Show LITTLE 9 ORPHAN marya CHRISTMAS 7 HELEN GAISFORD 4 A D 0 t 10 0 SIGHED mrs bonner we have hate a hundred do dollars llara oh ob well and she tucked the money away in her blouse you dont seem very delighted my dear observed her husband ile ie laid down his pipe and put an arm round around her shoulders what does docs bess say aal ayl mrs bonner read snatches of the letter and so it finished as we ishall be well on our way by christmas we re are sending you two to this hundred dollars I 1 do hope you will get something you really want we thought of the usual presents but it seems you have them all and we get down so seldom nowadays that I 1 have no idea what may be in your mind remember member ne now cow no do saying saving this spend it by christ pas as 1 for or whatever will make you most r nappy appy bob sends his regards to you both your loving daughter dess cess it has been a long time since we had a hundred dollars to spend right off without thinking mother tier lier husband said now you should get your belt belf a one fine new dress and let me tee A tine new dress john why should I 1 no one ever troubles to come to see us she turned tier her head away why mother youre crying no no im not john im too old to act like a baby only I 1 had so hoped 1 I know I 1 had too it would have been nice to have had bess bad back again for christmas and a tree and dinner Is al 1 1 I I 1 I 1 r e maybe we could borrow one from the orphan asylum and well folks around laughing you know what I 1 mean it just seem like christmas boy any more remember when bess was a baby her first doll and that year the got the cow girl suit I 1 she cried and cried because she had thought it would have trousers instead of 0 a skirt I 1 declare there anything I 1 give to have a little girl again just for christmas time A little girl with golden hair that would be wonderful it suddenly be slapped his leg lee by jove mother why wel vet with a hundred dollars johnl johni would you want to why not dot you said yourself there anything you w rather have how nice it would be she mused maybe we could borrow one from the orphan asylum and buy her candies and a doll and a pink dress and a cowgirl suit oh my dear it makes us both so young again I 1 lets do it up went the holly and up went the tree A wreath hung in the window a plum pudding hung in the pot mr air honner bonner strung the lights and mrs bonner trimmed the tree for little orphan orhan mary was to arrive that afternoon before things were half ready she came a eby little girl with big round eyes and soft yellow hair tier her severe little dress was a trifle short her hat a bit too old her coat very plain the woman from the orphanage made the necessary introductions wiped marys nose stuck the hand kerchief in tier her pocket and cautioned her to be a good girl arid and then she was gone and a scared little girl was trying very hard not to cry do come in and get your things on it mary said tirs mrs conner bonner we have a lovely tree but bul youre not to look at it until after dark I 1 thought I 1 this his afternoon you could help me mal make e coolies cookies would you like that 10 0 oh said bald mary id love etl somehow this lady made be her r feel all warm and not a bit afraid 1 I know how to make cornmeal mush all alone p the volunteered how bacel we must have some while joure here or maybe en joy something else more mrs ron boa tier ncr added as an afterthought were going to have turkey christmas do you like turkey mary 1 guess so go I 1 never had bad any we have rooster tor for christmas at the homo home now kow before we make the cookies mrs bonner directed you must first wash your hands walt wait ill get you a towel oh I 1 mary exclaimed when the drawer was opened what gorgeous rags I 1 trobe are sills silk pieces I 1 was going to make a pillow top but bot then when we found out you were coming I 1 stuck them in there some borne of those thos pieces belonged to my wedding dress and I 1 have anything happen to them for the world she closed the drawer r and helped mary dry her hands ands now lets go make the cook les she said dad do you want to watch that night when mary had been tucked away in beiss old room the kindhearted kind hearted couple sat for a long time in front of the fireplace talking 1 I nm am so glad we could get her for a few days daya before christmas mr donner conner remarked how her eyes popped when she saw the treel and when we told her that on OD christmas morning there would be presents under it for her it seemed too wonderful for her to believe yet I 1 noticed a wistfulness in her eyes his wife answered as though something was keeping her from being completely happy she still feels a little strange perhaps it will pass 1 I hope so EO I 1 almost wish she could stay always it will be hard to give her up when the time comes mrs donner was surprised to find next morning that mary had closed and locked tier lier door she answered her knock however and appeared promptly tor for breakfast apparently perfectly happy yet mrs conner bonner wits was worried to notice that whenever mary had an opportunity she would slip away to tier her room lock the door and stay there until she was called they spent one day in town shopping and on the next made all preparations for christmas dinner on christmas eve they went to church and heard beard the old familiar carols and then orphan mary went to bed in high excitement and mr and mrs bonner plied piled the gifts around the tree christmas morning brought a snowstorm and dark skies mrs bonner slept lightly and at the first sound of mary alary stirring she got up A few minutes later she came back to her bus band john what did you do with my silk pieces why I 1 seen them mother well gone do you suppose uary mary 1 desm merry christmas mary came out into the hall ball merry christmas mr air bouner bonner the same to you dear mary do you know what became ot of my silk pieces why desm 1 I you what hat id lots rather you ask ash me A mrs rs bonner she said appealingly please I 1 my ily lovely silk pieces and you take them without saying a bordt you know stealing steal log dont you mary nodded and began to cry and yet you took them mary desm well that settles it IL theres one thing I 1 wont have around and a thief get dressed both of you john will drive you back now kow mother do you want a thief around no telling what she might take next get your things mary hurry 1 orphan mary turned quickly and did as she was told by the time john had the engine warmed up she climbed in silently beside him and they started oil off mrs bonnet peeked pecked around a corner of the parlor curtain as they went w ent then she turned and looked at the tree the presents were in a heap at the foot but the tinsel was now a mockery she sank down dow D on 0 D a stool and idly counted them over and then she noticed one that had not been there last night it was a tittle little back from the others and more mor e crudely wrapped she opened it and there was a pillow all made from the ji 0 p A 4 how her eyes popped when she saw the tree quilt pieces she ran to the window but the car was quite out of sight oh cried mrs conner bonner that poor child I 1 she stand not having a present to give to in return and so she made tor for we me the one thing I 1 said aid I 1 wanted she hugged bugged the pillow close and her tears spotted one of the best pieces after a while she heard the car drive into the hie garage and her husbands step on the she ran to meet him look johni john 1 look what mary made for me and I 1 called her a thief I 1 cant we get tier her back she counted so go rot ranch ch on this christmas and now ive spelled spoiled it all aall I 1 1 I say that quite mother it can still be the happiest christmas ever bvm what do you mean well you see when we got to the tha orphanage I 1 have the heart to let her go so instead I 1 went in and asked them for adoption papers tf it you yon want to we can lust just sign these up and keep tier her always then wheres mary why ashes out in the garage mrs bonner throw threw her arms around his neck oh john you darling I 1 what a elor loil christmas I 1 and they went out together for little orphan mary a western newspaper |