BOOKS FOR CHILDREN
ALSO
POETRY, STORY AND DRAMA
STORY OF BLACKIE. 4th Edition.
BLACKIE’S COMPANIONS.
STORIES OF FIDO AND HUNTER.
DAY LILIES. Poems.
THE MAYOR OF KANEMETA. Story.
DONALD MONCRIEF.
A FOREST IDYL. Story.
THE SEAL OF HELLAS. Classical Drama.
SONNETS OF LIFE. Poems.
THE STORY OF ZEPHYR
A Christmas Story
BY
JEANIE OLIVER SMITH
“Temple Oliver”
NEW YORK
1917
Copyright, 1917
JEANIE OLIVER SMITH
TO
GEORGIA JOHNSON HENRY
THE STORY OF ZEPHYR
A Christmas Story
CHAPTER I
EDWY’S WISH
“Father, may I have an English setterfor my Christmas present?”
Edwy spoke in a subdued tone, for thepresident of a certain Association, a countryclub, of which his father was a member,had come to say good-bye. One branch ofthe party of campers on the lake was aboutto break up; city schools were calling themfrom forest and from field.
The stranger had taken a seat on the broadveranda, his dog at his heels, his carriageand horses waiting.
[6]Bruno knew his little friend Edwy. Theboy stood stroking the dog’s ears and speakinggentle words to him. The dog seemed tolisten but although he was all attention andlaid his head down on crossed paws, one eyewas alert for the movements of his master.
A dog, an English setter like Bruno, wasone thing which Edwy had sought with constantiteration since he was old enough totalk; especially since he had seen the devotionof Bruno for his master and even hismaster’s horses. He had also gained thedog’s confidence towards himself.
Edwy’s mother felt that she must not lethim keep on hoping for the impossible. Theycould not take a dog to a city home whilethey were building the camp on the lake. Itwas equally out of the question either, tocarry him back and forth on the cars, or toleave him at home with servants while allthe family were away.
As he stood stroking the dog’s ears and[7]speaking his own little tender words to him,the watchful mother explained, aside, thereason of the refusal.
“You know, Edwy, a dog gets so terriblyhomesick if left in the care of servants.Just see how Bruno is waiting to leap to hismaster’s side, and fly down the road the momentthe horse’s hoofs ring on the highway....When you are older....”
How Edwy hated the words, “when youare older!” It always meant that you couldn’thave so