4 ACORN Jennie's Christmas Gift "Tomorrow is Christmas," sighed Jennie as she pulled her chair closer to the small heating stove in her room. She was an orphan, and for three years had worked hard and had earned only enough to make a scanty living. Tonight she was sitting there holding fifty-two cents, the savings of many weeks' work, in her hand. "I think I will go down town and get me a big Christmas dinner tomorrow. Let's see, that will take a quarter, she continued, "and I'll have a box of candy a real one, too, all my very own." Her face beamed with pleasure. Jennie jumped up, pulled a large cape around her shoulders and ran out into the street. A cold north wind blew the snow into her face. Everybody on the street seemed to be in as great a hurry as she. The throng of busy shoppers moved rapidly, but cautiously along the slippery snow-covered sidewalks. Vehicles of every description traveled back and forth through the deep snow as noiselessly as sleighs. As Jennie neared the intersection of Thirteenth and Elm streets she noticed a small gray figure bent and feeble, making slowly its way through the snow into the brighter illuminated street. Jennie stopped and discerned the figure to be that of an old lady, so taking her by the hand she said cheerfully, "Good evening, Grandma, what has brought you out on such a stormy night?" "Ah," sighed the old lady, "would that I were young and strong again, like you. There is no place in the world for me, but to wander about the streets unnoticed and alone. The heart of the young girl was touched. "Never mind, Grandma, come with me and I will take you to my home. It is not much of a home. You see, I am a working girl and can't afford any better." Jennie cheered the old lady by her conversation until they arrived at home. She placed her solitary chair close to the stove which was yet warm and told the old lady to sit down. Without stopping to see if her new companion was comfortably seated, Jennie hurried from the house again. This time her thoughts were not about that box of candy or even the good dinner which she had planned for the day. During her absence the old lady fell asleep and dreamed of her happy girlhood days. The fire burned low, the room became cold, and the old lady awoke just as Jennie, with her arms full of bundles, rushed into the room. Her heart was light and she was exceedingly happy with the anticipation of a delightful celebration. Christmas morning dawned bright and clear. Jennie arose early, built a fire and hastily prepared breakfast. The meal was not sumptuous, but was one which was remembered long afterwards. That afternoon Mrs. Bennett told Jennie how, a few years ago, ACORN 5 she had been very happy at home with her children, "but now," she continued, "they have all grown up and left me. I guess they have forgotten that somewhere there is an old mother waiting for them. The new friends spent such a delightful Christmas together that Jennie decided to share her room with the old Mrs. Bennett as long as she wished to stay. After they had retired that night, Jennie lay awake for some time. "I wonder what has made me so happy today?" she thought. Then she remembered having heard her mother say, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." TAD, '16. Jim's Christmas It was a bitter cold December evening. It had been snowing all day, but had ceased as evening closed in and a cold east wind blew the snow into little drifts on the sidewalk. "Paper, Mister, Paper?" shouted Jim, the waif, as he was called. But no one seemed to pay any attention to him. Jim's chief means of support was selling papers and "smashing baggage" or he would not have been out on such a night as this. Jim's poor success that afternoon had made him feel very sad. 'Just think," he said to himself, as he counted his pennies, "only fifteen cents towards a Christmas dinner." "Suddenly his countenance beamed; it portrayed a very handsome face, with curls strewn, carelessly across its forehead. "I'll make up a big event to get rid of the rest of these papers," he thought, "then I bet they'll sell like hot cakes." Paper, mister? All about the assassination of Woody Wilson!" he exclaimed as he ran toward a man. "Yes, give me three papers," said the man, tossing him a quarter, "you needn't bother about the change." Jim handed him the papers, caught the coin and dashed down a side street into the next block. Here he sold his entire stock. With ten cents of his money he pur-chased two oranges for his mother, and started home. "I wish poor mother didn't have to work so hard," he murmured. "If I could only get decent employment, I would soon have that mortgage paid off." Their home had been mortgaged by the father before he died, leaving them nearly penniless. Both Jim and his mother had to work very hard to keep the interest on the mortgage paid. As Jim proceeded down a poorly lighted avenue, he heard a cry for help. At first he was temporarily paralyzed; but after he regained his presence of mind he rushed along the dark alley way in the direction from which he heard the cry. As he ran around the corner of a fence he was startled. There in front of him was a large dark com-