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

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Tommy was the first to waken and after rubbing the sleep from his eyes, and carefully noting that his mother and sister were still sleeping, he quietly and very cautiously, for lie did not want them to know that he was expecting and hop- ing for a better Christmas than they had anticipated, stole out of bed. One survey of the living room, then one triumphant yell and one bound toward the table piled high with joyous things, on which was standing a straight little tree bidding him a very Merry Christmas, were the result. Seizing a horse, hitched to a little red wagon to which was tied a card with “For Tommy,” and tumbling all over himself for joy he ex- citedly rushed into his mother’s room. Awakened by his noise, both Jenny and her mother were sitting up in bed, Jenny wide-eyed and wondering. “There, didn ' t I just tell you Santy wouldn’t forget me, when I had been so good. I knew him, I did. Just see my horse. It ' s got a mane and tail and its legs will move and it ' s got a harness and a little wagon and and ” Tommy stopped for lack of breath. While the mother, with apparently very great surprise was examining the horse for one second, for that was all the time Tommy could be parted from it. Jenny quietly slipped out of bed and entered the other room. Alt ho her surprise and joy were as great as Tommy ' s they were not so noisy. Clasping her hands fer- vently, she surveyed the whole. Her quick eyes soon found the object of her desires and with careful fingers she picked up a box containing a minia- ture set of dishes and ran to her mother. Her deep joy could not be expressed in mere words. After breakfast everything was inspected and they found that besides the toys and some nuts and cookies there were mittens and stockings and warm scarfs as well as other use- ful things to gladden their hearts. Among the packages, a little card was found bearing the words, “From the American Christmas Ship.” Then mother explained how she had heard that a Christmas ship was to take St. Nick’s place this year and that was the reason they were having such a very merry 30

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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

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Christmas. Jenny ' s face, which was now beaming with joy, suddenly became sober, “Mother, it would be the happiest Christmas ever, wouldn’t it, if our dear daddy were here too.” The mother sighed and so did Tommy, but while they were quietly thinking about their daddy, away out in the trenches without any Christmas, a heavy tread was heard and in answer to a knock, the door was flung open and there stood their father, clad in his soldier’s uniform. “Daddy” gasped both the children as they were clasped in his arms. A flood of questions poured forth, but before they were answered he pressed his little wife to him and in one fond embrace she realized that it was worth the parting to meet again. The father’s appearance was easily explained. The feel- ing of Christmas had so possesed both friend and foe that a Christmas truce had been declared. Finally after hours of pleasant conversation, in which all their troubles and happi- ness were poured into the father’s ear, the little mother was alone with her husband and after quietly explaining how their Merry Christmas came about, they bowed their heads and the master voiced their thoughts: “God bless our brothers across the sea, And may their fate ever happy be, F 7 or the happiness that they have brought To those in the most pitiful lot.” —MARGUERITE MAY, ’17. Teacher (pointing to map) — “What is this, Willie?” Willie — “A dirty finger.” It’s the cutest little thing. Got the cutest little swing, “Jesse’s walk.” Hope Phillips — “If the tea leaves does the coffee have grounds for divorce?” Francis Scott — “Yes, if the teaspoons.” 31