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Show .' -,..- a '- i ..---wS-, fcLl Sjf -- T WAS bo ru'il that the I T I 8now looked blue under III tliu iliirk sky when the l lid! n nwlftly down lite IB2ff hnid road. lfHl Thero were (1 e of them Mary and Jlmmiu and ttlie twins and baby Hull, and they were orphans aud very poor, and It was the day before ChrlHtinan. h l The five llelln stopped In front of a big house. "Now Ring," said Mary Hell, and the tiro sweet voices were upraised: "Merry, merry Christinas everywhere, Cheerily It rlnsetli through the air." Bang all the little Hells, wltb red noses and blue fingers, as they Btamped their fret and shivered In the snow The door or the big house opened and a pompous servant came out and shook bin (Inner at them. "(Jo away," ho said, "ko away! We don't want you howling around hero." "Oh!" gasped tho little Hells, and away they Hew, with Mary Hell bringing bring-ing up tho rear, as she wiped the tears from her eyes, for she was the oldest, and at homo Uieio was nothing to tat and no lire, and sbn didn't know what thoy would do. They sang before other places un til their throats woro sore, but everyone every-one was toe busy or tro selfish to listen, and the night was coming on when at last they limped Into the grounds of a dark old mansion that stood far back fiom Ihe lonely road. In this' mansion lived a bachelor, which Isn't an ogre, although It Is something like one, for baehelors haven't any children, and thoy are apt to foiget that they were over young, and sometimes they are very llorce The bachelor was all alone. He had hent his servants away to keep their Christmas at their homes, and ho was in the loneliest room In tho lonely house. Tho Hells sang two songs before he moved Ho drew b ick the euitaln "Go away," he in- toned Thoy turned to go out of tho gate, but when they reached It Daby Hell stumbled aud sat down and then sha cried, and tho other four cried a forlorn for-lorn llttlu gtmiji, for they wero all so tired aud cold and hungry that thoy didn't caro what happoned. "O, by George," said tho bachelor, watching them, "Hy (leorge, thoy aro nothing but babies!" and he ran downstairs down-stairs and out Into tho snowy path. "What's the matter?" ho demanded. "No ono wants to hear us sing,'" sobbed baby Boll. "Huh!" said tho bachelor, gruluy. "I do." Hut Mary just looked at the bacholor with eyes that reminded him ot days of long ago, and suddenly ho found himself holding her hand and talking eagerly. "Cotno in," ho urged, "where It Is warm, aud sing to me thoro." , Tho lonely room was not lonoly any i moro when tho flvo llttlo Hells stood In a row In front of tho lire, which tho bachelor poked Into blazing brightness. bright-ness. They sang with a will, and thtt bachelor clapped his hands, aud then took out his purse. "Here," he said to Mary, and handed hand-ed her a dollar. Hut Mary shook her head. "It Is too much," bIio said. "You must givo us u penny apleeo for each song, for Uiat Is all that It Is worth. Wo can't sing very well. Wo aro not beggars." "Dy George." said tho bachelor. "Hy George! I bpllnvo you aro half-starved." half-starved." Thon ho looked- at Mary "Can you cook?" he asked. "Yes, Indeed." cried all the little Hells. "I need a cook," said tho bachelor, with twinkling smiles. "I havon't any-ono any-ono to rook my Christmas dinner, and If you don't takeaplty ou me I shall have notbliiir." "Shalt I begin now?" askud Mary, eagerly 'I should lovo It." "I haven't anything in the bouse," said tho bachelor, "Hut thoro Is tho telephone " "Is a telephono good to eat?" asked baby Hell. "No," said tho bachelor, "hut It's flno to talk Into. Now tako off your things and stay with me." "O, I'm afraid wo will ho a trouble," trou-ble," said Mary, uncertainly. "Will your mother worry?" asked tho bachelor. "Wo haven't any mother," said Mary. "We aro orphans, anil wo aro all alono" "That sottles it." said tho bachelor. "You aro to stay." And ho went to tho telephone and ordered overythlng from turkey to tarts and from plum padding to pics. It was tho Jolllcst Christmas ore, and tho Jolllcst person of all was tho lonoly bachelor, bccatiso ho wasn't lonely any more, and thoro woro children chil-dren In the house to mako Christmas what It should be. "You must stay with mo always," ho said, as they sat warm and well fed and roBy around tho tiro. "Tho house Is so big and I am away half tho time, and you could Blng for mo yes, you shall cotno hero." and ho tossed baby Hell high In tho air. "O, how happy wo will bo," sang tho children. "How happy you have mado ub, dear bacholor." Hut tho bacholor shook his heart. "It la you who havo mado tho hap-plnoBs, hap-plnoBs, you with your music, dear llttlo Christmas Dolls." Uetrolt Free PrcM. |