Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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' Mrl Midgely sat in "Oh, dear/' she sighed, "I haven't the heart to tidy the house or even myself. To think of Christmas only three weeks away, and not one gift for the children ?nd nr> hnno of srettinfi: any. I am glad they are at school; I can at least have a good cry!" Just as she was getting out her handkerchief preparatory to enjoying this nnnsnal luxury she heard the postman's step on the porch. Habit forced her to gulp back the tears and go to the door. He handed her several letters, all of which she recognized as bills, with the exception of one, which bore the handwriting of her sister Judith. "Anne, dear," she wrote, "at last I can visit you, and shall be with you in a few days." "Oh, dear! Oh, dear I To think of Judith visiting us at a time like this, when we can hardly manage, with the high cost of living, to set the table, let alone having a holiday time!" , Mrs. Midgely indulged in the desired cxy, then, realizing there was much to be done, she dried her eyes, and with the relief that the shedding of tears Became a Great Help to Judith. gave her, she started in to put the house in order. MAt least well be clean," she said to herself, as she made broom and duster fly about. Some months before this time Henry Midgely had lost his position as bookkeeper on account of the failure of the firm for which he worked. They had had no idea of impending conditions and were almost staggered by the blow. The Midgelys had four growing children and every month had lived up to the salary. Mr. Midgely had just found another position. When Anne wrote home she did not tell her family of their loss, and she bravely set herself the task of making np for the months when debts had accumulated. Christmas! That was the hard part. Nothing for the children! They had had such jolly rimes before, with presents for everyone. Now she had more work than eve? to do and less time for making present^, even if she had the money with which to buy material. "I shall have to tell Judith," she said to her husband that night, when they were seated by the lamp and the children were in bed, "how sorry we are that we cannot make her visit a pleasant one." "It is too bad," said he. "Judith is such a slave to your father, looking / after his every whim and never thinking of herself. I wish she had a home of her own. I always planned to give . her a really good time whenever she \ should make that long-deferred visit." Judith arrived, her face shining with I happiness. "As last I am heret Are you quite well, Anne?" "Oh, yes, dear.** Mrs. Midgely's voice had a strange note in It Judith looked up quickly. "You don't look well, Anne. What is the matter?" Poor Anne let the floodgates of her tears open and told Judith her troubles. "It's only that we don't want you to have a stupid time, Judith." j "Never mind about me," answered Judith. "I am wildly happy just to be here with you alL But I am glad you told me." The children were delighted to have their aunt with them. They had often visited the pleasant old white house that had been their mother's home, and it was a happy party that surrounded the tiinner table that night. Mrs. Midgeiy, too, almost forgot to be worried as she smiled at her sister's high spirits. Next ^Morning after Judith had kissed the four children as tiwy iefr tor school, she turned to her sister and "Anne, dear, we must take an inventory of stock and see what we can make for the kidlets for Christmas." ; "There is nothing," said Anne. "We'll find something!" determinedly answered Judith. "You can make things out of comparatively nothing," laughed Anne. !"but you can't make them out of absolutely nothing." ! "Yes, we can! HI send for my yarns and knit a cap and mittens for each child. They are using bright colors and combinations of colors. In 'that wa# we can use your left-over iyarns, too. We'll have plenty without buying any more, and I knit rapidly. I've done lots of this work for the Red Cross." She made looms with empty spools and pins, from which each child helped jto make a round string which they TTT/vfiroii nn nrM moments. Thev were to be sewed on the mittens. No more hunting for the "other mitten." The 'children were entertained with the idea [of being useful and of helping Aunt iJudith. The sisters looked up discarded dolls ,and sewed up legs and arms, painted the faces and restored the hair. En,tire outfits of clothes that could be taken off and put on were made from tbits of cloth found in the scrap bag, and they crocheted lace enough for the ;trimming. These were for the two lit:tle girls, Martha and Peggy, aged fsev* ?n and nine. How to make eleven-year-old Ralph [happy with left-overs was the problem. (Then Judith remembered that years [ago she had been the recipient of a istamp book which she had not used. She wrote her father for it, and then Invested in some mixed stamps for Ralph to make a beginning with. A few new puzzles and toys from the ten-cent store made a goodly array of bright things for Tommy, who was the youngest cnna. "Now for the dinner," said Judith. "Let's not try to have the usual Christmas dinner, but think up something different" "I did so want to ask Mr. and Mrs. Lambert," sighed Anne. "They came from England several years ago, and jare so alone at Christmas time. I had Jioped to have them, but of course I cannot do it this year." "That gives me the very idea, Anne. We'll invite them and surprise them with a regular English dinner?roast :beef, Yorkshire pudding and gravy, and have roly-poly pudding for dessert." The days flew by with the sisters as busy as bees. Anne was never happier in all her life. She had not time for repining, and found that by simply making the best of everything she had no real troubles at all. Henry, too, caught the spirit of hope, and remarked to his wife: "It won't be long until we have made up for lost time, and I like my new position better than the old one, because it has more of a future to it" The Lamberts were delighted with the invitation, as they were expecting a lonely day, far away from Merrie England. ; One day, when Judith came in from shopping, Anne met her with the news: : "A nephew, John Leigh, has surprised the Lamberts. He has seen service In France, and is sent here by the British government on a -mission to Washington. He has a week's vacation and has come to spend it with them. I insisted that he come to our Christmas dinner, and they are all going to call tonight." ' "How interesting" exclaimed Judith. "Perhaps he can advise me about my Red Cross work." Everyone was delighted to meet Hie handsome young soldier and eager to hear stories of "over there" from one who knew. John became a great help to Judith with her plans for the children's Christmas and her Red Cross work. In fact, he thought of so many things that he came to the Midgely's at least once a day and every evening. He trimmed the tree while Judith made the simple things to adorn It One evening Mrs. Midgely remarked to her husband: "I never saw a young man so interested in children." He looked up from his paper in amused surprise. "My dear, do you really think he is interested only in the children?" "John, you don't mean Judith?" "Certainly. It has been evident from the first." Christmas arrived?a glorious day, with snow on the ground. The cbil.dren had hung up their stockings. Into the bottom of each had been placed the bright new cap and mittens, and a gay bag of candy on top, while the other gifts were grouped about the tree. After the successful dinner was eaten they spent the evening in singing carols. John had a good tenor voice and Judith accompanied him on the piano. Then he sang military songs he had learned in the trenches. The guests took their departure, vowing it the happiest Christmas of all. Mrs. Midgely turned to her sister. "Only think, Judith, I was afraid you would have a dull time. The children have missed nothing, and you have been an angel of mercy V* "Happiness has nothing to do with the possession of things," smiled Judith ; "it is all a state of mind. And? John and I will have something to tell you tomorrow, when he leaves for the front" His Day, 1 presume you had a great time Christmas, Willie?" "No. I didn't have so much fun Christmas day, bat I did the day after." "Were you sick on Christmas?" "Nope. But you see the d*y after Christmas pa had to go to work and [ got a chance to play with all my ioya then." i Sam THE SUCCESSFUL BUSIFESS MAN uses the commercial bank extensively. Business could not exist without it. If you're not WW jjf X a client of ours there are many mrm jl \ U reasons why you should be. \Lx| II S Our bank not only affords a safe \ Of\ X place for your money, but pays ? \ >.^A I | interest as well. Let us ex- \ 8 I plain our methods to you. I Enterprise Bank I 5 Per Cent. Interest Paid on <1?fittitrmffwi?iutt?hitih?11 ii -i iHTmiTrr-iri i THIS "PRUDENT"YOUNG MAN BANKED 1 I HIS MONEY AND BECAME A PARTNER I | ? Such a thing as not "having a chance" is. all BOSH. Every man has a chance if he will only TAKE the chance. Older men with lots of MONEY are looking for younger men with a little money whom they would like to take into PARTNERSHIP. Nothing can hold down a man with CHARACTER and money. BANKING your money will build your character. Do it and have BOTH. - BANK WITH US. We pay four per cent, interest, compounded quarterly on savings deposits ? ? ? i .nil I Farmers & Merchants JBank | BHRHARDT, S. C. 1 | ffftVO LAMPS IP ' M| This lamp scientifically constructed, I , gives kerosene light at its best?can't I raS strain the eyes. Simply designed? gJjU always dependable?inexpensive. - ? t The Rayo does not smell or smone; ? W is easy to light, clean and rewick. jj Aladdin Security Oil gives best results. Your N dealer will gladly show you the Rayo Lamp. B STANDARD OIL COMPANY J 1 (New Jersey) Jl Baltimore. Md. Jj Washington, D. C. Charlotte, N. C. i| Norfolk, Va. Charleston, W. Va. I Richmond, Va. Charleston, S. C. Remember our "Everready" bat- The 0u{nlne That Does Not Affect the Heed tery service when your flash light Because of its tonic and laxative effect, LAXATIVE BROMO QUININE is better than ordinary needs a new bulb or battery. Faulk- Quinine and does not cause nervousness nor t-,, , , _ . ~ , ringing in head. Remember the full name and ner-Electric Service Co.?adv. iooic for the signature of E. w. grove. 30c. Just Arrived t \ V We have just received three car loads of mules and Sirses from the ^ Western markets. These animals ^ were personally selected by our Mr. yy W. P. Jones, and they are in the pink of condition. They are now to be seen at our stables. Don't fail to .' 1 I see them before you buy. Jones Bros. * J EAILEQAD AVENUE BAMBERG, S. C. ' i ? I^Tliin^s toVfearzA Let the little ones have their Christmas fun. This will make you happy. We have the Christmas goods and Christmas gifts for all of your family and your friends. ^ Just come in and see what we have and you will find everything you need * and desire. Our name on a package means that there is something good inside and we give you lots for little money. H. C. Folk Co. I BAMBERG, S. C. p, I BUY W. S. S. BUY W. S. a W and Help and Help ' WIN THE WAR WIN THE WAR I x ? "V l ( ' '* ' /.-'Si ||BHnBBggnHHHHHH I Trotting If I Horses I 9 The last of the present week I will -9 It 9 % receive another shipment of mules 9 and horses. In this lot there are a 9 9 number* of fast trotting horses, and 9 S will be in the pink of condition, and H H I want you to call around and take |H H a look at them. If you appreciate H J S good stock, you ought to see these. 9 S My prices on these mules and horses M 9 are right, and if you are in the mar- H ket for a mule or a horse, we can H ^ H get together. H j H H I I J. J. Smoak I $ A