Ethel Morton's Holidays

s. Emerson's offer of her car to bring Katharine from Hoboken. It was a pleasant custom of the family to regard any guests as belonging not to one or anot

cky was added for good measure. It was a sharp day and the Rosemont group were rosy with cold when they reached the station and lined themselve

e explained when she had greeted the Ethels, whom she knew

reach Staten Island where her friends lived and

ccustomed to meeting many people, but she was an only child and being plunged into a big family, all chattering at onc

our car?"

" replied Ethel Brown. "She

car in cold weather. My gr

e in any kind of car," re

ug for Katharine," directed

de a remark that seemed to reflect upon the comfort of

y," commented Roger dryly. "This car would make about three Fords-though I don't

head at him, and he su

spools and

Ford and the s

tirely at ease. They found themselves wondering whether their guest would find her room to her liking and they remembered u

eat fun, and were more than willing to endure the discomfort of crowded quarters for the sake of having the long-desired visit. Now, however, Ethel Brown murmured to Ethel Blue as they went into the house, "I'm

ith new sight. It had seemed pleasant and bright to her in the morning when she and Ethel Brown had added some last touches to the fresh muslin equipment of the bureau, but now she

ured hopefully, but in her heart of

y of space. She unpacked her trunk and hung up her clothes with care and neatness which the Ethels admired. Ordinarily they would have praised her frankly for doing well what they sometimes failed to d

wn, "but if she did that we'd have to do some of h

ence never had placed her in a comparatively small town like Rosemont or Glen Point where people took a friendly interest in each other and in community institutions. S

everal hours and lunched with James and Margaret at the Hancocks'. The rest of the Mortons and Katharine took over the parcels in the early afternoon in the car and arr

gh to hold a goodly crowd of observers. The choirs of all the churches had volunteered their services for the occasio

new hope in her face; a pickpocket took his hand out of his neighbor's bag that had opened like magic under his practised touch. Babies stretched out their arms to the glitter; grown men stared silently with unaccustomed tears wetting their eyes. The school childre

t watchers of the tree's resplendent glory were found by the patrolling policeman gazin

hastily, for they were due at the Glen Point orphanage soon after seven so that all might be in order for the door

er than necessary," the President insisted, and Tom added his usual exhortation, "Run the thing along briskly; don't let it drag

can they?" laughed Ethel Brown. "The Club has never done anything ye

them again-my chant, any way

harm," Ethel Brown y

portant for it was to be used as the forward deck. Because in the days of its youth it had been used in the dining room of the smaller children it was lower than an ordinary

on from Roger who had asked his grandfather to give it to him for his Christmas gift and had requested that he might have it in time for him to lend it to the Jason. It was run

fastened to the end of the table-along the deck, past the chairs and across their end. The cloth was raised a trifle ab

fessed Roger, "but any intelligent person wou

piled high with wooden boxes and parcels of good size. The members of the U. S. C. were gathered beside the ship. When all had entered Hele

r. Tonight we are going to pretend that we are all sailing on the Jason to carry the gifts to Europe. We've all got to help-every one of u

ructions he mounted the chair from which Helen descended. Two under officers were chosen in the same way, and the Eth

ficers standing, one on the deck and the others on the two chairs, and the sailors manning the rail. Everybody was beginning to enjoy the game by this time, and the faces that looked out over the gray c

Look out there; don't get in the way of the ropes," and he pushed the crow

kerchief! Wave it!" she directed the children near her, who fell into

while the ship is crossing t

paralleled swiftness they were told that now they were not Americans any longer; they were English people at Devonport

es," said Helen, "and a set of sorters and a set o

by arm bands each marked LONGSHOREMAN. Then she called for girls for the other two detac

over on its face, made a sloping gangpla

en on the pier who will take them over to the sorters. You," he called to the girls, "you stay at that side of the room and open these large parcels when they are brought to you, and you read what it says on the packages and make two pile

l that the distribution of gifts had been made by chance. The parcels bearin

she said to Helen in an undertone. "Look at t

de," said Della. "He's right about the charm of those little

lves fastened together by a cord; and rubber balls covered with crocheting to make them softer; dolls, small and inexpensive, bu

id Margaret, "but I'm not going to suggest sewing to these youngsters w

ored and flowered paper, for James had outdone himself in developi

dren as they looked about them and saw evidences of the success of th

she said. "I can't thank you enou

ved Katharine. "I'm so

party reached home, but Mrs. Morto

een in bed for hours and he's preparing to get up long before dawn, so we all mig

Katharine," cried the Ethels. "We have Santa Cl