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Show K- J- ip'XJ sJ 'liuKttmtyy Q (fhrUtmai .tory l3M QUca ft. ?JmtJ -TVVAS just two weeks before I Christmas aud there did not -S- appear to be any material means of attaining the necessary funds for the great celebration. "Oh dear, If John would only sell that old heirloom," thought Marty Armstrong. Just then Betty and Jerry came charging in from high school. "Oh, Mother, I Just can't wait until Christmas. I know you are going to get that tuxedo for me. I can see It now, oh boy !" exclaimed Jerry. "And I can see that party gown, Mother, with slippers to match," said Betty, sweetly. "It's no use expecting anything this year, children," said mother. "Your father fa-ther has made some unwise investments." invest-ments." "Here comes father, now !" "Hello, everybody, what's up? Why the frigid atmosphere?" queried father. fa-ther. "Mother says there's to be no Santa Claus tills year," ventured Jerry. The next few days John Armstrong was trying to figure it all out. Perhaps he had been a little " "" " negligent in the past ! " Jt '? ew years concern- - "V ' j ing his family. Now A.:, he realized that he f jf1" 'j must make amends. $ Cnrlstmas bells were ft chiming, reminding 4flpy5?3i ne Armstrong fam- f&l4si8 Uy that twas truly f JWj ife? Christmas eve. Moth-Sir Moth-Sir t er anu the children Oa fe were thinking of the ''ilTiMl things they were not "tjj: going to get for Christmas. But Father Fa-ther was chuckling inwardly. In fact he could scarcely keep from bursting out laughing; but that, of course, would never do. The silence was broken by the jingling jin-gling of sleigh-bells. They hurried en masse to see what It was all about. Were they all dreaming? There stood an old-fashioned bobsled. Out stepped Santa Claus. "Why, Dncle Joe, what are you doing do-ing here on Christmas eve?" exclaimed Mother, all excited. "I've come to take you and the family fam-ily for a ride. So bundle 13p and hop in, without delay." All stared at one another and tried to speak, but not a word was uttered. They simply obeyed their Santa Glaus and within a few moments Father and all were seated cozily within the fairyland fairy-land contraption and were driven off. The sleigh stopped with a Jerk, right In front of a stucco bungalow all brilliantly bril-liantly lighted up with Christmas decorations. dec-orations. "Why, I never knew the Thompson home was for rent. It has stood vacant so long," said Mother, with great concern. con-cern. "A friend of mine from the office) just purchased It," said Father, with a convincing smile. "We were Invited over to see It In Its new regalia. But you were all so out of sorts that I called up Uncle Joe and ordered the Santa Claus ruse." They all laughed most heartily. They couldn't help It Christmas or no Christmas! They had to give father credit for his clever Ingenuity. Out they hopped, beaming with the Christmas spirit. Father took the lead and rang the doorbell, but no one answered. Then he actually turned the knob as they all stepped back In protestation. . "Merry Christmas!" shouted Father. Too surprised to speak, they looked at one another and back again at father fa-ther and then "Don't you understand? Oh, hang it all, anyway! This is your Christmas present," said father, sinking Into the closest easy chair and gasping for breath. "What?" they all exclaimed. Then father explained It all to them how he had sold the old heirloom. purchased the home and furnished it - They marveled I --' ''ntN "How could you? igsPt. v When did you? How f3, - did you know Just i'CiT'v,5 what we liked?" All Uf&Jy-'' these questions were 'J0 L fired at father .at f&jf-'$S. J Father had done &yMl'f a perfect Job. But LSi5iiJL. that wasn't all He jtfj f Mjrfi- - -led them proudly In- ( to the living room WEETVVL. where stood the real JL host of the evening l ' '' ''L the gorgeous Christmas tree. Needless Need-less to say Jerry received his "tux," Betty her gown and slippers and mother moth-er a set of silverware, a long-desired luxury. Then descended such a shower of Christmas hugs and kisses, gratitude and joy that dear old father was practically prac-tically snowed under. But he enjoyed his Christmas presents better than all the material gifts he had bestowed upon his family; and he felt that his heart was filled with enough Christmas Christ-mas cheer to last forever. . Western Newspaper Union. A Colorful Set of Bowls No modern kitchen is complete without with-out a nest of bowls in a color t;orre-sponding t;orre-sponding to the color scheme of the kitchen. If you know of a person without with-out this delightful kitchen help. It might be a suggestion for a Christmas or birthday gift |