Show nar happiest t U 41 OR many years marelu h had ad not F FOR been exactly happy on christmas somehow she had never received the pretty things bestowed upon other girls it if they all only knew how I 1 have secretly longed for those soft dainty luxuries thought marelu as she sat before the fireplace just three days before christmas there are those kitchen aprons for instance from dear old aunt lucia every year as far back as I 1 can remember it has always been aprons I 1 must have almost a dozen by now then there is cousin marie who has been sending the inevitable handkerchiefs right along year after year there must be quite a collection of them too while she had J been grateful and thankful for these kind kemem r e m e m brances she had not been exactly thrilled A happy christmas thought suggested 0 itself t to 0 marelu as she gazed out at the tha q s I 1 e n der icicles shining like silver in the moonlight 1 I know what ill do ill V start right now V and wrap up all these things 1 into pretty christmas parcels and give them to someone who really needs them when christmas day arrived marelu started out with her basket brimming full of beautifully wrapped and tied christmas gifts every step she took over the holiday carpet of snow represented a kindly thought of cheer merry christmas she cried as she handed a bright colored parcel to dear old linda larsen the very same to you said she with a questioning look of surprise the next moment she was proudly unwrapping a pair of pretty bath towels marlene and dolly two little girls around the corner danced up and down with joy when they saw the snowy handkerchiefs with colored borders marelu smiled happily as she left the little girls and proceeded to her next stop erne effie lynn was overwhelmed with surprise when a gift wa WOL handed her she explained that it had been years since she had received a christmas present after several other interesting calls marelu started for home the street lights flashed on and the glimmering christmas trees joined in the ceremony on all sides of her As she drew near her own home she stood still a moment and admired the grandeur of the dark pines encircling the house under a white burden of snow the variations of colors gleaming from the windows seemed to be stretching out to meet the pines inside the house was warmth an and d joy and christmas cheer as the family gathered about the christmas m as tree pointed with the star of bethlehem marelu was just in time for the celebration bobby had been chosen to read off the names upon the gifts and all eyes were centered upon the huge basket containing them first on the pro program aram shouted bobby is for mother all A 11 wondered what jt it could be A gorgeous lamp shade cried mother as she held it up for all to see while still admiring this this thing of beauty bobby shouted louder than ever something for the governor himself get ready pop for your surprise what can the strange package be for goodness sake said father his eyes popping with interest well I 1 do declare if it a golf set just what I 1 have wanted for a long time as he started tc examine t oh boy hold out your hands and catch dot a ducky package for you all tied with silver cord what is it open it quick I 1 dot removed the bright red tissue and disclosed a white wool skating outfit marelu had been so absorbed in what the others were receiving that she had forgotten all about herself for the first time in many years she had received the things she really adored with a heart full of appreciation and joy she suddenly shouted merry christmas the others did not lot quite comprehend the extent of marclus enthusiasm but she herself felt somehow that this had been the very happiest merriest christmas she had ever tad lid 0 western newspaper union |