Evening Star Newspaper, December 14, 1930, Page 96

THE Abigail Wants A Ring By Dorothy W alworth Carman The Faith of a Little Girl and a Poignant Story of the Christmas Season. * Ilustrated by Hugh Hution. JE Reverend and Mrs. Peter Reed were sitting in the parsonage study. It was F really the attic, but the Reverend Peter had put his books there, and a desk, and called it his study. He al- ways said it was better for him to have a place eut of the children’s reach. There were four children—Charles, Abigail, Yhomas and Francis. From the attic their parents could hear them playing cannibal-and- missionary down in the sitting room. Likely Abigail - “Come here, daughter,” her father said. Abigail went over to his side, her head high and determined. No one was going to coax “We can't ask for rings,” he said. ask only for what is necessary. The society would think we be talking abo persisted. “Beggars can't be choosers,” Mrs. George Hess replied, pursing her lips. The day before Christmas, early in the morn- ing, Peter Reed received a notice there was H &g? A8 redEiadf T Hill et ol IRLIHIRE gggggfgafissfl Siggggfiig 1 kg b SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, DECEMBER M4, 1930. i t i - Mis’ children’s heads clustered in the window. He waved and smiled. CREL i i ‘Eggg ggfi gfiiqg : E{ f; i TR % : § gg F 1 gsa 131 §E i i i It il g g i it ; s £l gix e il 2y 5 " I : § | k H } zéggggs', 1 i gf;g : HUSIH f i 1 s} i 4113 '§%fifigg K g ik “You got your wish, didn't you? Wasn't lucky?” “It wasn't luck,” Abigail answered solemnly, “I prayed for it.” Peter felt troubled. “But daughter,” he said, “we don't pray God for material gifts. We pray to Him for spiritual gifts, like faith and loving kindness.” Abigail put her hand el and I have decided I must have lost 1% while I was the barrel. Will you please return it at one=? Hoping you amnd your family find the barrel to suit and have a Merry Xmas. Yours Sincerely, (Mrs. George) GLORIANNA HESS, was over. Peter's heart lurched up in his throat. He trembled for Abigail, He called Clorinda and consulted with her in the attic. “There’s nothing to do but tell the child* Clorinda said. “Do you suppose if I wrote Mrs. Hess and told hahowlhnmwhflthib——"l‘emu- eebly, “You never lost a ring!” Abigail wailed. Peter took her hand and smoothed the bee reaved fingers. “I'll tell you a secret,” he said. . Some- times we'll nod to each other—slowly—like this —and that will show we're still trusting.” Abigail promised. She liked a bargain and a special, secret sign. She even helped to do up the ring in a box, and she handed it to the rural free delivery next day. In a week there came another letter from Mrs. Hess wanting to know why she had not received the ring. “I asked you to send it tm- mediately,” she k and questioned the rural free delivery. That imperturhbhmnldlnhndmuledtherh‘ himself at the Eureka post office.