OCR Text |
Show ChcristopherJn' u '&f G. Hazapd- wP" -liiZ. VEirutN NEVSPAPER UNIO ' h,i SHOHN WILSON'S boy could pJ i have whatever he wanted, ljVJ but his father had forgot-MffM forgot-MffM ten something. When Mr. "son was a by bimself mKiW he had often lingered by the baker's wondow on his "5Rjj 5f way to school and resolved that when he had become a man and h-.d made his fortune he would "dy out the baker and have ait the pie he wanted; but now, with all his money and all his manhood he had lost his taste for pie and could pass the baker's shop without noticing the tempting display. Mr. Wilson had forgotten that. It was plain that he had forgotten It, for he had taken John Junior down to the great store on Pearl street and bad told him that he could have for hie Christmas celebration anything or everything that he saw there, and, when his son had looked things over rather carelessly without wanting anything, any-thing, he had been surprised. The fact was, however, that Junior, like his father, had already had too much to desire anything further. Junior had never known what it is to be hungry 'without supply. He had never even had to cry for things. He had lived under an outpouring cornucopia from his first gold spoon nil the way on, without the joy of making a cart out of two wheels, an axle and a board, or a henhouse with the remains of a variety of old packing boxes. So that it was very difficult, Indeed, to devise a new sensation for young Wilson or kindle a new desire. With the posturing group of entertainers enter-tainers performing on the snow-covered lawn before the house, however, It was different. They struck attitudes, atti-tudes, formed figures, chased each other about, and gave their whole program pro-gram of tableau with an eye on the followtng collection and under the inspiration in-spiration of the hope that it would be a large one. They'd never outgrown a wish or known the full satisfaction of one, their appetites were always keen, i Llnflered by the Baker's Window. and their enjoyment of their smll portion of fortune's favors was greater great-er than all the fun that John Wilson and his son together could get out f l"e. The entertainment did bring one lew thing into the rich monotony ef lie Wilson household, however that f giving a Christmas party to some ho would appreciate It and of thus btalning a new experience for thtm-elves. thtm-elves. The tableau performers were the rst to receive invitations, and th"y re authorized to each invite five of , eir friends, no that the company i itt galheiis at the Wilson party wii.-- ; a large, as well as a motley one. The selection of the presents had given Junior a sudden and new Interest and pleasure at the big store, for the choosing of gifts for others wa a novelty to him, and anticipation of dieir happy surprises hud filled his mind with gladness. It was with a real welcome and a hearty 'aandshake that he greeted his guests. At first the company vsas rathe' overwhelmed by the splendors of th-Wilson th-Wilson house. Its rich furnishing-and furnishing-and dazzling lights made such con trasts that the boys and girls felt out of place and conspicuous. But after the unwinding of the cobweb, the strands of which led each one to a hidden gift, and when the games had made them forgetful of themselves, the joy of it all got Into their feet and made them dance, the delight of ir all made them sing, and they gathered about the big Christmas tree that beamed and twinkled in a corner of the parlor with an eager expectancy that made Junior a very happy Santa Claus, as he distributed his favors. Then, when the table had been cleared of its dainty refreshments, the leader said that they wanted to give some 9m A Lrttl Girl Rsponte. .'ndoor tableaux for their hosts biore they went. So he called first for Madame Uel-ba, Uel-ba, and a little girl responded with all the aplomb of a prima donna. Then SIgnor Caruso assumed a kingly attitude and looked upon the assembly with as much as he could issume of dignity. He was followed t f Sir Harry Har-ry Lauder, who added to his posture a verse of "It's Nice to Get Up In the Morning." This seemed to suggest the idea of going to bed first, and there was whispering about return-lug return-lug home, but one of the guests said they must have a song from Santa San-ta Claus before they went. This rather alarmed Junior at first, but he rose to it with a line or two from "Old King Cole Was a Merry Old Soul," which satisfied the demand. Then they all joined hands In a ring and sang the Christmas carol, "Away in a Manger," and so ended the Wilson party. As the happy shouts lingered on the Christmas wind the Wilson family presented a tableau themselves. Mr. Wilson stood by the window, looking after the departing children. Junior seemed arrested In the act of giving away the Joy of the Christmas tree, while his mother paused by the table that gleamed with silver, seeming to feel again a forgotten gladness. The party left such an Imprint upon the Wilsons' hearts that they have never since tried to hav a Christmas to themselves. |