Port Huron High School - Student Yearbook (Port Huron, MI)

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for Christmas Day, which they had decided was to be a real gala day for them, in spite of the lack of the usual Christmas festivities, had entirely disappeared by the time the whistle blew. It was with weary dragging feet and a heavy, discour- aged heart that she pinned her thin coat closely around the neck and fastened her old-fashioned hat firmly to her heavy brown braids. The snapping frosty air partially revived her and she started to walk briskly toward home. It was just about fifteen minutes before the time when the street lights would be turned on, and people of all classes were hurrying to and fro on their individual business. A great many seemed to be going in a direction opposite to our little mother, and this was observed by her shortly. They were all talking ex- citedly about something, too. A scrap of conversation of a couple of children she had just passed floated to her on the wind. It was just a few words, but they caused her hopes to take one mad bound. She paused for one second, then wheeled around and retraced her steps, her speed increasing to almost a run. In a few moments she arrived at her destination, which was the wharf. Sure enough she had heard rightly for there was a great white ship, with the American stars and stripes floating ma- jestically above it, lying peacefully in the harbor. All was bustle and confusion about it. The wharf was lined with peo- ple, mostly poor women and children in the same hard straits as she, all with anxious, expectant and interested faces. She easily ascertained from the drift of the conversation that it was an American ship, carrying on board a cargo of good things for the stricken and impoverished families, in charge of a peace party come to do as much good for the poor and needy homes as possible. All day the massive steamer had been unloading its cargo into the hands of little children and grateful women. Our anxious mother fell in line and it was not long before her turn approached. She presented a very remarkable as well as attractive appearance to the benevolent looking lady distributor. Her hair had become loosened and was floating 28

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it is only to be looked at by little boys, whose papas are not fighting for their country. The eager face dropped at the sisters solemn words and the tears were only prevented from appearing by the sympa- thetic squeeze of Jenny ' s hand. So lie took one last lingering look and walked away manfully with his hand clasped tightly in that of his sister. That night at bed-time hour, the whole trouble was breathed into the mother’s attentive ear, causing her heart to ache. It was only because she possessed that fortitude credited to our greatest fighters, that she had had the strength to be patient and kind thru all her troubles, for there was not only t he struggle to make ends meet on her small wages, but her heart went out to the young husband, fighting so bravely for their country, and there was never a moment but that she feared to receive that fateful notice which has come into so many homes to bring a great sadness there. Her bravery stood her in good stead now, for it took a hero’s strength to reconcile the children and smilingly and cheerfully answer: “We ' ll just dream about the horse this year, and imagine it to be ours, and we’ll be just as happy as if we really truly had it.” The children had finally gone peacefully to sleep after listening to the mother’s story about a kind fairy and two faithful good children, who were very happy in spite of being poor, and the mother knelt down before her crucifix and pray- ed earnestly and fervently to God for strength and patience and for preservation in her trials. Comforted by a feeling of new strength, the little woman slept soundly and peacefully thruout the night. The two weeks before Christmas passed as quickly as usual and the night before Christmas had arrived. Mrs. At- kins had had a very hard day at the factory, the noise of the machinery and the general confusion, together with the men- tal strain she was enduring had caused a slight headache and the anticipation which she had experienced early that morn- ing when she and the children had planned out their program 27

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in little curls and tendrils about her eager, appealing face, colored rosy pink by her exertion and the refreshing wind. The distributor listened compassionately to her pathetic tale and with a motherly glance and a reassuring word she filled her arms brim full of things both for comfort and pleasure. What all there was Mrs. Atkins did not surmise, but with ar- dent thanks expressed both by word of mouth and by the deep blue eyes she turned and almost fied. So great was her haste that she arrived home shortly, completely out of breath. Leaving her bundles with an old lady in the same tene- ment. she hastened up the stairs. The children met her joy- fully at the door. The anticipation of the morning had stayed with the children and in accordance with it they had decorat- ed the little home with some old time tinsel and holly dug out from mother’s trunk which made it particularly attractive looking. They listened with beaming faces to the mother’s enraptured exclamations of surprise as she discovered each improvement. She rewarded the thoughtful young people by implanting a hearty kiss on their rosy mouths. After supper they finished the decorating together and tired, yet so unexpectedly happy, the mother put the children in their little white beds. For the first time in weeks she en- joyed a satisfied and easy feeling, especially when Tommy ut- tered his final prayer to Santa Claus at her side as a finale to his evening prayer. Soon the children were sleeping soundly, but sleep would not come to the mother’s excited eyes. Lying there, she heard the even breathing of the children, and notic- ing that Jenny’s breathing was interrupted ever and anon by a little stifled sob, she rose and comfortingly kissed the sleep- ing child, while she thanked God for the Christmas ship which would bring such a glad surprise to her patient and faithful little girl. Early the next morning she was awake. Quickly getting her bundles from down stairs, she hastily built a fire and busily untied and arranged the various articles, which were as great a surprise to her as she knew they would be to the children. She retired again, and feigning sleep waited developments. 29