Show hatt old bills gift BD bo octavia roberts copyright by vi N estern ne union dill more familiarly old bill he bad had never been known to mention a family name rame looked around bla his haven baven of holida comfort as ho termed it with a chuckle of satisfaction I 1 its it great area tIll I 1 be he gloated with only oae one thing missing a christmas tre trw bill wae waa a character the tb town towns people designated him a tramp some how however the appellation did not eem seem to fit alt lie did not drink nor swear lie ile did not beg ilia willing way ways had made him popular and when dill bill was I 1 down on hta his luck and passed a doorway hungry looking hi lit 11 want wants were generally genn rally provided tar for up solicited it was the day before christmas behind the patient gleam ainold bills eyes lurked some sentiment ot emory that impelled him to celebrate this especial vear ear he bad had been preparing tor for the event with the eager ardor ot of a chool school oy dill bill bad had made no cond danta quietly and enjoyably ho he bad had laid his plans i 0 these were now perfected led ted A week back dill bill had 4 1 gone to bouse keeping he lie had discovered an old abandoned barn just beyond the town limit limits the Q lower part had bad loat doors and windows and wee was bleak and cheerless cheer leea indeed A 4 rickety ricket stairs how however evero led to a room in onn corner of the loft it was and and at one time had been a bar ness room here dill bill bad had I camped 11 he lie had fished out an old oil tore a cot a table and chair from the town dumping heipp he p A parti particulate culat housewife bad present ed ad him with a roasted chicken because one side was slightly charred on the rude table beside it were halt a dozen homemade doughnuts and a real minco rio plo dill bill took a last look at the goodly array of comfort then vent went out to seek u branch of ator thas which would serve ai as a christmas tree As be he neared the baro barn on hie his return be he came to a speedy halt A light glowed over at one corner ot of the place it proceeded from a lantern set in the feed box ot at a anger in the manger itself across tho tha stale hay it contained a blanket was spread and swathed in coverings upon tali this as revealed by the lantern rays lay ft a little bleeping bab babe near by a serious faced man was shaking the snow from bis life beside him seated on an old aid suitcase waa was a comely but careworn care worn woman the roan man began begin to speak dill bill agape drew into the and find listened it was to hear bear enough to learn that bad ball luck wai was driving these homeless bom eleis ones from their former borne home penniless on foot loot to the father of the wife ten ton miles further on the storm bad had driven them theta to temporary i belter bolter the husband and father had taken a well thumbed volume from hie his pocket lie began I 1 leading bading aloud it vat was ot at an upper mom of a master and bis his beloved of a supper never tc to be forgotten in the memory ot at nan man kind bill stood like one transfixed what tender chord had been struck that he closed hie his byest he ile was back forty years la memory at bis his mothers knee how ilow lold vivid bow how appealing appe alinga picture she had shown him of ato i ii christ child in a manger of the deboi devoted ad father and mother as here befaro him a prototype of that holy eve eye so real so touch inythe first Christ maisl A mighty thought moved baw as an he quietly spoke friend upstairs yoa you will find and com fort till fill the storm atom is over call it a greeting e sear beet and was gone ill strike nt at for fanner dats haymow shivered bill after bait balt an houri hours de wandering and bo ho turned about to start 0 t shout out and en an to run tor or there in 14 the dILI durance stice the familiar rm house showed no illumination within but beyond it a a glare shot upil up il a haystack on fire tire dill bill reached the farmyard fair rayard the wind ad bad blonts the flames ame against one gable of the house and tt it was burn ing im he lit ran to the stable for a pitch fork then began a fierce battle bucket after bucket of water be he carried the laet last spark was dashed out and bill sank exhausted to the as an the tanner farmer and his family vI visiting stIng at a neighbors and attracted by barme rushing a the yee declared fam a tr dale two hour hours later as ho he bowed showed dill bill up the stairs and into a comfortable cham chamber bez this is in your room and you will sleep steel here beto and youre a free re boarder long ion as rth u like under understand stud W wily ay thersa be no house to sleep la in if it for 7 raf 1 old billis billas a long time getting tato into bed like to a child he h sank into e peaceful blumber rl fl his softened spirit ta in dreams rander fas through that drw room filled fillad with ath the souli souls of those tao however boweter humble who bo bait bad to malka trie true peace on an lood will io to men every woman has but tut onu one to reform herself A hy by not get on the job hobt lightness of heart ie Is the best beat yeast any woman can use to leaen her dally daily bread ala sc arroo me art tor for a woman to talk and listen to be speaker and audience at the same time abin to open and when to cloeo accounts ith hourselt in some bookkeeping for woman tell a woman she 7 cant cant do a thins thing and sho she will A little opposition makes things attractive many a mans beauty Is in in his namo many a womans omans 4 thinks are under her husband a hat the girl who Is out for a job I 1 Is 11 lust just as 48 good to look took at as the one who accepts A situation sometimes bet ter in the strange economy of nature the love 1 aou woud p produced by one arrow of the little god la Is healed by another Ile health alth courage beauty and happi happl ness are contagious sisters why not get exposed expose dT lets lats have an epidemic aomen omen should build more Joy housea houses overrun with roses life Is in measured ool alone by heart throbs but by laugi shakes A woman with a legacy buys an electric tout tobt warmer A woman a legacy generates her ker own electricity woman does not need to know more but to put into uso use what sho she kuo know I 1 ris a wise woman that follows tol lovs own teaching undertaker A antan man who follows the medical profession r alary diarma A continued etory story that ende ends before it la Is finished t Bac bachelor belor A bird ot at freedom thai that moat most 0 of the caged envy hyphen the one plausible excuse tor for breaking our word liberty the right to compel out elders to vote with the gang legend A barefaced bare hare faced lie that hae has grown old elou anoush h to wear whiskers ekers tact A woman oman a ability to make frienda friends by laughing at mens stupid jokes t insomnia something that keeps a i man a wife vita awake until he come comes homo boma at sit 3 a m |