1928-12-15 — Page 26

CHINA MAIL CHRISTMAS SUPPLEMENT, 1928.

11

Fine Old Christmas

WALDEN had been standing at the

WALDEN had

at

ing the drops slide down the window pane Horrid old rain! Why did it have to rain? The snow was so lovely the day before and now it was rapidly turning to slush, under the steady downpour.

-with Snowy Hair and Ruddy Face

deepen all the riches of indoor colour and give a keener edge of delight to the warm fragrance of food:"

Christmas was over. His heart's de Bire, a new sled and hockey skates, had been

Passes Box of Candy fulfilled. But, shucks, what good were they

Walden began to brighten up when in the rain! It just spoiled everything. Mother saw, as she always did, just what a Mother read this last part, and glanced state he was in. Drops were going to slide around at the firelight and the pleasant room down his cheeks instead of the glass in-as if seeing them for the first time. He another moment, if something weren't done went over very quietly, so as not to disturb I

the reading to get his box of candy and pass immediately.

The two children nibbled in it around. silence as Mother read on.

"Walden, dear-please come over by the fire! It's been such a happy week, hasn't

It was Ruth Ann who interrupted sud- it? We aren't going to spoil it with gloom now; are we? You and Lum Dum draw up denly, "Mother! We can play we are them your little chairs and I'll read a little fur--He'll be Tom and I'll be Maggie.' ther. I think it will suggest a game to you. You listen hard and see if it doesn't?"

And

She looked up again. "Mother, how did Tom get home from school?" Walden was asking. I'd like to have him come on my railroad train. Did they have trains those. days?"

Mother opened to the previous chapter. Oh here it is, 'The happiness of seeing the bright light in the parlour at home, as the gig passed noiselessly over the snow cover- ed bridge.

"What is a gig?"

"It's a carriage, dear."

Must Go Around Switch "Well, we'll play it is short for engine. haven't any bridge, so, it will have to go around by the switch."

Mother watched them, with interest as the chubby doll, larger than the car itself, with many kisses and much enthusiasm by Ruth Ann, who was Mrs. Tulliver for the time being.

was trundled about the tracks and received

we'll trim my doll house with holly like it says they did. What does it say,Windows

"Oh mush!" said, Walden, "Tom was and mantel-pieces and picture frames? Tom, twelve or thirteen years old, Ruth Ann. you drag out the doll house. And I'll cut He'd hate being kissed like that!"

"Him's my darling boy, come home to some little holly from some of the Christmas

And we'll have the dolls be his dear mother," cooed Ruth Ann who want- Aunt and Uncle Moss and the seven children.ed to see that justice was done to a scene, And they can all go to church and every-in which she could properly, shine. thing.”

Objected to Baby Name. Lum Dum having arrived at the age of six, sometimes objected to her baby jame, and insisted on her own "Ruth Ann with wrappings.

didn't care. dignity. This time she She had dressed her favourite doll at least fourteen times that morning and undressed her and put her to bed as many times. She felt quite willing that Vivian Rose Violet Lily should sleep awhile in peace, now that other amusement was offered.

Mother. had read them a bit about Maggie and Toni in "The Mill on the Floss," before. The morning of the snow she had

.."I was glad I had remembered that

Waldon had been studying the next paragraph at his mother's shoulder. "Tom and Maggie must have been in bed when they chapter on Christmas in The Mill on the heard Singing under the windows at mid-Floss, because it gave them something new night, so we'll be the gingers and you pick to think about. I have to write and tell out some more dolls to be Tom and Maggie." grandmother all about it. I must go and do

Wants to Be Maggie

it right away, too, before I forget that re-

have seen him, looking so solemn and (mis- chievously glancing at her husband) so exactly like his Dad."

read to them the beginning of the chapter. Lum Dum bustled over to the doll's bed markable sermon. Dear, if you only could "The Christmas Holidays" because it was in her most important manner. "Well, I de- just that kind of a day she said. "Fine old clare! Vivian Rose Violet Lily has just Christmas with snowy hair and ruddy face."

waked up and she wants to be Maggie, she She began again and went on::

says."

"Show lay on the croft and river bank undulations softer than the limbs of infancy,

-Old Christmas smiled-for he meant to light up home with new brightness, to

NEWS IN ADVANCE

What do you think has happened? I was told by Winnie Brown, Who has just come back from London, Santa Claus has come to town.

Don't you think he's rather early?

'Spect he's got so much to do If he visits all the countries

Britain, China, Spain, Per

Winnie says that really Santa

Ought to scrap his ancient sleigh, And journey to the chimney-pots In a smart and modern way."

She'd like him to rush madly.

In a car or aeroplane. Or if flying makes him nervous

He might come by railway train.

But I like his lovely reindeer

And the dear old roomy sleigh,

So I hope he'll come this Christmas.

In the same old-fashioned way.

She's much too big" said Walden, ab- sently, trying to decide which doll would be Tom, and reconcile in his somewhat practical mind the fact that the toy village was much smaller than the dolls' house; and how were the miscellaneous assortment of dolls ever to get in the church which was about two inches high?,

At this point Mother fled and turning at the doorway wrinkled her nose at him. Then she went on upstairs to write to Grand- mother.

QUITE THE LATEST

Ask a friend if he has seen the latest

Mother had gone over to her desk to penny trick. If he says "No," ask him for a write thank you letters to her friends and peniny. When he hands it over, pocket it, New Year cards to the people she had for- and give him a paper on which you have pre- gotten to send Christmas cards to. Sheviously written listened to sed how this difficulty would be

straightened out

"There's just two boy dolls to choose! from, for Tom, and they both are crazy... a hig-boy."! said Walden, Tom was Walden was holding out a fat smiling infant in rompers and a doll made of gum drops and tooth picks.

Poor Gum Drop!

Copper-Snatching" Society.

If you want your penny back.. find another innocent and enrol him. as a member.

Solid success must be based on solid qualities and the honest culture of them.- J. Russell Lowell....

Mistress: "Why don't you bring in the plum-pudding, Jane?""

Lum Dum looked over, "You've eaten one arm and one foot off the gum drop boy, so The won't do," she said. "My darling

Jane: We couldn't get the brandy to Patrick Henry-give-me-liberty-or-death will light, mum, but it's all right now we poured have to be Tom. Come here, Patrick, if you are going to church you must put your hood on. And shame on you for a big boy wear- ing a hood! She giggled, bal

Walden laughed too and Mother return

ed to her letters peacefully knowing that things were starting well.

a little paraffin over it.'

Nervous Young Wife (to tramp): "If I give you a piece of Christmas pudding you won't come again, will you?"

Tramp: "Well, lady, you know your pud- ding better than I do."