CHRISTMAS EVE

New Zealand Tablet, 21 December 1911, Page 2614

CHRISTMAS EVE

A wee little girl was ensconced comfortably in a big leather chair by the grate listening gravely as her lather read Dicken’s Christmas Carol. Her great brown f7 es . were open 80 wide that you could almost see the liquid depths of them, and on her face was a rapt expression of wonderment. 1 She scarcely stirred as her parent proceeded with the reading, the fitful firelight lighting up her sweet face in a rosy glow, to conceal it again in the shadow, for fathers reading lamp was hanging low over his book and its rays failed to reach the child in the big arm chair, as she listened attentively to the beautiful story of the great master of sentiment. i . As she sat enthralled the child was given a new point of view. She had always been prettily clothed, well cared for and protected from the rigors of life She knew neither hunger nor a great desire for things that sustain and shelterand now this story of the grasping Scrooge and the pitiful Tiny Tim was making a lasting imprcssion upon her heretofore buoyant heart When father had finished reading, the child sat quietly an expression of bewilderment upon her face. Thinking er asleep, the parent turned on a light that flooded the room, and asked: Don’t you think that a- sweet story, my clear?’ Y-yes hesitated the child. ‘ Yes, father.’ 1 hen she sank once more into deep thought. I think you are sleepy, dear,’ said father. ‘ Shall we go to bed now?’ ■ ' Not just yet, father, please.’ . J or , a , few moments the child continued to sit quietly by the fire The minature clock on the mantel ticked loudly in the quiet room. Then the little girl ® said? fr ° m the great chair, and,“l e o £ • ‘ Papa ; are J here real] y and truly people like that m the world—who don’t have what they want to eat oi wear, and who suffer like Tiny Tim?’' "lining'A 5 CS ’ ”7 ' d j a ,V rep,iod the Parent in some ’now.’ 1 afra,d Ulere are folks like that even Finanlte "sLd: WaS Si ' ent T ' ,aUler ! P f pa l W l ha t mamma pay for my new coat?’ guess.’ ’ 1 C ° n 1 kn ° W ’ dear - About 20 dollars, I ‘ Could she take it* back, papa, and give the money to somebody that needed it like that?’ A 7 It was now the father’s time to be silent. After bre™t : 10 ’ gcntty, gathering his baby-child to his ‘ We’ll see what we can do about it, dear Per haps not just in that way, you know, but some wav that will be just as nice for the children ’ 5 neckband “ftg: 1 PU ‘ ” er a ™ sab °“‘ ?>» bed?’ 0h ’ tlmnk y ° U ’ Papa! And now ma T I go to