wee-non “
S “was 33 to 48
/.
.. -.' ._~ ._ .
fé‘é'flfiwr '- -- « '2
3:33-33??? "‘ 3
fl”. ‘ .,‘
l shipping: in
HP - l‘-.. ‘x‘ and tux-{11‘
. - ,
'3 i .- "l iw- road in
I
, . - - lill‘i..'>"' tr iii ”2':
try-liq“, Refill-up-
tv.” Jane-E:-
4r .l‘lr‘l'l" Annette
:: llll“ Iiiwividip-
it’l'l‘ cirl “a."
. lire Sunni-nth
tutti ~illl3“. Mil]
ni'li l'vr tvvt.
.i...l up thw snow
ii .i‘. utilivvut mun
" ; .nvnr ’l'l'."3
u: "it, sit lizli lr‘lt_‘k
iii-i bride"-
11..) it Lilli:
...,}.
it}
:t‘ .v
she
ih‘ ’il
.l-Mu
‘.- l
\1"'l"-.\"ll'l“'7". “ho
“PM”; mum
IV l""ll‘~lill_‘,’ She
._ ~ ~ llll‘o of the
. ii f‘lp‘flk with
yr -. Hair, night '4’
.| y- |.
o
i
.
i
i
x
l
l
l
"Ki Wilson in this.
' hm “#159
3'“ '. .1”!
:i' i
‘svh “f... l
i
‘of for
him to catch.
In spite of. his coaxing barks and
Whirl": cw-rytiniu that ho. was disap-
pointed. for along time Head-up-in-
theouir did not. pay any attention to
him.
She was much too busy thinking
and planning—planning for Tudor's
Christmae.
All day llnad-up-indhmalr
{tit very sorry that Christmas is not
for dogs as well as for children. She
had thought perhaps that. dogs kept
a Christmas or their own. But. Auntie
Annntt said that. Christmas to dogs
is no diffvrr‘nt thnn any other day——
that, the}: do not. even Know it.
tlrziniii‘iitlivr loll] brir not. to mind.
that viury time that Tudor dreamed
tracks and rabbit holes it
gave him as much my as Christmas
dues to children. and that probably
bu Would drt‘nm of fox tracks on the
snow this Christmas Eve. Mother
too told l-lcad-up-in-thO-air not to
mind; she said that she would give
”1,. l Tudor an extra large bone.
‘ Still lliiad-up-in-the—air felt badly. '
3...“, rm” 3 Sim «lid not like to think of Tudor:
.. .m H..- which isliut up in the woodshcnl with mm a
.. .
I'lirtltrtms I:"i‘.‘~
= a litlrl‘b.
lillilkln.‘
Trv'r‘
“3.8 not
;lto was
\ Ildlzl‘.
.i" \"7IR
"i :‘i z is
‘.r;'_ sit--
. "9 7?: it
w o. tl‘m prusnnts
i
“u, 3 bone While she was lumping Christ
mas in tho little white church. If
-l_ hecoui-l only run loose in the snow
and have a trnltc with otht‘l' dogs.
and 5 But. he couldn't do this: for when-
.nvor all the family lvft the farm.
l Mother shut Tudor in the Woodshcd. 5 C1595 0" “0‘-
l
She did this because whenever
.. v. H thinking of 1 Tudor could slip away without help
.ilwr—anl Tunlor's
,.‘ .. i'i’l'i. know this
.: wl'v “wad—tip-
‘ i-~ i it.
lii'l lulpmit‘l-l.
. m. “1.13.; winter days
":i'i-ir that tht‘y were
ill the snow.
.m l‘.";ll‘an distance
“ll-‘0 Head-upda-
"’l'uviiir Makcpesm
:yr Mnknpcucc Thurs-
_i:,i mcr again. because
‘ ml that. whenever the
' :mo mums and kept
i .1 hi": tom}. [fine-rail};
----- rtnni thing happened.
1 twin: in the snow
" poi for today. and
7- i'wr had hrounht a
. m Mir: village. and
".“ in: Sitting in u
v'\'-T‘i.: fur thv'm.
always had this
filakwpntt‘m When
.- farm to live.
,. 'l'uilor because
‘l‘ - it“. i-xg black letters
i.a.t¢‘r when he
i troulugrhuggy
' g. Grandfather
viifi'crt‘iit mid-
_¢-
t i
a. l ‘.ir:-: do: that
. .' 1- limit up :1. lot of
iti‘uliw‘: lit; had the
i' dogs is he an; {.1-
“ W‘H'u lilinn lune. He
J - 'r licnvy tread a: if
. . '1 ills! t‘r-r’t. and he
a i' l< null forth. this
. l' .1." l.’ he was keep-
2' l"' it make peace
in
,.; always came
v: iwivl scolded him.
1 "W4! i‘ZII'K and. forth.
. .t', 'm:ill.v swinging
vm .iiwl Handing there
'o.‘ im‘il lit“. was pelted
"ilH is Why Grantl-
‘ii "to mid'iio name of
.5 ; o my his whole name
.‘leI'pt‘ut'n Thurston.
li»|i;‘l-in-lh“.-8|r likud
lurnr numrs 1030!?!-
Mili‘l.’ inom one after
in minim! him for
"‘lzil she had called
Thurston! Tudor
vii-Noni mhvn she
~ :x-nnt door. still she
vi “nth him. bho Just
iskipm‘d in the snow
‘1: amps between when
i .Im'ii: tho sleigh track
i-l lu-nt down as if she
‘ ‘. unruly.
‘» :~n ’l‘udnr caught
‘5- J 1-,. :--".vu\‘ up in hi! mouth
31 .. . run dirnctly in {rout of
Lift" 4 r. en" didn‘t. pay any at-
to him. Every
‘ Ni 1-1 skip. Tudor start—
lwr‘uum- he thought
i din that she was going
' I Lint. luxury time that
1 “WHO snow into balls.
'mc alwad of her and sat
“ ‘2‘ down in the snow. his
1 'm. his dripping pink
mm: out of the side of his
‘wm paws wide spurt.
' . :ump {or the snowball
Wight she would throw for
i rm
l
l
i
W... “1th him. up . indhe- air. or all
hr almost i sneaked along behind the stone wall?
had“, i and brakes in the meadows or on the
l
i
l
l
l
i
been, he followed whoever happened
to be going down to the village—
Whether Father or Mother. Gran-l.-
father. Auntichnnetm or Head-up
of them. He
hillside and did not come to them
until he got clear into the Village
Then'they could never send him
home. until whoever he had followed
was ready to go too. Often on Sun-
day night. when Mother and Aun-
tie—Annette and Held-upoiu-the-air
can: out. of church they found him
curled up on the church steps wait-
ing for them,
Lately. ever since he and a village
dog had such a fierce quarrel that
some men had to separate chem.
Mother and shut him in the wood—
shed whenever the whole family
went away. Head-up-in-thedlir felt
certain that this would happen to-
night. Even though Grandfather
w uldu't. mind and Mother had
p mined him an extra large gone.
Head-up-m-tho-alr felt that she
couldn‘t be happy with Tudor shut
up in a dark woodchcd on Christmas
~Et‘o, 1‘
Perhaps the fairies had something
ito do with her feeling this way. In-
deorl everyone who understood fairies
had had a. hand in the special thing
that, hpppened this Christmas Eve.
It. is quite certain that they Sent
a message to Head-up-in-tlic-air
“'hll". she was hopping and‘sk‘pping
in the sun)“. Fairies have Sl‘tfclfll
ways of sending messages. Some—
times they send them by a breeze;
sometimes by}. sunset. cloud: and
sometimrs by still magic dais or
nights. Today was one of the fairies
still magic kind.
Everything was magic.- The sky
was its deepest darkest blue with-
out a speck of cloud; The sun was
so bright. and gold. that it shone on
the s w in millions of sparkles.
Wise oplc say that those sparkles
are the glitter of fairies dancing
shoes. and that. they are always a
sign of a. fairies' revel. Today they
were the sign that the fairies were
keeping Christmas. They glittcred
so brightly and in so €2.13? min—
how colors that whenever Head-up-
ln-thc air Jookcd away from them
she. saw queer. black spots ‘on the
snow.
The greatest magic of all was the
hush hung over the broad valley.
It. hung over the hills too. They
ware so White and cold and still.
and the shadows were so long and
black that they seemed filled with
secrets.
The Day was holding its bmath
waiting for Christmas.
said that. the fairies sent a message
to Hend—up-in-the-air‘ through
stillness and magic.
a. long limo With the stops bet-ween
head. and Tudor jumped for them
streak circling through thi-
had .
And it is
its
Anyway it. is certain that soc got
a message from somewhere. tor n.2-
rter she‘ had hopped and skipped for
when she stood thinking deeply. all
at once she picked up some snow
and called "l'udor Makpeace Thurs.
so fast that he looked like a, who;
a .
Sometimes he jumped. u soon as
.‘~ .k .- L
i f
r
l
Head-up-ln-tbc-alr threw the balls.
Then he did not catch them because
coming down. But when no waited
until they started to come own and
then jumped. he almost always
, caught. them and snapped his .eeth
(shut through them sharply. send-
ting the snow flying in all direc-
llOllfi.
. It is quite certain that Tudor got.
it messes; too. for several times his
our was turned wrong-side out so
that the pink undershirt showed.
And this as you know, was. always
a. sure sign that ho was getting a.
message from the fairies.
.til the rest of tho a‘ternoon
He:id-iip~in-thc-air's eyes Wzrc- big
and bright. with a. mysterious light
in them as if thry held a wonderful
snot-ct. '
; . I‘ll”. did not talk much.
E0 3 Even when Mother wound
7.3.“)? her hair lock by lock
Ir." around strips of cloth. then
tied the strips "ghtly so
that, little knobs stuck out all over
her humid. she divl not say that. Md-
lilv‘l' pulled. Sh». Just. looked
wraiglit ahead of her with that
' mysterious light in Tit-r eyes 1 Lid (fluff
’not: scent to care whether her hair
gwus waved for the Christmas rxer-
Later while Father and Mother
and Grandfather Were out. to the
barn milking. and while Aur tie-An-
Uelte was in the parlor doing up
Christmas packages with white tis—
isue paper and red ribbon. Hen-Lup-
in-tlie-air climbed into a. chair and
took down a folded paper bag from
the' top shelf where Mother kept
them piled neatly. Then she went
to fie largo dish of Christmas can-
dles which Father had bought for
her and filled a small bag from l'.’
After that. she sat data?!) at Ft-
ther‘s desk in the dining-room and
wrote something on a. narrow slip
of white paper which the tied fast
to the bag of candy with red rl'nbun.
Then she hurried to the hall. and
hid the bag of candy in her anufl.
After supper there was much
mantle in the low white farmhouse;
Everyone was getting ready for the
Christmas Tree exercises in the lit‘
tle white church.
It was a‘ special Christmas bustle.
All over the world the bustle in
homes on Christmas Eve in diaer—
ent. from that of any other taught
the year. This is because there is
a. bus in it which wraps itself
around every Word and every laugh
and every bit. of hurrying. Fairies
call it the Bush of \‘Vonder.
On this one night Christmas Eve
line everyday bars to hearing drops
magically and the everyday webs
over the eyes are brushed aside. This
is done by the power of Great. Love
which is always everywhere in the
center of things—in every crack and
corner—and Just at everybody-s el-
bow. But it is only no Christmas.
Him that it becomes so strong and
ipowertul that all eyes are lit with
the shine of it. '
At. Christmas time fairy magic is
used entirely to open eyes and hearts
to this Love.
When everyone. wrapped in big
coats and furs etood waiting for
Father and Mother to turn out the
lights and shut off the stoves. and
Head-up-in-the—air slipped out into
the woodshed for a. second. no one
was surprised; .
Hvad-up-in-the—air always slipped
out into the woodshed to sat! a. last
good-bye to Tudor. They thought
nothing of it. .
But. the fairies did. When Father
and Mother. Grandfather. Auntie-
Annette and Bead-up-in-tbe-ur
started briskly down the still white
country road behind Major and Mol-
ly and iingling sleigh bells. manyof
the smaller faries, gave one another
a joyful nudge. then settled them-
selves to keep a close watch.
The night was filled with the
flush of Wonder too.
moon rode alone in the sky exec
for two or three bright stars are
to the tops of the hills. And he
Broad Valley was so light and white.
and so still that. it. seemed to be
holding its breath for some‘wondor-
ful reason.
Father and‘Motber. Grandfather.
AunilevAnnetto and Head-up-tn-the-
air rode swiftly along the still white
road with, no rounds at all except
ton!" '"I‘udor ,Weo Thaw Major's and Molly’- foot crunching
ton!" over and over again. the snow and the sleigh bells jing-
Head-up-in-thc-air threw the ling their same merry muffler and
snowballs twice higher than her over again like or refrain. , "Dram
fairy soon cuycred their «accounts
with a. sparkling frlnpimnd‘stuug
their cheeks aharplr.‘ I!" thy they
sat. hunched over with ' the robe:
A. hlsh. cold,
pulled way around them. Alter.-
cept. Head-up-in-tbe-air who turned
he could not are where they wereqmound in the sell: and looked back
several times in spite ‘0! Mother's
telling’her not: to.
What. she saw, all the watching
fairies saw too. And the Frost fairy
kept sending sharper stings into the
air and Grandfather hurried Major
and Molly a little faster. And none
but Head-up-in—the-alr looked back.
If they had they would haVe seen
something close to the stone wall.
and ktlplng well behind them.
“‘hen Major and Molly drew up
before the little white church many
people were coming to the Christina:
exercises although it was not. time
for them to begin yet. A black line
of them. from up, the road and down
the road and out of the side streets.
and from up the road and down the
road. jingling bells and sleigh loads
of bundled people whirling into the
village behind trotting horses.
Inside the little white church
everything was shining. Headeup-iu-
the-air wont immediately into the
lecture room which was separated
from the mainfiiart of the church by
sliding glass doors. Here the Sun-
day School was gathered With
teachers wfifinrffiffire temp
begin the Christmas march.
My! “flint alfcxcited buzzing: Onn
hundred little boys and girls form-
into lines. And very crooked. bulg-
ing lines. for of course no child can
keep still on Christmas Eve. The
boys jostling against the boys next
to them and stepping on one an-
others toes, the girls smoothing out
their ‘dreues and shaking back their
hair. ‘
Many of the little girls were
dressed in white with long sashes.
but not. all. Here and there in the
lines were little girls in dark blues
and red and in bright plaids. The
boys. ‘of course. were in their best
suit: but looked just as boys do ex-
cept for new unwrinkloy ties. pol-
ished shoc- anmsbmlnx meet
nm.'np-ln-tho~ai¢c wore n. white
china sill: dress which was so thin
that Mother had made her wear two
coats over it.
Hesd-up-in-thé—alr moved up the
line till she stood next to Theo who
was dressed in white too and whose
heat? dark hair hung around her
face like a rich dark curtain while
Headvup-in-the-sir's looked like a
tine-spun web with the light shining
through it. .
Ono after another boys and girls
kept leaving the line and peeping
through a. hole in one of the glass
doors into the main part of the
church. Headvup-ln-the-alr left the
line too to look through this hole.
Every Christmas-Eve since she could
remember. boys and girls had gotten
their first peep at the lighted Christ-
mas Tree through this little hole in
the glass door.
And she did tonight: It stood at
the right. of the pulpit trimmed with
tinsel and strings of pop corn and
shining with so many candles that it
seemed as it a. lot of stars had come
down just to keepChristmas in the
little white church. It was so tail
that the tip of. it brushed against
the ceiling of the little white church.
and its branches were so heavy
with presents that; the lowest ones
brushed against the floor.
Ropes of evergreen were strung
in loops across the church from the
cast window Just on the other side of
the Christmas Tree to the west win—
dow at the other side of the choir.
In the center of a loop of evergreen
and just over the pulpit hung a. large
gold Christmas star. Eead~up~ln-
thew knew that it was really paste-
board coverchwith gilt: paper. but
it looked very like a. star.
Many people. fathers and 'mothers
and uncles and aunts and cousins.
were already in the pews. smiling
and nodding and chatting to one
another. Some who were just: com—
ing in gave packages to ushegs who
took them up and piled them under
the .Chrlstmas Tree.
~ This made Head—up-in-the-ail'
think of the ‘bag of candy in her
muff which she had almost forgotten
in her excitement at seeing the Tree.
She jumped back from the hole in
the gin. door. ran to her muff in
them room. then out into tbe‘hul.’
with be: bag 0: may to John. the
‘sa‘ton. one of her favorite friends:
She pulled him our so that. she
could make him- hear. for he was a
Mg‘tlll man. ' ‘
‘Tbo'n ib'o'whlsperod very fast and
(actual: fortquito a few minutes.
Finally John bean to and his. head.
Mine laughed brace arts-loamy
detain his throat.» Thou sometime
in; of candy and carried 'lt up the
Its
ffi
. stain to the Tree. Will the m.
.
4 I
r
l"
'r‘
.
r
I
u I’
it was about if it: had not been Christ-
mas Eve and John. But John was
always smiling anyway. .
Head-up-tn-the-nlr just got back to
her place beside Theo when the or-
gan began to play "Earl: the Herald
Angels Sing" and the one hundred
buzzing children began to fall into
straighter lines. Then—-a bush——
and they ’an began singing. the choir
in the main part of the church and
the whole Sunday School in the lec-
ture room. As they began singing
the one hundred children began
marching up the aisle of the church
toward the lighted Christmas Tree.
past the altar and down the other
alslc. round and round the church
ltill on the last vex-st of the song they
marched into the three front pews
and seated themselves. the smallest
ones in front seats with their feet
dangling and swinging. Hoad-iip~in~
the-air and Theo sat in the second
row.
6
He minister opened the ex-
ercises with a. Christmas
., . Prayer. and read St. Luke‘s
it..." story of the birth of Christ.
Then the Sunday School
Superintendent announced that the
ghildrg giving Sunday School would
entertain the congregation. And then
began the songs and pieces with a.
couple of grown-up solos and a duet
by members of the choir mixed in.
One after another as their names
were called they fluttered or wriggled
out of their seats according to
whether they were girls or boys. and
slipped up to the platform behind
the altar rail. just. below the pulpit.
Head—im-ln-the-alr's piece was one
with five other little girls. Each of
them had six lines to speak about
keeping Christmas in different lands.
Hend-np—lnvthe-air had never spoken
a. piece before. She would always
rather play a game of pretending
than to speak I. piece. But unis
Christmas Eve she decided that she
would like to speak just. to see boy?
it med.
She liked it very much better than
she had thought she would. She
said the at: lines quickly and easily
and wondered all the time why she
had thought that she might mind it.
Afterwards Mother said that Head—
up-in-the-ur had done very well if
only she had not. rolled her eyes and
bobbed her head around. all the time
that. she was on the platform. Mother
said that most little boys and girls
looked straight ahead of them when
they were. speaking or ng. She
did not? know that Head— p-in—the-
air was trying to pick out eople in
the audience that she knew.
As the exercises began to finish.
the children began to get restless.
Head-np-in-the-air was as excited as
the rest. During the last speaking
exercise she and Theo did not listen
at all. They were too busy talking
about Tudor and Tudor's Christmas.
“'hen the choir and Sunday School
and everyone in the pews stood up to
sing the closing song. Head-tip-ln—
the-air slipped down the aisle to the
hall where John. the sexton. winked
and nodded to her. Then she hur-
ried through the lecture room and
opened the outside lecture room
door.
And there—on the top step—just
as she had planned. stretched out
with his nose squeezed down be-
tween his paws and his hair spark-
ling with frost—mas Tudor. waiting
as he had waited many other: nights
for the services to be over.
. As ‘50 as Head—up-ln-the-air
whispered ‘Herc. Tudor" he jumped
up and bounded into the lecture
room. He would probably have
Jumped against Head-up-in-the-air
many times and'would have barked
shorband loud as he generally did
when he was pleased. if he had not
caught hold. of his collar and said
“Hush!" in a. loud whisper. W’hen
she did this he came in very quietly.
his ears drooping as if he knew that
there must. be some secret which he
did not. quite understand. ‘
, waup-inythe-air took him di-
rectly to the dark corner under the
cloak room books. than she made a
little imaginary circle with her finger
on the floor and said. "Tudor. lie
don-n in this.” and Tudor curled
himself up into such a. small ball
flatnhe fitted. into the (little imagin-
ary circle. -
This 'was one of their favorite
games. If Hend-up-lnctke-air had
made aglarge imaginary‘ circle and
fluid. "Tudor. no dm‘ in this" Tudor
would have spread himself out to at
it. She wasverygl’adtonlght that
she had caught Tudor to curl film-
sslf lupin-W circles. especial-
.ly- in such a mull one’xor now‘ he
was 7, out of sight under a
lull coat. which, has (W3 above
1“. might “Wilma! want ”in.
‘ .
lwas very fat too and he wore, a. big.
.church. he called out “Merry Christ-
4 r
I
4}
I
r
/
Y
hen Bead-up-in-the-alr got
back to her place in the
third row beetle Theo the
closing song was over, and
everyone was sitting up
straight in their seats. their faces
turned toward the west side of the
church—listening. All the faces.
grown—ups and children's were lit up
brightly as if many stars had sudden-
ly come into them too. What they;
heard was sleigh bells jingling faint-
ly. then coming nearer and nearer
until they were very near. Then the
window just at the side of the
Christmas-Tree was shoved up sud—
denly. and Santa Claus sprang into
the church will) a bulky pack on his
back.
He was a funny fat Santa Claus—
not quite like the picture books made
him look. but something. His face
was broader and longer and redder
and whiter than ordinary faces. His
heard was longer and whiter than
won the oldest man's in the little
village or in the Broad Valley. He
brown (or coat and a fur cap such as
.he farmers in the Broad Valley wear
pm the village in winter. and. he had
.1 string of sleigh bells slung over his
shoulder which jingled every time
thwalrrheezagxei
The minute that he was inside til:
mas" in a gruff hearty tone.
Many of the children shouted
“Merry Christi‘ias" back to him.
Some 0'; them even stood up in the
pews. but two or three of the
smallest ones Were afraid. Orr. lit-
tle girl left the front row . id ran
and hid her face in her mother's
lap. ..
\R‘hen Santa Claus called. for
some boys and girls to com.) and
help him give out the Christmas
presents. many hands shot We
diately into the air. So many that
the Sunday School Supetintradcnt
finally called oi! the names of the
children who were to help. head-
...up-in-tho-ai:\an§ Theo were racing
the first to go up on the platform.
Then the fun began! rants.
Claus started it. by taking the first
present off the tree. It was a large
drum with a. bright red card :or a
handle. and. he called the arm of
a little boy whfllved way back in
one of the mountain hoilowx and
who now sat in a. pew with his
mother. How he jumped to his
feet. and how his eyes shone:
Everything kept getting brighter
and noiser and happier as morn and
more people got. their presents. The
Sunday School Supexintendent and
several grown-up members of the
Sunday School helped Santa Claus
take the presents off the tree and
called out the names on them.
Then Head-up-ln-the-alr and Theo
and the rest of the helpers took the
presents back to the pews where
the people were sitting.
There were many dolls for many
little girls. There were born; and
rocking horses and engines for the
boys—and a splendid largo sled with
everyone wondering who would get
it- There were many necktie; and
handkerchiefs for both grown-ups
and children. and many wrapped-up
parcels for grown-ups.
Both Head-up-in-the—air and Theo
got many things on the tree. Head-
upLin-L‘n’e-air got several books that
she wanted—a. doll—a. picture—a
bottle of perfume and several wrap-
pod-up packages. As fast as she
got them she took them to {other
to keep for her. She was too ex-
cited to even open the wrapped-up
packages. for all the time she was
thinking of the bag of candy which
John had hidden behide the Sun-
day School basket of oranges
When the houghs of the
lighted Christmas Tree began to
look empty and green again, and
when Santa Claus and the Sunday
School Superintendent began giving
out. the last presents excépt the oas-
ket of oranges for the whole Sun-
day School which was always the
very last thing. Head-up ln—the-air's
heart began to pound very fast and
she kept trying to swallow tin. big
lump which had suddenly come into
her throat.
Now was the time for the won-
derful plan! But somehow tweed
of feeling glad. and eager t~ begin.
she felt queer and slim. For a
few minutes she felt that she could
not po'ibly so on with ‘6 before
this churchful of people. Than she
thought of Tudor curled up in the
little imaginary circle out in the
cloak room—and Tudor‘s Christ-
lmas.
\Vithout giving herself time to
feel more scared. she snatched the
bag of candy from its lain; place
behind the basket: of orangcsga‘nd
big
be smiling.
3'5
form. Then she read the name on
the slip of paper. high and loud and
fast over and over again;
“Tudor Makeponce Thurston!
Tudor Makepeace Thurston! Tudor
Makepeace Thurston!” 7
Mother started forward in the
pew. Father and Auntie-Ansel“
looked quickly at one another. and
Grandfather's eyes began to iwln<
kle.
Then again—higher and bringing
out the last word harder than the
rest. Head-up-in-the—alr 'cad again.
“Tudor Makepeace Thom! ‘udor
Makepeace Tuurston! Tudor Make-
peace Thurston!”
Suddenly a ripple went. through
the back pews of the chu-ch. ,which
were near the hall door, and people
sitting in them began to cram their
necks and whisper excitedly to one
another. For there in the Itenth
aisle, not paying any attenticn to
the watching people around him.
and not acting as if it ware a: all
strange for him to be ‘n church.
stood Tudor—his head held high—-
his ears pricked uplistenmg.
As Head-up-in-the-m’r started
again. “Tudor Makepeace Thurston!
Tudor—~" people all over the church
wmtl aVWIhnrt Qarp bykand,g! ; ,
streak of yellow flashing up the aisle.
Before they could catch their breath
in their surprise and wonder there
was Tudor jumping against Head-up
-in‘-the-a.ir. and wagging his tail.
against the green branches of the
Christmas Tree.
My! What a murmur ran through
that churchful of people. and when
Headeup-ln-the~air said. “Tudor.
down." and Tudor sat down and took
the bag of candy in his mouth. a.
murmur burst into a gay excited
buzzing. Of .Qurse. it was loudest
and longest and highest in the three
rows where the Sunday School chil.
dren sat.
The whole one hundred of them
suddenly let loose 3. din of laughs
and notion. A dog in- church! A dog
coming for his Christmas present!
Whoever board of such a thing?
The grown-ups were almost as
noisy. They didn’t act like grown-
ups at. all. Several deep. hearty.
men's laughs came from several
parts of the church. and everywhere
there were smiles and brighter faces
and much buzzing, and much nod-
ding of heads.
All during this exciting buzzing.
Tudor walked back and forth on the
platform with the bag of candy in
his mouth. swinging his hips back
and forth. this way and that. as if
he were keeping Lime to music.
Swinging against Santa Claus. then
against Head-up-in-the-air. and
make the little noise which was a
whine and a. growl and a. cry all
rolled up together. and which was
his special way of saying that be ex-
pected to be petted. Of course every
one potted him, the children who
distributed the presents. and (S—
pecially—Santa Claus.
When Head—updn-tbe—air finally
took hold of his collar and led him
down to the pew where Father and
Mother and Auntie-Annette were sit-
ting. Tudor was so glad to see them
that be dropped the bag of candy in
Mother's lap, began whining much
longer and longer, and squemd way
in the pew where he could put his
nose on Father's knee. Of course
Mother and Auntie-Annette petted
him too. and Father even stroked
his head and said. "Well. old fellow.
did you get; a Christmas present?“
before he said. “There. that will do
now. lie down: he still", as Father
always does say when Tudor gets
very noisy. Not one of them scolded
Head-up-in-the-alr for letting him
out of. the woodshed.
Head-up-tn-tho—air was very hap-
py. The ride home behind Major
and Molly and jingiing sleigh bells.
with Tudor first behind. then along-
side. then ahead, was much more
magic than the ride down. ’ Now
Tudor had his Christmas present!
And all the Broad Valley seemed to
The moonlight seem-2d
brighter and clearer and nearer. The
whitei‘enow on the meadows steamed
with the glitter of millions of fair-
ies' dancing shoes—and the patches
of ice on the hillside gleaned like
special shining miles. There glis-
tening patches of ice were probably
the fairies special triumphant smiles.
for wise people in 'the Broad Valle-v
say that globes of ice gleaming on
a. hillside either in mnllght or in
rmooulight are a sure sign that the
fairies are rejoicing. —
And of course the fairies were re-
joicing tonight. All because Head-up
—ln-the-a.ir had caught their mes-
sage when she was hopping and
skipping in the snow. and a collie
dog had gone to the Christmas Ev.
iburriod to the auto: 01 the 33k;
mohahtboW-vhflochnrch.
l
l
1
at
.‘us
fwjly. I
-. l .
aim-f» lamb i...
1
.‘h.
Norwalk Chronicler