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THE GOOD FELLOWS' CHRISTMAS EVE
119
A MERRY CHRISTMAS INDEED
fatherly arms, where, to the delight of his unsympathetic friends, it continued to howl vigorously.
"Watch the father manage it — see the expert do it — guess mamma tends to his babies all right," were the heartless comments.
Meanwhile, Crocker was examining a card which was attached to the basket. On it was written, in a fine, feminine hand, "This little girl is a Christmas gift to some lonely home."
"Look here," he exclaimed, suddenly; "that's my Christmas gift. Give her to me. Do you see this card?" He held it up into the glare of the overhanging light, where they all could read it. "Where's a lonelier home than mine?" he demanded.
Something in his sobered the joking handed the baby to with one of those freaks of infancy, she promptly ceased her wails and snuggled contentedly against his rough coat, putting up a tiny hand to pull at the gray moustache.
"There!" said Crocker, "that settles it."
"But, man alive," expostulated
earnest tone
men. Hale
Crocker, and,
unexplainable
Peabody, "what can you do with a baby girl? You cant take care of her."
"I have a big house — I have servants — I have money," replied Crocker, firmly. "Money will buy care and attention for her, as it does for me. But money cant buy love for me, nor for her. Perhaps, if I accept my Christmas gift, it will mean love both for the little girl and for myself."
"What's happened to Crocker?" breathed Peabody, under his breath, as the men stood in silent wonderment. But Hale, who knew the witchery of baby fingers, understood.
"Three cheers for Crocker and his Christmas gift ! " he shouted. ' ' Come on home, and let him put her to bed. It 's bad for her to be out so late. ' '
So they said good-night to Crocker, while the babe, snuggled cozily against his shoulder, shook a tiny hand at them. Then they marched
away down lustily :
the avenue, singing
For he's a jolly good fellow, For he's a jolly good fellow, For he's a jolly good fellow, And he's got his Christmas gift!
Crocker stood on the steps, listening, and looking down at the babe, her long lashes drooping drowsily now.
ITS A BABY
I"
CRIED HALE