Evening Star Newspaper, December 25, 1928, Page 19

THE EVENING STORY Christmas Husks. P ITTING at the breakfast table one crisp December morning Father Abbot gave his wife a sidewise glance and began. Christmas, this year?” u“Chflsth plans without—without— by f “Letty’s‘all right, ain't she?” “Maybe so—but I'm not!” “Now look here! You just ought to be so thankful that Letty is happy and that her new husband is the fine fellow “Getting 'most mother—what plans been roomy enough for any and all children who might cross his. path. But in mother’s heart her girl was en- throned in state wonderful and. alone. “I have some old playthings of Let- ty's that we could use, if itz asking too much,” mother’ went on. “I never thought I could give her things 10 &ny- body. but I keep thinking suppese she d had such a hard time when she w-s Iime? ‘Why—she never wanted for anything in ail her life!” “Just you wait, mother!” exclaimed THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. €, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1928. father jubilantly. “I was going to spring a surprise on you in the morn- ing—sort of try to resurrect thal Christmas spirit. I'm all fixed for this —just you wait!” and he hustled into his wraps and disappeared. Waiting, mother’s eyes fell on the little box which Joe had brought torth from ‘the melee in the truck. 1t vas there on the mantel, waiting its turn. ‘Taking it down, mother lifted the ld. A family of corn-husk dolls and a corn- husk menagerie! The mother, fiercely determined that her babies should have their Christmas, had used the only material available— the husks of the fields they were pass- ing, fashioning them after the little ones were asleep with loving hands and ‘nm will that prevailed over an {ll, protest- body. Husks for Christmas! And never once had Mother Abbot known a Christmas that she could not give her xirl jut what her fancy approved. she put_the box up, tearfully, rev- erently. "God forgive me—I knew not what I did!” che breathed, as a pro- cession of Christmas celebrations pass- ed before her mental vision. Happy they had been—oh, yes! But selfish— unspeakably selfish! Never a thought for any but her own little triangle. She remembered a mother who had called her family her “four-square room” and when God in His wisdom had taken one dear one, that mother had said that one side of her room had been removed that she might go out to the world and that the world might come in. Maybe—maybe—one side of her little triangular “room” had been taken away for the same purpose—— Father entered just then amd mother underuwod tic remiark—for he nm:flf‘gc perfect tree and a box “Here,” now—-cet busy, mother. You trim this tree and get it all ready while I fly to town!” “Just a minute, first—look here!” and mother took down the box-again from the mantel. “Get anything else you want to—but remember—no dolls and no animals; they might not like these quite so well—" her voice failed her. And when father had seen the contents of the box he agreed. Looking back over the events of the evening as she worked, including the doctor’s visit, his assurance that rest and-freedom from worry were what the sick woman needed more than eny- thing, Mother Abbot’s thoughts lin- gered over the remembrance of the chil- dren’s conversation as they hung their stockings, with her help and father's. “Mine mamma sick! Santy can't bwing we vewy much!" the baby an- nounced, emphatically. “But we’ll just like what he does bring, won't we?” asked the older one, with a protective hug. “Uh-huh. We yike!” Near the hour of midnight, after the stockings had been filled and the tree put in readiness, father pressed ihe button that added the scft radiance of the many-col bulbs, for the farm- house was on a power line between two towns. Then he seated himself beside mother, on the sofa. “Well, it didn’t cost so much, but it'll be worth a million dollars in the morning. Youll see. And say—what about dinner?” “It have to be chicken this year. But itll taste good to them. And it's at home—not at a hotel.” Her hand crept to father's knee, where his owa big one quickly coverea it. “And vou can count on one thing arter this. So long as there are children in the world whose Christmas is empty and pitiful, you and I are going to find them and make Christmas for them something beside—husks.” Father’s hand tightened over hers. ‘Thoughts of their own little girl were with them both, but her going had left an opening for other children to enter, ,an_open door, straight to their Learts. ‘The next evening, at the doctor’s ln- sistence, the young mother had taken to the hospital to recuperate. 'I'he husband, with Father Abbot’s influence back of him, was already on his new “job.” When mother crept to the bed- side of the sleeping children her eyes again misted over. For held tightly in the little hands, were—not the “toot- twain,” not the little telephone that would “wing”"—but a corn-husk dolly and a giraffe. ‘The End. (Copyright. 1928.) he is—why—you ought to be overflow- /i ing with the Christmas spirit!” “Christmas spirit! It's dead and ‘buried so far as I'm concerned. It's the first Christmas she’s ever been away from us, and when we have only the one—why+in the world couldn't she have married somebody around here, £0 we could be near her? Look at Jennie Whitman—her mother has five left at home and still Jennie settled down right here in Brookville. Things are pretty unevenly divided, seems to me!” “Would you be willing to exchange Letty's Jim for Jennie Whitman's man?” “No—hut—" “Just leave out that ‘but’ mother, | and make up your mind to be satisfied | with things as they are. Get so busy | planning a Christmas for somebody | else that you forget—" “Forget! That's a man for you, every ! Just as well spare your breath. I haven't the heart to plan a thing this | year. You and I can go to a hotel. | ‘That will be different, and won’t remind us every minute that we are alone.” “Christmas dinner in a hotel! Gosh!” and father pushed in a hotel! chair noisily. It was inconceivable— yet he. knew that if mother made up her mind to it that was the thing they would do. The subject being an ex- tremely difficult one, it was not men- tioned again. The sharp December days followed each other. Dragged interminably. No secrets. No big dinner to be planned. ‘The momentous question of whether it should be turkey or goose had faded away. No tree decorations to be looked over and rejuvenated. No nothing! Being the man, he was did not make father sad—it made him mad instead; boiling, sizzling mad. Yet, being the man he was, he bottled it up within him, and quietly proceeded with some Pprivate plans of his own, which helped considerably. Since mother was so de- termined to let Christmas go by un- noticed, he would not let his right hand know what his left hand was doing. And if there were some bulky, sus- icious-looking bundles deposited in the ayloft after dark it was nobody’s busi- ness. About 5 o'clock of the afternoon be- fore tmas an old, rickety truck turned into the Abbot driveway and crept toward the rambling farmhouse, ving a last gasping cough as it came a standstill. A gaunt, haggard man, the personification of discouragement, got down stifly from the seat and started toward the woodpile, where father was strenuously wielding the ax as a relief for pent-up feelings. .. 'Two thin little faces peered f: tween the curtains of the dlhpldnoed body of the truck. Spying a mother cat on the porch with her kittens about her, skinny little legs ‘were over the wheel in a twinkling, and hands that were blue with cold were stroking the warm fur of the little pets —and that was what Mother Abbot saw :I'a:n she opened her door a moment T, ¥ o Why—wbere did you come from?” The shy little showed an inclination to run, but the attraction of the soft little kitten was. too strong. 80 thA vldut, c btog“ol perhaps four mb- toward the mlck ’nu lm!e girl, more muflve, ventured :the _information, “Mine mamma there. Her sick!” s » 442 i \ i The -cry..of sickness was - ever -to : 70" “ Mother Abbot like the fire alarm to the \ WV 18 old fire horse. Her b\g. kind heart could never bear to see with- out an effort to llkvhfe it, and hers were no mean efforts—she was a born nurse. She reached the truck just as father and unknown man_arrived from |- the woodpile. “The baby there tel me her mamma is sick—can I help?” “Guess she'll be glad just to. see But Hnthu' Abbot w&lwd to hear no more. In the back of the truck, on a pile of old bedding, the mother of two“raised herself wi ipsborn ELEVENTH ST, Bl 606 - 614 ‘ e Hundreds of Washington women save in | this Annual Event. Their eager response | is evidence enough of the values. 1 (3 ELEVENTH ST Charge Purchases Payable Feb. 1st 606 - 614 If you want something smart, if you need Dresses for any occasion—and if you wish to save money— by all means attend this sale of DRESSES The Year’s Most Outstanding Dress Values Frocks for Street, $ Afternoon, School, W Dance and Sports Wear 32 Higher- Priced Dresses Reduced to $ Velvet and silk afternoon frocks of the most fashionable type. A Special Group which we place on sale tomorrow Two hundred models. . .every one brand new...and all priced much lower than Hats of this type should bring. Their newness is very vividly told in the many smart advanced colors. Among the many shades are Brioche, Byrd Blue, Fraise de bois, Purple Aster, Pan- dora, Leafmold and Black. Small head sizes and youth- ful types for the Matron. Philipsborn’s—Fourth Floor o At these prices there are Froeks you will simply “rave” over. Our drastic clearance policy gives you the opportu- nity to buy several Dresses for approximately what you would usually pay for one or two. The great diversity of styles provides excellent choice for every occasion. All our past records for coat values will be buried under an avalanche of savings in this sale of COATS Reductions that offer exceptional opportunities to secure Coats of the sea- son’s smartest styles—distinctive in quality and workmanship—and at tre- mendouos savings. A price range that fits every purse. e *49 69 095 Choice of Our Highest Grade C-O-A-T-S 1 I’hild‘p:bcu’.v—é'n'ul Floor Evening Gowns at Reductions that Average One-half 358 Gorgeous transparent velvet models in the newest styles, You may be sure your Coat is a fashion-approved mid- Winter style if it is chosen from this group. Never be- fore have we marked Coats of such high character at these low prices in our After- Christmas Sale. “Where are. the children?” xhe !n- fled, weakly. “Safe.” woman sank back Mother Ahbot en-,l'led. “Father! l;m going mtl:d g;t bed ready. You men get her in somehow—but be careful!” Later, from the depths of the sn bed, while the little ones were revem in limitless'bread and milk in the warm kitchen, a pair of tear-filled brown eyes Iooked up at-Mother Abbot, and a weak, hmlli‘m;‘ w‘crc:rylfi"—:b & :‘ ig:ct about myself I'm we ut what's hecome ot my babies? B loved' her children more than I— or w-s able to do so litlte for them, seems to me. I can't ngm ‘much longer —and who's going to take care of filem"" The eyes that looked out from face 80 worn and drawn with Inxiety and illness were like the win- dows of“n burning house just before its fal “.Yu.st rest tonight—we'll talk about it Jater. This is Christmas eve, you know.” “There’s a box——" the weak voice went on, box—Joe will get it for you—it was all I could do—but they think Santa ©laus is coming— “And he will come!” mother assured .- “Leave that to me—TI've had a baby—a long time ago—" ‘The sick woman gave a sigh, and settled down into the heavenly luxury of the soft pillows: ‘The bread and milk finished, father was in his element with a baby on each knee as he and the distracted young husband consulted together. It was an old story, but one that never loses one jot of its tragedy.” Trying to get home to the “folks” before cold y ‘weather, out of work and money, cnly * one loaf of bread left—and Christmas! ‘The irony of it! When at last the babies were sound asleep, the husband watching from a cot by his wife's side with doors closed, mother had a mist in her eyes as she looked at the two forlorn little stockings dangling from the mantel. “Father,” she began, “I'd give my butter-and- egg money for a year if I only had a tree! You wouldn't—go to town at this time of night—would you? The stores will be open for an hour or two Philipshorw’s—Second Floor Coats for Street and Dress Wear Just 23 Coats taken from our own stock and reduced to exactly half price FUR COATS At these prices these Coats make your dollar do double fp Name any material, any fur, any color and any style that has been prominently featured this season—you will find most of them in this group. For original prices of these coats would make you gasp. duty. A duty that will be rewarded by faithful and long- wearing service. Choice of several Furs: *Hudson Seal, Hair Seal, Caracul, Muskrat, ** Beav- erette, **Squirrelette, Broadtail, Pony, Silver Musk- rat and Calf. Plain or smartly trimmed with contrasting furs in the latest styles. And backed by the Philipsborn guarantee of dependability. Half Prices Range From $75 to $225 The finest of the very best Coats we have in stock. Posi- tively not one has been ex- cepted and all are rare values. Philipsborn’s—Third Floor An expression of relief settled on father's face. His heart had always OTHER RADICAL FUR COAT REDUCTIONS $100 $125 $169 $245 o e oar o coite, $295 $159 Silver Muskrat Coats, $ 34 5 ?x::r‘::;eld ::& Fdo’:’:dvv;}lfag:.sd' $19 [ Fitch. Philipsborw’s—Third Floor Newest Arrivals i Evening Dresses For New Year’s Eve 25 Velvets or fluffy tulles, crisp taffetas and soft chiffons and georgettes. Every type frock for Miss or Matron, in a great diversity of styles. Other Evening Frocks, $15 to $65 Philipsborw’s—Second Floor **Sealine Coats trimmed Caracul Coats, self trimmed, with Marmot collars and cuffs. cocoa and platinum shades. *Hudson Seal Coat, self trimmed, Johnny co]lar and cuffs. Group of 31 Fine Sports Coats Reduced $ 1 8 to Excellently Tailored Coats of Tweed and Chinchilla in plain or fur-trimmed models. Smart, youthful styles in mostly small sizes. Philipsborw’s—Third Floor Marmon Rigid Factory Inspection Caracul Coats, castor and platinum shades, Wolf trim- med. One out of every 15 men at Marmon is a member of the Inspection Dept. In the process of manufacturing s fnished Marmon car, there are approximately 9,870 inspections necessary—of these, 500 are measured to a lmit of five ten- thousandths of an inch (.0005), approxi- Toately one-tortieth 'the thickness of & human hair. ‘A Straight 8 Marmon Now at $1,630 Del’d, Fully Equipped *#*Sealine Coats, collars and cuffs of Russian Fitch, natural and dyed Squirrel. Siberian Squirrel Coat with L ur ai 2 ts, A Futspesy’ Tanh Sapts platinum Fox shawl collar. sports models, fancy leath- er belts. Marmon Motors, Inc. 1727 Conn. Ave. N.W. 666 is a Prescription for Colds, Grippe, Flu, Dengue, a Bilious Fever and Malaria d4-ds 4he mest sveeds remedy kaow - Ocelot Coat, finest quality Beaver shawl collar and’cuffs. *Dyed Muskrat. **Dyed Coney.