That Christmas Day

Southland Times, Issue 21581, 19 December 1931, Page 18

That Christmas Day

Margaret Anita Loyal raised her beautiful tear-dimmed eyes to heaven and sent up a fervent prayer of thanks to God. It was Christmas Day and well might Margaret remember it. Her long, dark curls lay in a thick mass round her small, sweet face. Such a beautiful face; one that had borne, sorrow and suffering well. Her large dark brown eyes shaded with silken lashes were filled with tears not of sorrow or regret but of happiness. How well she could remember this day a year ago when she was a helpless cripple. She had been a cripple for sixteen years until . . . .She smiled sweetly as she gazed down upon a more youthful form at her side. Her sister, Grace, taU for her thirteen years, was deliciously slim and pretty. “What’s up, Sis?” Grace sprang to her sister’s side in concern. “Nothing dearest. I was only thinking—thinking of this day a year ago when I —’’ “Yes, yes,” Grace nodded understandingly. ‘You were wonderful Margaret to me. God gave you strength to do what you did. ’Twas a day like this,” Grace murmured dreamily. "You were lying on the couch here with a bunch of red, red roses in your lap and remember how a beautiful very dark red one nestled loveingly in your hair. A big tree of purple rhododendrons was in the background while the bees were humming happily and only a slight breeze ruffled the queenly feelings of the lupins at your side. That day your cheeks were a delicate shade of pink and the scent of many blooming flowers made our small world a very dreamy one. I can dimly remember you now, vainly trying so hard to get up and walk for you often tried until—” ‘Yes,” Margaret continued her sweet face alight with unusual colour. “You had often been told not to go into Brown’s paddock to get me flowers when that ferocious bull was put there, my dear, and I can still hear the angry bellow he gave—your frightened scream and my new strength.” Margaret slipped to the ground and placed a slim white arm round Grace’s trembling figure while both clasped one another dearly as Margaret added, "That Christmas Day was the greatest day of my life and always will I give praise to Him who created all.” —Cousin Betty McDonald (15), 71 Conon Street, Invercargill.