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Show IlilSilSirii AARY GRAHAA -BOiNNER i ctyiv'..it li v:m:'n n!Wi"i u1- fn CHRISTMAS WREATH "In the window of a store was a huge green wreath, said Daddy." "It was so enormous that It took up the whole window. In the wreath were countless little red electric lights wliich were supposed to make the wreath look like a holly wreath witli many berries. "The Elves were taking a trip on the back of Ely-High, liieir special bird, and when they saw the many red lights in the wreath tiiey warned to stop. "The store was closed for it was eveniny, but the Elves have their own spechil keys for the Christmas stores as they like to get about after everything, every-thing, such as shopping excitement, has finished for the day. "They will never hurt anything in fact they will often help put tilings to rights so they have tbse keys. " 'How beautiful a wreath you are,' said Effie Elf. " 'Oh, you are lovely,' said the other Elves. 'Your many lights are so beautiful. beau-tiful. And you do look like a huge, huge, huge holly wreath. " 'You look so like the Christmas season, too.' "'Well,' said the big wreath, 'that Is what I am supposed to look like, and I am glad I look as I should. " 'It would be horrible if I looked like something else.' " 'Y'es,' said Effie Elf, 'or if you mixed up with a Thanksgiving decoration. "'I don't suppose you could do that very well, but last March there were many showers, oh, so many showers. " 'When April came along and Aprii said it had brought a big package full "How Beautiful a Wreath," Said Effie Elf. of nice showers for everyone, the people peo-ple said they had all their showers in March. " 'Of course April said it couldn't help that, but March, it seems, had become confused and thought it was time for April's work to get started. " 'At any rate March said that as its excuse.' " 'You know,' said the big wreath, "I think it helps a great deal to be appreciated.' ap-preciated.' " 'Of course it does,' said Effie Elf. "And all the Elves said: " 'Of course it does.' " 'No one does good work without a little praise once in awhile,' said Effie. " 'It is so encouraging to be praised. It will not mane anyone conceited. It will only make one want to do better. " 'And when one has worked hard and tried to do one's very best it is nice to get a word of encouraging praise. " T think we do better for a little praise than we do for a great deal of scolding.' " 'We think so, too,' snid the Elves. " 'And,' said Eftie, I've always been an admirer of Judge Just Praise. He Is a judge after my own heart, after my very own Elf heart.' " 'But talk to us, Wreath, if I ever give you a chancel' And Effie Elf laughed a low and lovely laugh. " 'I have been praised and so I am sure I will look dignified and well and gay and Christmasy throughout the Christmas season,' said the wreath. " 'Now today some one called the day a "pretty day." Do you know that the day was so pleased that It kept on looking Its best and it kept fixing Itself all up to look better, too. " 'Fleecy, lovely clouds and blue sky changed positions to look as wonderful wonder-ful as possible and that is very wonderful won-derful and Mr. Sun shone and everything every-thing was quite, quite gorgeous;! " 'Even the day liked to be praised. " 'And so I've been admired and appreciated ap-preciated and I'm going to keep right on looking my best for the happy, merry Christmas season.' "'Good.' said Efhe Elf. 'That Is the right spirit.' " 'Good,' said the other Elves. 'That is most certainly the right spirit.' " 'Good,' said Fly-High, their bird. 'I love to hear that, too, and I also think it Is the right spirit." "'It's the Christmas spirit, and It gets Into everyone and everything,' said Effie Elf a little later. 'That Is what it is. The beautiful Christmas spirit!' " |