_ catch something of the joy of Christ-

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{locile win Pearson

AM a happy little tree. I stand beside the front entrance of a white cottage on a quiet street. Each Christmas time I bloom out in beautiful colored lights, and all who pass share my beauty and

£6

the

mas.

But I was not always happy like this. Once I lived in a great forest, surrounded by trees so tall I could only catch a glimpse of the blue sky above me, and I felt very small and lonely. I, too, wanted to be tall; to look out on the big world like the others and feel the sun shining through my branches. I would stretch out my limbs as far as I could, and send my roots deeper in- to the earth, but my progress was so slow I grew discouraged.

One day I saw a man and a boy coming through the forest. The man carried something over his shoulder and they seemed to be looking for something. Then the boy saw me and cried: “Look, father, there is just the tree we want." I-le ran over to me and fairly hugged me in his eagerness. The man looked me over. "Fine," he said. But when he began digging with the thing he had carried on his shoulder I be- gan to tremble. I felt my roots snap one by one and soon I lay a tumbled heap on the ground. Life seemed over for me.

Next I was tied to a funny looking thing on wheels, that sputtered and growled when the man and boy climbed in and we started of! down a twisty little road that wound through the forest, then out on a big shining highway until we came to a wide driveway that led through a sloping lawn to a white cottage.

Here I was untied and put into a large earthen jar filled with sand and carried into the house, and set in a corner of a big room beside a sunny window. Oh, the joy of hav- ing the sun on my branches. I be- gan to feel less scared and to look about me.

In a big mirror opposite I could watch the man as he fastened me upright. Then he put a string of

J o nigh day The

The

“I

tron.

and

Blue

OllS

iday

that

Two Little Faces Pressed Against

the Window Pane. O! d only lights from my top to my toe, whistling softly as he worked. Then I heard a door open and a rush of feet-a little boy and a girl dashed into the room crying: “Momma, come quick, and see our Christmas tree." They clapped their hands and danced about me. Soon the mother came with a box filled with shining lovely things and my plain green dress was covered with sparkling jewels. I hardly dared look in the mirror for I remem- bered I was only a humble tree after all, and what I saw could not be me at all; but the great silver star on my topmost branch made me feel very happy. I seemed to draw courage from just looking at it

door ing,

this see.’

May ful her.

After a tinw I was left to myself. I was glad, as I needed to rest up a bit and get used to my strange surroundings. It grew dark outside and snow was falling; but inside my star shone and a quiet peace CHINE 0V8!‘ me.

Then once more the doors opened and a merry group of people came in. This time there were Father and Grandfather and Grandmother, too; and Mother leading the little boy and girl. Everyone was saying how lovely I was; but I did not want them to look at me. I wanted them to see two little faces outside pressed against the window pane. The boy saw them first. "Look, Daddy, Mammal" pointed to the window. "There are two children out there. Bring them in, Daddy; give them some of our Christmas." And the little girl clapped her hands and cried: “Oh, do, Daddy, it's cold out there!"

When they were brought fn look- ing rather scared, but glad, I was so happy I almost shook my baubles oll. Then Mother made music on a big box with shining keys and everyone sang _Christrnas carols. Than Father told the old story of the Shepherds and the Star that led, i," to the Christ Child. Then a jolly ‘m man with a rod coat and a pack on 4M his back gave everyone presents.‘ including mum! Woolen. There were candles and note‘, p for all. and such a babble of happy voices. I felt the thrill of it myself

star [lowed in eympg.

big

doll tree

two

“I

had

Little Dolls in Blue” May had ordered from Santa Claus.

“They are quite the loveliest I have ever seen," spoke mother. "I do believe that you have put your very heart and soul into their fash- iomng."

The spell was thy May suddenly stopped singing

ta come and did big baby doll with

"Oh, I am so sorry,"

happy Christmas thought, she whis- pered very lovely to her moth

They all went 1 right. over to the - -

he shouted and Blee- gasped, breathlessly.

“The! Eleanor Blue," said their little mis- tress, proudly.

much when she saw

RENT the dolls beautiful?" exclaimed Joan to her mother. as she gazed upon

finished product of the "Two which Dorothy

an had spent many days and ts, too, stitching a loving holi- thought into each tiny garment.

dainty materials had been

transformed into things of beauty.

dresses of pale blue silk with

honnets and slippers to match, had proclaimed them the “Two Little Dolls in Blue!" "Oh, won't Dot beamed Joan, dolls from head to foot with a happy smile of complete satisfaction.

love them!" as she again eyed the

dare say this will be her hap-

piest Christmas, one that she will

never forget," said mother. Christmas eve, with its bright

lights and cheer, was in full prog-

ress and the two little dolls in blue were being fon- dled by one of the happiest little girls in the world. _ _ Rocking in her "" own tiny chair Dorothy May be- gan singing a lul- laby to the dollies, wholly oblivious of the attendant surroundings. It was such an ador- able sight that the others had stopped

their celebrations and were beam- ing upon her with transformed emo-

broken when Doro-

called out, “What shall I name

the ‘two little dolls in bluc’?" "Well," thoughtfully, dressed in blue and are two very important little ladies, one Alice Blue and the

said Joan,

smiling “since

they are

why not call other Elinor

'3" And so the dolls were

named. On Christmas morning in another

e around the corner, Bonny

Jean awoke with the joy of the hol-

and shouted, "Mother, did San- he bring me a curls and eyes

open and shut?"

"Yes, dearie, Santa came and brought you a very pretty doll."

Then spying it, seated beneath the tree dressed in scarlet finery, Bonny Jean clasped it to her breast. Upon close learned that

inspection she soon it was the same sort oll she had always received, with new features.

_ Just as she was about to burst a into protest at her bitter disappoint- ment there came a rap upon the

and a kindly neighbor was say- "Merry Christmas." Then with

a happy smile- “What is the Hasn't Santa Claus come yet?"

matter, little girl?

he came, but he brought

me old rag doll again, 1

ure it would be a real one ‘year, because I‘m nine; you

said Dorothy . with true feeling and thinking

of the two beauti-

dolls which "

Santa had left for

Then with a

something

BI‘.

house on the , ,

hill nestled under ' its b u r d e n of Christmas I Bonny Jean forgot f all about the rag ‘ '

SHOW.

when she glimpsed the great through the holly wreaths in

the window. But when she saw the

little dolls in blue sitting be-

neath it her joy was unbounded. She clapped her

hands and danced with “Such darling dolls!" she

r names are Alice Blue and

want to give you one of them,

Bonny Jean; which do you like?" With unbelievable eyes fairly dancing with joy, she clasped the beautiful doll in her arms and asked, mlne-for-Jreepe?" Dggleally and truly for keeps," said

Dorothy May explained it all to

surmise. her

“ls-it—really--

mother after the haPPY little had left, that somehow she just not miss Eleanor Blue vary how happy she made Bonny Jean.

In-her heart she felt that it was truly "more blessed to give than to receive," and hugging the one little doll closely, ry Christmas,

‘Riolhiiiffil-‘d’ m”

OBY BARNES, just home from the office, stood regard-

ing his wife with amusement. “You have the manner, Kay, of be- ing about to leap up and wave a flag. What's happened?"

"I've just discovered something important about myself." Kay's short, light curls were becomingly haphazard. Her eyes were of an intense blue. She was slender and young and vivid. “I'm supremely selfish.” She rose to her feet and gesticulnted with both hands, "I want to be utterly, gloriously en- grossed in ME!"

They both laughed. Then Kay ran forward and dragged her husband

down into a wide, comfortable chair, squeezing in beside him.

“You're a perfectly'grand guy," she smiled, “but this Christmas, my man, I'm going to be superbly self- ish, as an experiment. Will you try it too, Toby?”

“All right," he agreed, "I'll take you on."

The next morning Kay tilted a pert gray hat on her curls, and walked imperiously to the shopping district. "l‘m fed up with being poor, and scrirnping and saving so Loan be generous in mean, little ways. Today I . . . spend on my- self!"

She felt guilty and ridiculous, and she turned her eyes away from a haberdashefls window where gentle- men's furnishings were invitingly displayed. Toby needed masses and masses of things. No, just this once she would spend with a bang all she had on something frivolous for her- self. Toby had promised to do the same.

At noon she happened to notice a tall person standing by the next store window. He was absorbed in thought. Kay hardly breathed while the man suddenly plunged into the store door. She crept close to a sheltering pillar while she watched what happened inside.

She saw the man point to a wom- an's rich, quilted housecoat. She saw him pay for it, and leave, but without a package under his‘ arm. Just the sort of housecoat for which she had yearned hopelessly.

She gasped in dismay. For one hot second she was possessed with anger. Toby wasn't playing fair.

He had no right to make her feel -

ashamed and abject on Christmas morning!

When Toby's flapping overcoat was out of sight Kay slipped into the same shop, going straight to the counter her husband had left. "May I inquire," she asked crisply, "if that quilted housecost just pur- chased, is to be delivered to Mrs. Toby Barrios?" She gave the house address. The clerk was startled into admitting the fact.

Kay threw up her chin. "I asked my husband, Mr. Barnes, to step in here today to buy that for me. I've changed my mind. May I ex- change it for something I prefer?"

The clerk weakly nodded.

Christmas eve found Kay a bit cryptic. Toby carelessly inquired if a package had been delivered that afternoon. Kay said yen-it was waiting in the closet. As it was, though not quite what Toby supposed.

Kay was excited as a child on Christmas morning. There were waffles for breakfast and especially good coffee. Afterwards Mrs. Toby Barnes shoved her tall husband into his big chair. "Sit there," she com- manded him, and left the room.

“When is this fine exhibition of selfishness going to begin?" he shouted after her. “I want to see it in action!"

Kay returned with a large pack- age elaborately wrapped. Toby looked pleased. “There you are," he said. "I'm sorry, Kay,'to fall

if 1 i‘ l.

downon our agreement, but I knew

you wanted the darned thing."

"There you are!" cried Kay hurl- ing the box at him. "l simply will not let you squander your money on cA,EIlSlVQ things for mo, Toby."

Toby opened the box, drawing forth a manly. well-tailored dress- ing gown for a tall gentleman. "You know," muttered his wife in a small voice, "you haven't a thing to sit around in at home."

"So this," he raved, "is thegroat

exhibition of selfishness! And where been

l your houeecoat, I'd like to know?"

‘Kay, ln s thin, quivering voice, begged him to be kind while she a:- plalned.

“ 1TH" Christmas drawing near, why can't we get to ether and m a k e planl——" Roiaert Dutton read no further. With calm deliberation, he put the heavily scrawled letter back into its envelope. "Always the impractical Hal," he said slowly. “No wonder he never gets anywhere."

_A list of appointments waited up- on his desk. Visits from two of the most important men in town; a delegation about a rlght-of-way through a tract of land he had just purchased; a reminder of a talk he had promised to make at a lunch- eon. Important things, he thought, things Hal would never be called upon to do.

l-lastily he went through his mail. A square envelope in a familiar hand caught his eye. l-le opened it a little curiously. What could Miss Denby be writing him about? His long fingers drew out an artistic Christmas card. A conservative wish and an old Christmas carol printed in English letters. That was all, except the signature, “Eleanor Denby." _

A flush stained his face, an un- definable something sent the blood singing through his veins. “Elea- nor," he said softly; "a beautiful name; how queer that I never heard it before."

Then, as if resenting his weak- ness and sentiment, he dug into his mail again. But try as he would, he could not concentrate on the things that had meant anything to him before. Something had happened to Robert Dutton; a Christmas greeting from a secre- tary whom he had scarcely noticed left him visibly unsettled.

Christmas memories surged through his heart. He was back in the old home again. Everybody was rushing around in circles. He saw the big tree in the corner of the parlor; the kitchen table piled high with good things to eat. And Moth- er and Dad, with happiness beam- ing upon their faces. ‘

He picked up Hal's letter again. After all, maybe his kid brother wasn't so crazy? The thought was pushing through his mind that may- be it was he who lacked real sense. This time he read the letter in a

"We're Going to Forgot Business for Today," He Said.

different mood. “Let’s give Dad and Mother the surprise of their lives. Let's go down and make one grand Christmas for them. You can turn everything over to someone else for a week-anyone can handle things like that-there's nothing personal or precious about them.”

“Nothing personal or precious about them!" He turned the words over in his mind. Hal was right. Someone ‘else could handle the things that had seemed so terribly important. A few hours of confu- sion, perhaps; then things would go on as before. The world would for- get hlm in a day.

His fingers reached for the pen upon his desk. “Dear Hal," he began, “I heartily agree with your proposal that we get together and make plans to give Dad and Mother the biggest surprise and the grand- est Christmas ever-" He was smil- ing broadly, almost laughing aloud, as he finished the letter with a flourish.

Five minutes later Miss Denby entered his private ofllce to find a new Robert Dutton. She almost dropped her book in surprise at the expression upon his face, and aha new way in which he greeted

or.

“I'm ready to begin, Mr. Dut- ton," she began nervously, when he made no motion to start the routine of the day.

_ “We're going to forget business for. today. Miss Denby, and go as shopping. that ts lfsou want to help me out." He fumbled with his tie as he spoke. noticing for the first time the soft curving of her white neck. "Your Christ- mas card," he went on, "wrought some miracle. I've found out that an and making money aren't‘ everything in life. They're both fine in their way, but there are other gs, too; precious things thatlwe , , ovorloo ." He came closer to her side and looked hard into her " ‘(going shop- loablag and ador-

f‘ HE first Christmas in our new home," Janice Wray announced joyoualy as she

stepped acrou the threshpld of

Stewart's and her new home.

"Christmas in our new home." Stewart echoed, switching on the fight

“Oh, isn't it just grand!" ex- claimed Janice. .

"I'll say it is-but slow tip-slow up, Jenny! I've got about all my arms will hold, without taking you aboard," Stewart warned her as Janice attempted to throw her arms about him.

"Oh, keep quiet! You're just as excited as I am-so why pretend?" Janice answered with a toss of her head.

Stewart put his packages down and then with his arms around her he assured her, “You bet I am, Hon-

ey. I think it is

f; wonderful! Stu-

pendousl "Andjust

because they were

so happy, they both laughed.

"Come on--let's

get busy with the

tree/‘Stewart sug-

gested. . “RightoWagreed

Janice, "just as _, soon as I change '. my dress."

The tree must be neither to large nor too small.

Some time had been consumed de- siding just the proper size for a Christmas tree for two. They were to be alone this Christmas—the first Christmas in their new home; there was no doubt about that, for they had definitely decided that when they purchased the house. And now here they were ready to trim the much- diacussed tree.

“Isn't that star lovely?" Janice said as Stewart placed it at the top of the tree.

"Yes. But I thought you had planned on something else." Stew- art replied.

"I changed my mind," was all Janice said. She didn't tell him she couldn't think of a Christmas tree without a star at the top. They al- ways had one on the tree “at home."

"Thought you weren't going to get any red balls," she reminded Stew- art.

"I changed my mind." Both laughed at Stewart's echo of Jan- ice’: answer of a moment before.

"Mother would love this silver ball." Janice hung the ball where it caught the most light.

“Wouldn't Bess love this blue ball!" Stewart picked up the large blue globe.

"Our dads would enjoy that open lire-and Bill those spruce boughs over the mantel"--Bill, the older brother of Stewart, loved anything from the woods.

And so each thing reminded them of someones fondness for lt, or of some of the happy times of former holidays.

"Well, I guess that's all for now," Stewart said when the decoration of the tree was fln- ished and he and Janice stood ad- miring it. Janice made no reply to her husband's re- mark at first.

“All but the pres- ents," she said hesltatlngly.

“Oh, we can put those out later," Stewart suggested.

"But I mean the ones for the family," she ex- plained.

“Didn't you distribute those to- day?" Stewart asked in surprise.

“I thought it would be more fun to take them together."

“Stewart stopped and kissed her. “I think so, too, honey-so let's go."

"Wait until I get my hat and coat."

“ d _I’ll bring the cor up to the door." '

when Stewart returned to the room Janice was placing packages under the tree.

"Janice, doesn't it seem to you there is something wrong with the tree?" Stewart allied suddenly.

“No." Janice walked all around the tree, looking at it critically. "No," she said the second time- then suddenly-"Yes, Stewart, there la something wrong -— something mlsslng-i-‘the loving sharing of dec- orating the tree. Our families would so have enioyod it, Weitriznmed it {$1. ‘for ourselves. 1t dose seem self-

Then after a moment's silence she cried: "I have it! Suppose we leave the presents. and invite our

f ill h for eood ld - idhned "Chiming in calzbrftiz:

What do you; l .

u! ‘y, 1m", ~ H". in

_ with the curtain

. ARY and John had "quan- reled-jult before Christ- mas, too. The Christmas _

candy had burned, and then, in the excitement, each had blamed the other, making cruel retorte, until Mary lied to her bedroom in tears and John stalked of! in the snowy night.