on the face of .John Dallas as now. He took his little charge around the stores and tltted him otit newly. Somehow Some-how he was thrilled, as, clasping his band lovingly, Benny ran by his side as late In the afternoon he started for home. As he went up Its steps he told Benny to go to the end of the porch and stny there till he came back. His wife met him in the hallway. "Mary." he said, and his voice showed deep emotion, "I've got something some-thing to tell you. Yon know tomorrow tomor-row Is Christmas. Well. I'm going to turn over a new leaf." "How strangely you talk!" spoke Mrs. Dallas. "Aren't you n pretty good mini as it is?" "Why, you think that?" floundered John, ail taken aback by the sadden ami inexplicable change in his wife, who seemed bubbling over with extraordinary extra-ordinary animation. "Anyhow, Mary, I'm going to think more after this of your needs and wishes, and I have a present for you which I hope wrll give you very much, pleasure." "Oh. John!" Interrupted Mary tu-mutinously, tu-mutinously, "It seems us If everything good and grand is happening all at once. Come In, I want to show you something," and she seized his arm, hurried him into the sitting room, am' there, lying itteep on the couch, was a lovely little girl of four Benny's sister. "It was that kind hearted Mrs. Brierly. the minister's wife, who came to see me this morning," explained Mary. "She's given us the dour little child for all our own. Oh! think of it, John, and whut was that?" It was the little lad left on the ponh. who had discovered the family cat .ni,l was talking to and p citing it. "Mary," said John, as they wen! outside, out-side, 'it seems a double gift day, all around. There is the present I have brou In you if two ain't too much I say the more the merrier.'' "Are you my DOW mamma?" prattled prat-tled ii, nny, running up to fctrs. Dallas, who gathered him up In her anus. "Yes, you sweet dear!" she Cried, und, the tears rolling down her fac, she klused her husband Hrst on one cheek end thon on the other. "Oh John I" she sobbed, "I tin t uoppy, happy woman, Indeed, upon ihls gli - Christmas eve !" (Copjrlsbt. lilt. Wtiurn NPDr Uniou) |