Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 43, Number 345, 21 December 1918 — Page 12

AQK TWO

THE RICHMOND PALLADIUM. DECEMBER 21, 1918

Back Horn for Christmas With the war over, and so many ot the soldiers coming home tor Christmas, everyone is busy prepar

ing for a real Christmas. In the

"homes and in the camps, there is

.the excitement and anticipation of seeing friends and : home-folks

Again. , . .V;vv' . , 8uch was the case at Camp Tay

lor, Kentucky. Elmer 3haver had

been given a furlough, the first he

bad had for three months. Before, tt would have been a joyful occasion, but now he had no place that he could call home, for on his last furlough he had gone home on account of the death of his mother. There were no other very close relatives oh, he had some second cousins somewhere, but he had no Idea where they were living now. "Supposing I go home," he said to himself, "where would I spend Christmas!" . After a few days, Elmer, though still uncertain of a welcome and a Jestinatlon, bought a ticket and (warded a train for home. Some of the other boys were on the train at first, but soon they had all reached the towns where they were going to, and Elmer was left ilone. "Rushville, Rushville!" called the conductor and Elmer saw there ere several people waiting to get on the train. , As they boarded the train, who io you think Elmer saw? It was one of his friends from his own

home town. "Hy, Tom, come over here and sit down! What are you doing tiere?" Thomas Holt rushed to the seat beside Elmer and soon the boys were happily telling each other their experiences. "You asked me where I was going," Tom said, "I am on my way home for a furlough." Then the conductor called "Richmond." .. l Tom's father and mother and sjster were in the station, waiting for him, and soon they had greeted sach other and had left hurriedly in the direction of home. Not having any special place to go, Elmer sat down in the waiting room to wait awhile. Soon he saw an old couple coming toward him. "Howdydoo," said the old man. "Howdydoo," replied Elmer tipping his hat. "Fine weather we are having." "Yes. sir, splendid." "Where are - you from?" questioned the man. . "I have been at Camp Taylor and am home on a furlough," Elmer replied. "I suppose you are waiting for some one," continued the man. But the woman said nothing. . Then Elmer explained , how he came home on his furlough, but really had no home to go to, so was just waiting around a little while. "Did you, did you," the man began, "ever meet a man by the name of Philip Danford while you were at Camp Taylor?" - Elmer roused himself at this. "Well, I should say so. He and I were In the same company. He died' about two months ago, had the "flu." "Yes, he was our son," slowly answered the man. "He was? He was certainly a fine fellow ! " spoke up Elmer, quickly. "Say," said the man after a short

Christmas With the Mountain Children

Ellen and Harry Beeson were two Httle children who lived on a farm among the mountains. Ellen was four, Harry was two. When Christmas was coming, Mrs. Beeson was so sad to ttiink that she had no Christmas gifts for her darlings. They were far away from their dear friends and relations, and had no Christmas tree to look forward to. I don't think that Santa Claus knew the way up to those wild mountains. The children were not sad, however, for their cousin, Eleanor White, who is spending the winter with them, plays and romps with them merrily, and this makes them happy. The day before Christmas, Mrs. Beeson went to town to get some presents for her children. She bought a geranium and a linum and carried it with

great care. She met a kind lady who gave her an orange. 'Of course the plants, which grew in pots, could not get into the stosftings, but that didn't matter. The children were as pleased with them as if the stockings were filled with beautiful presents. Eleanor took the linum, Ellen the geranium and Harry the orange. The linum was covered with yellow buds and they bloomed beautifully the da yafter Christmas. The children were very careful of their plants. They kept them in the parlor. When the end of the year came, Mrs. Beeson had a pretty present for Ellen and Eleanor. It came by mail. It was a nice book. I think every 6ne can guess it a Bible. Dorothy M. Johnson, White School, Seventh year.

Private Martin's " Christmas Present On Christmas Eve Private John Martin of Company B, 23d Infantry, American Foices in France, was standing nt bis post on the firing line. He had gone over the top four times in the last week. He was alroriy now to go over again. Finally the order came and the brave men went over with a shout This time the company camo tack with only eighty-five men. John did not report. The line held against several counter attacks and the men were all accounted for but one. This was John. Out lying beside a shattered tree was the man who carried an important message. He was seriously Injured him. A Red Cross dog had found him. In a hospital behind the lines a doctor and several nurses were working with a body. At last he showed signs of . returning consciousness. He awoke with a start. "Americans!"-he cried, "Ah, my papers." He sank back with a sigh of relief. "Your papers are safe," said tho doctor. The next morning the C- O. (Commanding Officer) came into tho ward. He walked straight to one bed. He took a chair and pushed it up close to the bed. The C. O. took a paper out of his pocket and read: "Private John Martin is awarded the Croix de Guerre and is given a two months' furlough. The time of the furlough is from the day he gets well enough to travel." "Thank you, sir." The officer pinned the cross on the soldier. "Sir," said John. "I have been thinking, this is Christmas and I have received no presents from anyone. But this is the best I could have received."

silence, "if you haven't anywhere to go Christmas, why not let's both get together? Come to our home to spend the day. Will you?" "Yes, won't you come?" This time it was the woman who spoke. "Well, yes thank you I shall be very glad to come. That will be fine." , "It's settled then," said the man. "Come to 310 North Eleventh street next Wednesday. We will be looking for you." Chirstmas morning found Elmer Shaver starting at an early hour for North Eleventh street. Finding the number given him, he went up to

the door and rang the bell vigorously. Mr. Sanford greeted Elmer warmly.

"Good morning, come right In

and make yourself at home. Give

me your coat and hat.

Mrs. Sanford came in and gave him another very warm welcome

and then went out to the kitchen

to see about the dinner.

It was about one o'clock when she came in again and announced that dinner was ready. And such a dinner as they had. There was

roast chicken, dressing, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce and everything that's good to eat.

So they had a wonderful dinner

and a long happy afternon and Christmas was much hapiper for Christmas was much happier for

the Sanfords had imagined it could

be.

Jack: "Grandpa, we've been ar

guing whether the clock stands or

sits on the mantel.

Grandpa: "It is half-past by the

clock and it is only a quarter to eight, therefore I should say it lies on the mantel." Boys Life.

I heard the bells on Christmas day Their old familiar carols play; And wild and sweet The words repeat

Of peace on earth, good-will to men.

The first circus took place at Lambeth, England, about the year 1770, under the direction of Philip Astley, a discharged English sol

dier. It consisted chiefly of an exhibition of fine horsemanship.

The first message that passed over the Atlantic cable was sent in 1866 and was the announcement of peace between Prussia and Auatri- . . .. ...

RUTH ANN'S CHRISTMAS In a little town lived a little girl named . Ruth Ann. Ruth Ann was six years old and was poor. She had brown eyes and auburn hair. Ruth Ann's mother told her that Santa Claus could not come this year because they were so poor. Ruth Ann said that she was not going to cry about it because Santa Claus would be sure to come next year. One day Ruth Ann was on the street when she found a little girl crying because she was lost. Ruth Ann asked where she lived, and the little girl told her. So Ruth Ann took her home. When 6he reached the little girl's home, Ruth Ann found that she was rich. The litUe girl's father and mother liked Ruth Ann and they told her that they would see that Santa Claus would get to Ruth Ann's house for Christmas. They also told her that when her parents needed anything, they should come to them, because they were so thankful that Ruth Ann had brought their little girl home. So when Christmas came, Santa Claus came to Ruth Ann's house and brought her a kimono, house slippers, doll, doll cab, two dresses and lots of toys. Santa Claus brought her parents some money. Ever after that Santa Claus came to Ruth Ann's house every Christmas day; and Ruth Ann kept on doing kind things for people all the time. Mary Louise Dillon, Age 7 years. 3d Grade, St Mary's School. At Christmas, play and make good cheer, For Christmas comes but once a . year.

People will can you a "lucky fel

low" when won cease to expect

Two Little Girls Traded Their Carls With no kindergarten to attend, Betty Ann and Susie Lou, next door neighbors, play every day together. Their dolls reverse all precedents in their ability to experience and survive repeated attacks of the "flu." They have it daily, but nursing becomes tiresome and one day they were rather hastily put to bed with ice packs and hot water bottles, while Betty Ann and Susie Lou fell to work with paste and scissors. Picture pasting, too. grows tiresome, but the vanity of woman begins early and is thereafter unfailing. It wa3 so with Betty Ann and Susie Lou. "Say." said Betty Ann, "le's twade curls." "How twade?" asks Susie Lou. "Why, cut 'em off," said Betty Ann, "and paste yours on me and mine on you." At first Susie Lou demurred, but the temptation was great. She had always admired Betty Ann's dark curls, the color of chestnuts when the burrs are open and the sun is shining on them. But she hadn't admired Betty's curls and more than Betty had admired hers, exactly the color of molasses candy, tirelessly pulled, and so carefully made they looked as if little springs were hidden inside. . The bargain was made. "Now let's paste 'em back again," said Betty Ann cheerfully, pointing to the handy mucilage. By lunch time the mucilage was dry, and two small maids, half pleased, half worried, were seated beside their respective tables. "Well, anyway," philosophized Betty Ann's father, after he had heard all about it that night "only the glue came from the drug store."

anything from luck, when you plan