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The BAD CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS HIS la n story of last Christmas day; and I will i tell you right away that it ended huppily. But it be gins sudly. It waa Christ mas day up at the North pole, and ns usual on the T day before Christmas, St. Nicholas hud been hurried and rather grumpy. Only this time. Mother Nicholas thought to herself that he was Just a bit grumpier than she hud ever known him. And at suppertlme she* found that she was right. He came into the kitchen, closing Ills workshop door with a bung, and sat down with ull the little Nicholases to his porridge. “Well, I’ve suld it before," he growled, “but this time I meun it. The children down there in the world will get nothing from my pack this night. It's time they were taught u lesson." All the little Nicholases gasped, but Mother Nlcholus only asked calmly: "Why, what is the matter now. fa ther? After you've been working for them the whole year, you wouldn't go and disappoint the poor dears would you?" “Yes, I would," declared St. Nich olas. swallowing bis porridge In great gulps, and pretending that he was not M saint at all. "Half of them go around laying that there Isn't any St. Nicho las, poking fun at me, and laughing in their sleeves. And the other half think It makes no difference whether they are good children or not, I’ll All their stockings Just the same. It’s a thankless Job, I tell you. And I’tn too old a man for it. So!’’ “I’omo." safd Mother Nicholas, sooth ingly. "here is a plate of griddle cakes. When you have eaten you will see things differently.’’ "No. when I have eaten I shall go to bed. That's where an old fellow like me belongs, an old fellow who children don’t believe In." Mother saw that he was determined, and that there waa •nothing to do for It. since griddle cakes wouldn't help. So she put her Anger to her lips to motion the children silent, nnd went on quietly about her work. And when St. Nicholas had Anlshed Ills supper, lie did roll away to bed, only telling the little Nicholases to lie sure to hang their stockings, for they had been good children all the year and still believed in hlru. The minute the door closed behind him the .tittle Nicholases hurst Into excited chatter. "Oh, what a pitjr! Those poor children! Surely there must he s<*me good ones! Oh dear, what fun will Christmas be to us If all the children In the world down there are unhappy!" "What ind I!" Mother Nicholas shook her head and looked often at "Yea, I Would," Declared St. Nicholas. the elused door, behind whieh St. Nleh olas could already be heard snoring. "And the reindeer!” cried the old est boy, "what will they do without tlielr yearly exercise? It seems ns though father might linve gone, if only for tlielr sakes.” Mother Nicholas thought so. too. And at that minute they beard the reindeer's little hoofs beating on the hnrd snow crust at the door. Wise lit tle beasts I St. Nicholas bad never delayed the ChrUUnas-Kve Journey so long before, and so here they were to save him the trouble of going for them. The Nicholas children felt that they never could face the poor little reindeer’s disappointment. Hut what wus Mother Nicholas do ing so busily over there by the cup board? The children looked In amaze* ment. It was seldom that mother left the snowhousc at any time of day. And here she was. after dark, and Christ mas Eve, too. putting on her hood and cape, and pulling on her gauntlets! "Are you going to drive the rein deer hack to the stables?" asked the oldest boy. "Oh., please, let me. I'a* ther always lets me, you know.’’ Mother shook her head, ' i’ll nut bs driving ibei.i .iiii'K to the stables un til lids night's work Is done," she said, "if you’re awake when we get back, you may do it as always.’* How the children stared ! "Waa little old mother going ull alone on thnt long, wild drive over towns and for ests and oceans und up and down chimneys, and goodness knows where, without asking St. Nlcholaa If aba might? Yea, that waa Just what aha waa going to do! “For, when a good thing needs doing,” she said brightly, “no permission la needed." “Keep the Are going, be sure that the baby has the fur rug well up around hla chin, and give your father a good breakfast when he wakes," she called over her shoulder and waa away out of the door almost before they had realised that she was going. They heard the scampering of the reindeer hoofs, faster the dimmer they got, and then Juat the stillness of the North pole. That was last Christmas Eve. And if you ask any child who lay awake to see St. Nicholas, and peeped out with one eye, all the time pretending to be fast asleep, he will tell you that It wasn't St. Nicholas he saw at all. It was Just a tiny, sprightly old lady with frosty white curls and a red hood, who Ailed naughty Willie’s stocking Just as full as good Marguerite’s, and St. Nicholas Welcomed Her Back Af fectionately. left many more bon-bons In both than wus usual. That peeping child will ulso tell you that before she went bark up the chimney, she gave baby a kiss on hla pink cheek, a thing Bt. Nicholas (who la aa afraid of bablea as a burglar la, and for tha same rea son) has never been known to do. And mother, will you believe we, In spite of having stopped to kiss all the Imblea, was bsck at the North l»ole a whole hour earlier than St. Nicholas had ever been able to make It, even in his younger day*. Her work was well done, too! But In spite of the early hour, she found the children and her hoabond waiting for her. St. Nicholas welcomed her back more affectionately than the children. "I woke in the middle of the night," he said, "out of such a horrid dream— all about crying children and sud mothers. Bless you, good wife, for not letting that dream come true!" "Oh, don’t mention It,” said Mother Nicholas. "It waa no trouble at all. Indeed, It did me good. I think, fa ther, since you are getting so old. I will take over this Job myself from now on." St. Nicholas looked thoughtful it thnt. He paced up and down the Aoor. Then he came and stood In front of Mother Nicholas, straighten ing up and looking almost as young as in his early days. "No, mother,’’ he said Armly. "A woman’s place Is In the home. I’ll at tend to the business hereafter, thank you." And mother, who. after all. only wanted everybody to be happy, made him some griddle cakes for his break fast. But that was last year, the year you got a stocking full, even though you hadn't been so very good. This year you had better watch out, /or It Is old At. Nicholas himself you huve to deal with. Party Supper Boxes. Where there is seating room at the Chrlstinas-tlme party refreshments are appropriately served In small boxes covered with red paper or holly pat terned puper. und tied with gay rib bons in holiday color. Each box con tains a sandwich, slices of cake, nuts und candles daintily wrapped in wnx puper. A tissue paper napkin. In Christmas design, la folded in each box. When each person has received his or her supper box the coffee Hnd Ice cream are served and the contents of the box are eaten with it. The pretty boxes can be retained by the guests ns a souvenir, or "favor,” If they like such things. Choosing the Holly. Superstitious people assert that one should be careful about the choice of the holly for the decorations. Part should be smooth and part prickly. Then providing both kinds are car ried into the house at the same time, nil will be well. But should the prick ly variety he taken In Arst, then the husband will rule the household dur ing the coming year; If the smooth Is brought In Aral the wife will be "top dog." Christmas Spirit Needed. None of us can have too much of the Christmas spirit. Impulse Dodd's Christmas by F.H.Sweet *0 MM Y Dodd, "Impulse Dodd,” cattleman, was In k Chicago, with his big sale f over. And even In Chica go, where sight-seeing cat tlemen were common, Im pulse Dodd was a no- T tlceahle Agure, with his six feet odd, free money ways, aud almost perpet ual smile. He paused in front of s small, nar row store, whose one window was full of toys. Inside, the counter and shelves were puceked with the same kind of goods. “Just Santa,” said Impulse, aloud. "B’llexe I’ll go In.” He closed his Angers tightly and pushed open the door with his thumb, stiffly extended. “Put In his thumb,” he grinned, "and —does he pull out s plum?" In the shop were two men. the one In front of the counter loud-voiced and threatening. “Well," this one was Anlshlng, as Impulse entered, “I’ll give you Just two more days to meet your hill, till the day after Christmas. If you don’t pay me In full then, I will take possession.” As the man stalked out. Impulse raised his right foot and swung It back and forth thoughtfully “Can I show you anything, sir?” he asked a moment later, aa Impulse turned to the counter with a half-re gretful frown on hla face, adding: “It’a Just aa well you didn’t do It, sir. He’s a very vindictive man." “That so? Then I sure wish I had. I don’t generally hold back on things, hut this city’s retting me right scared. I’ve reined up unusual the last three days. Now ’bout the toys. That man’s talk la so easy unraveled. I reckon you'll sell cheap?” “At almost your own price, air. There Is only this one day to sell, and I can’t hope to do enough. I’ve teen failure for a week past, though for a while I did hope to come out In condi tion to start again. Now what can I show you?" “Well, not only one solitary thing In particular. I reckon." scanning the shelves Judicially. “They all look right enticing, and what I dldn'whuy would make me feel sorry to look at. What'll yon take for the bunch?" The storekeeper moved along the counter, trying to arrange hla goods more attractively. “Look around all you want to," he said amiably. "And there la an easy chair back yonder where you can sit and rest. If you like." Impulse followed him. “No wonder you can’t sell. If you treat all customers like me." he com plained. “Now, see here," slapping a big roll of bills on the counter. "How “How Much," Demanded Impulse. much? Remember there’* only one day for selling Santa stuff. “Do you mean business?" asked the shopkeeper, a sudden huskiness coining Into his voice. “How much?*' "Fifteen hundred. If you menu the cost. But I warn you It’a too late to sell much —" “Oh, I’m sure a hustler down home." cheerfully, "nnd I’ve a hunch I can move Santa goods toler'hle brisk the day before the day. Now let's see. Afteen, with a fair per cent for proAt and a little for good will makes It Just two thousand. There you are," peel ing off another hill or two, nnd then replacing the roll In hla pocket. "Now you’ve got to throw In your services as clerk for the rest of the day." “But I can’t—" began the dazed shopkeeper. But Impulse was at the door. "Back right soon." he called. "He getting the good a ready to handle quick." Outside, Impulse glanced up and down the street. Half a dozen urchins were playing on the Sidewalk, two or three were hanging behind a dray, n newsboy was crying his papers. Other youngsters were dimly seen among pedestrians and street vehicles. Im pulse put two Angers Into hla mouth and blew a blast that would cover a Mile oti the prulrle. At the same time the oil., hla pocket \\ It». gers could u . Into the •• 1.. r.y i . tic ■ i ceased Jingling on r >• . more or less grimy li.lU* b.i.. 1.- w». clutching for them. “Now, you hunch."* culled Impulse “Juat listen to me for n minute. Who'*, tn# most no ’count hoy in this neigh borhood ?" “Craw Ash Bobby,’’ answered a voice promptly. "He never stands treat, an’ carries every cent home to hla tna-a-a." "And the most unpopular girl?" There was a short alienee, then several of the boys tittered. "Baggy Sally,” said one of them. "She's Peanut Seller Bet’s girl, an’ when wc hoys throw mud she Aghts like a wildcat." "And gives all of you a mighty good drubbing, I hope," commented Im pulse. "Now, boys, the two who bring Craw Ash Bobby and Baggy sally to me get a four-bit piece each, and tell them they'll get another for coming. Now, the lot of you come buck, for the show Isn't half over." Ten minutes Inter. Crawfish Bobby and Baggy Sally stood In front of him. Impulse placed a hand upon a shoul der of each. "These two are going to he little Santas and give you all a right nice “Mr. Santa Claus, I Believe Bir,“ Bh* Began. present by and by," he called to the rapidly Increasing crowd of urchins. "Mind, you'll owe It In part to them. Now stampede Into the streets and alleys of the neighborhood and corral e\ery boy and girl you can And, und bring 'em here. Just an hour from imw this store'll continence to give out preaents. and you'll all get one. Nobody will he missed. Hit the street now, the whole lot of you except these two." In an hour, the door was thrown open and the rush began, with half a thousand whooping youngsters to make the assault. It was short work, the pillaging of the store, nnd in forty minutes all was over. And then. Just aa the hilarious present hearers were scattering Into every street and alley, an automobile swerved out from the street traffic and stopped at the curb. In it were an old gentleman nnd a lady and several girls. The gentleman motioned some of the urchins to the side of the car. where they were ques tioned as to the extraordinary spec tacle. Then a few words passed be tween the ocrupanta of the car. after which one of the girls alighted and came to the store. Craw Ash Bobby nnd Baggy Sally were Just outside the door, with tlielr nrtna full. “You’re the little Santa's*," smiled the young lady, a* she took tlielr hands, "and I Juat know you had a big time." Then she entered the store and went straight to Impulac. “Mr. Santa Claus. I believe, sir?" she began. “Why—or—no," stammered Impulse, turning red, "only —er —Just as a sort of advance agent, named Impulse—l mean Tommy Dodd." The girl broke Into a ringing laugh. "Impulse! I like that." she cried. "Now. Impulse Dodd, have you any deAnlte arrangement for the Christmas holidays—any binding engagement, I mean?" “N-o-o, nothing except to tramp side walks and say ’Howdy’ to every atranger who'll let me." “Good! Then there’s nothing In the way of our Invitation. You kre. we're having a houseful of company for the holiday week, ami papa and mamma suggested that I ask you. I’itpa owns a ranch out Weat, anil he says he knowa how a atranger must feel in a city at Christmas time, and he thinks a man who can do what you've Juat done will certainly be an acquisition to our party. And I may add we all feel the same way. You’ll come? There la room In ©or machine." Impulse maided. He lacked words Attlng to the occssion. A week at a house party! Gee! wouldn't tliat he stuff to tell the boys at the ranch. Start back the day after Christmas? Who? He? No. alree! That would be rank foolishness. Not till the last gun was Ared. Bo he walked out to the automobile with the girl, with never a thought of the emptied store behind. *»or of tl»e beaming, misty-eyed man who could now stock up again without the bale ful skeleton of a creditor to glare at him over the goods. And as Dodd en tered the automobile, one of the girls afterwards declared that she heard him murmur. “And pulled out a plain." though she coaid not under stand why. It was Just Me of his funny ways. The Green Christmas by Christopher G. Hazard Copyright 1922 by Western Newspaper Union [T WAS not a very cheerful hoy that was looking out of the window at what lit tin L dirty Ice the winter thaw hud left upon the hill in front of the house. Through the fine coasting days he I hud heard the happy noise ol' the sledding while the doctor had said tluit lie could not go out and Join In It, und now, though he might soon be out of doors again, there was no surety of iis good a hill aguln and small pros pect of sport. It wasn't a very cheerful house, wither. Mr. Bondage was a chaliimak er, und when he came home from Ills fcon works he always seemed to bring i»ls business with him. The house of Bondage was big and strong, but it was hard, and still, and dark, und :«o orderly. From the outside if 4*oki-«l like a fort, and inside, the chairs stood at attention, like soldiers. The par lor was a solemn place, where the stiff furniture wus seldom prevented from looking at Itself In the gilded mirror. The dining room didn't got the sun until towards evening, when the motto, "Be Good and Yoj Will Be Happy" could he as plainly seen ns the one on the opposite wall, "Chil dren Should Be Seen liut Not Heard." When the hoy put on his hated bib there. It exhorted him with, "Don't Eat Too Much." Chulncd to the front pureh was an Iron dog, whose Axed nnd ferocious snarl was s standing Insult to all the village dogs thnt could get through the Iron fence to dispute with him. There was some fun about the plnee; It was when n surprised «.ng retired front the attack with a new resfiect for the tough guardian of the Bondage In terests. Even the iron-clad knight In the front hall scented to laugh through his visor then. Besides all this. Ishmnel had had no Christmas. Mr. Bondage did not be lieve In Christmas; to him Santa Claus was n foolish Imagination and a hurtful superstition. He hnd Joined "The Society for the Prevent lon of Useless Giving," and was glad to he called a SpUg. Oil December Sloth lie bud presented to his son a picture of himself, standing In front of Ills oAlce with the scowl upon his face that rep resented his Idea of the expression of greatness, hut the only comfort of the day for the hoy hnd been the sweet contents of the small package that his mother hnd smuggled Into Ills room Just before daylight. But Ishmnel Bondage had nit Aunt Sarah! And Aunt Sarah had the pleasantest home In the country. It was n low, wide, rambling old house, in the midst of the trees nnd hugged by the climbing vines that loved It. There wasn’t a place in It too good to he used and In Its snowy whiteness It seemed to shine out upon the fenceles* grounds with an Invitation to the hos pitality of Its gardens and the good Aunt Sarah Carried lehmael Off. cheer of Its friendly owners. That was the bright spot for Ishmnel. When he went out there his aunt would hung Ids Faimtleroy stilt up In the closet and give him a leather suit that could not be torn and tell him to go It. lie could eat without a bib aud there was not a motto in sight. By the time that vacation whs over he was a real hoy. The other boys stopped calling him "Sissy" and no longer asked him if his mother knew he was out. Indeed, lie up and thrashed a bullying hoy who bad knocked over one of Ills compan ions who wns about half Ills size. Af ter this there was nothing thnt he could not hnvc among Ills crowd. So. every vacation sent a prim hut Joyful boy to Aunt Ssrah and closed with a more robust hut rather dejected one on bis way home. But Aunt Sarah also had a mind of her own. She had ao much mind tbut sbe bad concluded that winter to go and give Benjamin Bondage a piece of It. She considered Ishmnel's state and situation and resolved to give hla father "s good talking to." When she appeared Mr. Bonduge felt that hi# time had probubly come. When *h« had Anlshed he knew It had. She told him that he had forgotten that he was ever a hoy, If, Indeed, he had eve# : been one, that he had made himself into an Iron man, that he was blind eyed and hard-hearted, that he Mamed determined to fasten ell his cbeloe vp on Ishmael and make hla son u #UB und cold us an Icicle. Mrs. Bondage, behind the door, ex pected her husband to object In load and angry tones, hut, to her setonleh inent, he was silent. He eeemed to remember an old motto, "Discretion Is the Better Part of Valor," proAtably, nnd did not Interfere, even when Annt Surah, flushed, but triumphant, carried iHhmncl off. There was some winter play left nnd to come at Sweet field, hut Aunt Sarah wasn't satisfied as easily as that, for she had made up the rest of her mind into an idea that Ishmael should hav* the Christmas thnt he hadn't had, af ter all. It wasn’t much of a Christmas day when the helnted Christmas tree blossomed und bore fruit, but It was a tine tree. The snow and Ice had dis appeared and n warm wind made tha late winter seem like early spring, but Aunt Surnh said thnt evergreen tree# kept Christmas all the year round, and that every day was their day. Cer- •A Wonderful Pockatknif©—" t a Inly it was the most Interesting tre« that Ishmnel had ever seen, from th© bundle at the bottom, through all tha ornaments, lights und gifts, to the mys terious package ut the top of It shone with kind and thoughtful love and sparkled with merry wishes and glad promise. They nnd the children from the neighborhood who had come t® share the Joy and the presents that Aunt Sarah hud prepured were won dering what would be found In that lust parcel at the top. until It wfcs taken down, aud then a part of tha party, ut least, was surprised when the wrapping was taken off and a wonder ful pocketknlfe, beside a firet-claua football, conveyed merry wishes from Mr. Bondage to Ills son. Aunt Sarah said afterwards tliat at tills she near ly "went off the handle." When May came it seemed time for Ishuiuel to go home, but be mas not very liuppy at the prospect. Indeed, lie was rather unhappy about It. Ha felt something like one on Ids way to Jail, and even shed tears at tha thought of leaving Sweetfield, so that a squirrel, seeing him wiping hla eyas under a tret;, exclaimed "Oh, what a rainy boy!" hut the day came and Isbmucl went. Another surprise awaited him, how ever. for, as be neared home nnd en tered It. everything seemed changed. The house looked sunny and pleasant in its new colors, the fence had disap peared. the Iron flog had been moved to the barn, and tin- mailed knight had gone down to the Ironworks to ha turned Into plowshares. When Mr. Bonduge went out to Sweetfield to visit his sister Htid to report upon Ishmael's progress. Aunt Surah bad her reward. "It Is all your doing. Sarah," suld he. "I needed someone to show me up to myself." •Well, brother," said Aunt Sarah, "A Stitch In Time Saves Nine." as the proverb has It. and you certainly will be proud of our boy yet, us proud ©f him as I am of my big. new brother." When December cutne blustering around again and brought Santa Claus and all his load of love and Jollity, there was no place that more warmly welcomed him than Mount Freedom, as Mr. Bondage's home had come to he called, and of all the happy Christ mas parties of that year, none was fuller of mirth nnd good cheer than tin- one ut Mount Freedom. They danced about the tree and under the motto that hung from the top of It with iis message nf good will to every body, the football was kicked nil over ibe floor and they shouted In tlielr glee. The squeaking toys, the tooting whistles, the happy songs, all mods the time ns merry as It ought always t.. bo, while the gifts spoke messages of love. Ishmnel had prosiiered enough In bin studies to iimke n picture of Sweet field. It hung fiver the mantel shalf In the living mom nnd under It he had written, "The Home of the Green Christmas." When anyone asked him about It he would tell them how spring once mine In a wintry time; he would sny that while Christ inns comes hot once a year. It sometimes conies twice, and Mint whenever It cornea It brings good cheer; but lie was never aide to make h picture of his Aunt Snrnh that seemed to him good enough