Page 31 - Among the camps, or, Young people's stories of the war

V L

A L L that day the tongues of the little ones at Hoily Hill
had been clattering unceasingly of the expected visit
of Santa Claus that night. Mrs. Stafford had tried to
explain to Charlie and Evelyn that jt would be impossible for

him to bring1 them their presents this year ; but she was met
with the undeniable and unanswerable statement that their
father had promised them. Before going to bed they had
hung lheir stockings on the mantelpiece right in front of the
chimney, so that Santa Claus would be sure to see them.
T h e mother had broken down over Evelyn's prayer, u not

to forget my papa, and not to forget my dolly," and her tears
fell silently after the little ones were asleep, as she put
the finishing touches to the liny gray uniform for Charlie.
She was thinking not only of the children's disappointment,

but of the absence of him on whose promise they had so
securely relied, He had been away now for a year, and
she had had no word of him for many weeks, Where
was he? W as he dead or aSlve? Mrs, Stafford sank, on
her knees by the bedside.
" O God, give me faith like this little child ! " she prayed

again and again. She was startled by hearing a step on the
front portico and a knock at the door. Bob, who was work-