Marjories New Friend | Page 5

were as
good as new.
A barrel was packed full of clothing, mostly outgrown by the Maynard
children, but containing, also, new warm caps, wraps and underwear
for the little Simpsons.
Well, all the things together made a fair wagon-load, and when Mr.
Maynard returned home about two o'clock that afternoon, he saw the

well-filled and evergreen trimmed wagon on the drive, only waiting for
his coming to have the horse put to its shafts.
"Hello, Maynard maids and men!" he cried, as he came in, laden with
bundles, and found the children bustling about, getting ready to go.
"Oh, Father," exclaimed Kitty, "you do look so Santa Claus-y! What's
in all those packages?"
"Mostly surprises for you to-morrow, Miss Curiosity; so you can
scarcely expect to see in them now."
"I do love a bundly Christmas," said Marjorie. "I think half the fun is
tying things up with holly ribbons, and sticking sprigs of holly in the
knots."
"Well, are we all aboard now for the Simpsons?" asked her father, as he
deposited his burdens in safe places.
"Yes, we'll get our hats, and start at once; come on, Kitty," and
Marjorie danced away, drawing her slower sister along with her.
Nurse Nannie soon had little Rosamond ready, and the tot looked like a
big snowball in her fleecy white coat and hood, and white leggings.
"Me go to Simpson's," she cried, in great excitement, and then Mrs.
Maynard appeared, and they all crowded into the roomy station-wagon
that could be made, at a pinch, to hold them all. James drove them, and
Thomas followed with the wagon-load of gifts.
The visit was a total surprise to the Simpson family, and when the
Maynards knocked vigorously at the shaky old door, half a dozen little
faces looked wonderingly from the windows.
"What is it?" said Mrs. Simpson, coming to the door, with a baby in her
arms, and other small children clinging to her dress.
"Merry Christmas!" cried Midget and King, who were ahead of the
others. But the cry of "Merry Christmas" was repeated by all the

Maynards, until an answering smile appeared on the faces of the
Simpson family and most of them spoke up with a "Merry Christmas to
you, too."
"We've brought you some Christmas cheer," said Mr. Maynard, as the
whole six of them went in, thereby greatly crowding the small room
where they were received. "Mr. Simpson is not well, yet, I understand."
"No, sir," said Mrs. Simpson. "They do say he'll be in the hospital for a
month yet, and it's all I can do to keep the youngsters alive, let alone
gettin' Christmas fixin's for 'em."
"That's what we thought," said Mr. Maynard, pleasantly; "and so my
wife and children are bringing you some goodies to make a real
Christmas feast for your little ones."
"Lord bless you, sir," said Mrs. Simpson, as the tears came to her eyes.
"I didn't know how much I was missin' all the Christmas feelin', till I
see you all come along, with your 'Merry Christmas,' and your
evergreen trimmin's."
"Yes," said Mrs. Maynard, gently, "at this season, we should all have
the 'Christmas feeling,' and though I'm sorry your husband can't be with
you, I hope you and the children will have a happy day."
"What you got for us?" whispered a little Simpson, who was patting
Mrs. Maynard's muff.
"Well, we'll soon show you." said Mr. Maynard, overhearing the child.
Then he opened the door and bade his two men bring in the things.
So James and Thomas brought them in, box after box and basket after
basket, until the Simpsons were well-nigh speechless at the sight.
"How kin we pay for it, Ma?" said one of the boys, who was getting old
enough to know what lack of funds meant.
"You're not to pay for it, my boy," said Mr. Maynard, "except by

having a jolly, happy day to-morrow, and enjoying all the good things
you find in these baskets." Then the Maynard children unwrapped some
of the pretty things they had made, and gave them to the little
Simpsons.
One little girl of about six received a doll with a cry of rapture, and
held it close to her, as if she had never had a doll before. Then suddenly
she said, "No, I'll give it to sister, she never had a doll. I did have one
once, but a bad boy stole it."
"You're an unselfish little dear," cried Marjorie; "and here's another
doll for you. There's one for each of you girls."
As there were four girls, this caused four outbursts of joy, and when
Marjorie and Kitty saw the way the little girls loved the dollies, they
felt more than repaid for the trouble it had been to dress them. The