Show Christ christmas christli mi as A year late by edith kirkwood Eirk wood I 1 IS christmas aday day tomorrows christmas 1 iday little dorothy was singing as she was prancing about the dingy apartment shod shed stop to roll up the sleeves that were continually slipping down over her hands no wonder they stay up for the dress was one that helen two years older had outgrown mother had meant to make it over but she was too tired when she got home from cleaning house for other people all day hush up dorothy mother will be coming in pretty soon and shell cry if we say anything about christmas helen reminded her 1 I dont see why christmas is a time to laugh and not to cry dorothy responded philosophically dont you remember last christmas and how daddy come home with our packages helen believe that even so little a sister as dorothy should forget that for daddy had never been heard from since that christmas eve As dorothy started to reply helen warned her sh there comes mother and the youngsters were silent when she entered mrs bond tired and absorbed in her own an anxious K thoughts did not heed their un ill I 1 71 71 1 4 mrs bond was roused by a knock at the door childlike quiet her apathy had developed that trait in them and she was unaware of what her sorrow was doing to her children she busied herself with the simple meal meal and dorothys faint mother is is santa coming tonight was the cause of her only break my poor baby im afraid santa even know you exist she sobbed she was getting them into bed and they were soon asleep their pillows wet with their tears that santa was not coming too tired to sew and in deepest depression mrs bond was roused from her inert brooding by a rap at the door A caller was unheard of no one came to see her for she had repelled all kindly offers of assistance when her husband disappeared she ignored the knock when it came again it was a significant signal two short raps repeated three times her husbands knock quivering with excitement she moved toward the door her fingers were trembling so that she could hardly turn the key the door opened and she gasped tom as the sturdy well dressed man exclaimed barbara and took her in his arms then after a long embrace he led her to the big chair she had just quitted and drew her on his lap while they talked together 1 I left you christmas eve to do the last minute shopping but an icicle struck my head and knocked me unconscious I 1 remember who I 1 was or where I 1 lived I 1 went to a hotel and after a few days got work as a salesman I 1 told my boss my predicament and he has been very kind today christmas shopping somehow brought back to me who and what I 1 was and I 1 wait to find you but how did you ever trace us barbara asked 1 I thought I 1 left no clues I 1 thought you had deserted me when we found you an accident case deserted you you my poor child and he drew her close again 1 I did have a heck of a time but old jack the baggage man fi finally na 11 told me where you had moved ari ved ty to but now we must get ready for last years christmas and next week well get out of this hovel toms affluence was apparent my dear my dear I 1 dont mind the hovel now that you are safely home barbara whispered all right babs old girl but stop crying down my neck it if you are really glad to have me back 11 but his tender kiss belied his joking words Q service |