That Strange Christmas.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 1, 2 January 1937, Page 4 (Supplement)

That Strange Christmas.

By Audrey Drummond.

MISS KLSPETH GREENING listened grimly to the happy chatter cf her three nieces and one nephew for several minutes before she interrupted their conversation. "1 hare decided," she announced, "that yon children do not celebrate Christmas in the right spirit. You think nothing of the holy side, but just of what present* you will give and receive, and so. consequently, at Christmas this time I am going to allow no gift-giving or receiving. Instead I will present yon each with a copy of an excellent book, which will enable you to see the serious side of this festivity.'* "Oh, auntie—" Pauline stopped swinging on the balcony rail to eye her aunt in dismay. "Not any presents?* "But well have Christmas dinner, won't we*" Rex scarcely worried over the gift part, because he rea soned that, as auntie never gave them decent things, the food side of the question was much more important. "No. Rex! Ido not see any sense in letting yon children over-eat yourself with bilious food." As she went back along the verandah three worried pains of eyes watched her despairingly. "These dreadful fads of auntie's are getting worse and worse. Ido wish mother and dad would come back from India," Pauline remarked, longingly. "Never mind, Paul! She's going to give us a book anyway," comforted Jonette, who was a real bookworm, and was now curled up on the bottom step reading a comic. "O-oh yes!" cut in Rex, gloomily. "Probably 'The Life of Little Annie Angel' or 'Darling Davie Goea to Heaven.'" "And I sav" Pauline's face became even more sober; "what about Blossom? She's not old enough to read, and every night she's been asking Santa Clan* in her prayers to bring her the doll out of Connings' window." "Perhaps he wilL" Jonette** quaint little smile was hopeful.

"Remember, Pauline, how he brought all those toys to the Gannings, because they were too poor to buy any?" "Yes, but hell never come here, 'cos with auntie one of the richest people in the neighbourhood, he'd never guess we weren't going to get heaps of presents. I know what we can do, though. If we take all our pocket money from our moneyboxes, without letting auntie know, we'd have just enough to get Blossom the doll ourselves. 0

Jonettc agreed instantly, and after a little pondering Rex gave in also. Nothing more was said about Chrietinas, and Miss Elspeth was agreeably surprised with the way in which the children took the change. On Christmas Eve Paulina and Jonette visited Connings' and smuggled the coveted doll home safely. Whatever happened little curlyhaired, four-year-old Blossom waa to receive her desire. Christmas Day dawned bright and clear, and the children rose early according to custom. Blossom waa wildly excited with the doll which she discovered on the chair beside her bed, and even if Jonette, who had gone to bed cherishing a half hope that somehow Santa Claus would hear of their position, had been disappointed to find only an uninteresting book beside her, she hid the fact bravely.

Even when the people next door showed them their piles of toys, Pauline replied sweetly "that niiiitlo didn't feel It right for thetn to hang up their stockings this year, but next time it would be different." At breakfast they were a strangely subdued party until cook suddenly appeared with a miniature lucky stocking for each of the children, of whom she had grown very fond. Then Jonette horrified everyone by bursting into tears, and by the time she was comforted Pauline was weeping, and even Rex was snuffling. Blossom alone was calm, but then she was occupied in getting a small breakfast ready for ths doll she had brought with her. Miss Elspeth was mildly shocked to find the children so heart-broken over the, to her, trifling change, and mentally decided to abandon the religious sermon, bristling with morals, that she had composed for their benefit. Shamefacedly she remembered how, long ago, she had used to look forward to opening her stocking. Desperately she began wondering what she could do at such short notice to make the plain meals she had planned for the day more elaborate, when a car drew up outside. Curiously they all looked up, and then there was a squeal, and Jonette went flying across the room with the others in close pursuit. Mother and dad had come home at last. "It doesn't matter now about presents," Pauline said at length. "Presents ?" echoed mother. "Didn't Santa Clans call?" Three eager-tongued children told her, and Miss Elspeth listened shamedly as. she heard how the children had bought their baby sister a doll, that she at least might believe in Christmas. * . "Oh!" said daddy when they had finished. "That accounts why Santa Claus came and spoke to me. He said he mightn't be able to call last night, and so, for safety, left a lot of things for us to bring you. Let's go and get them out of the car!" There was an immediate rush, and out of a magic box came dolls, a clockwork train, teasete, aeroplanes, in fact, everything a child would want. "And now," said when the treasures had been sorted out and claimed, "we've got some lovely hampers packed with fruit salad, and chocolate, and sausage rolls and things—you know the xind, and we're going to take them to the beach with us for a picnic." "Oh!" said everyone ecstatically, and they were soon all speeding seawards, arras full of wonderful toys, while Blossom cuddled her beloved doll happily. The strange Christmas was thankfully banished.