The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1857-12-24

surely you may rest a few minutes" :.
5 Rap rap! rap
Mary opened the door, and then gave a
cry Of delight g SfSg9
"Oh, Lizzie, come here, and help me car
ry in these thingsl They are marked with
our name. This little tree must be for you );
and here is large basket" ~
Lizzie assisted in bringing them in and,
while she danced with true childish delight
around the tree, the,elder sisters opened the
basket. = ,k
A turkey, pies, and oysters for you, dear
Jessie, our Christmas dinner; and here's a
bottle OF wine, and oranges, and white grapes,
and this little box-ten dollars! Oh, Jes.
sic who can have sent them |"
Gods blessing 60 with the giver 7" said
the invalid, softly. Now you may rest on
Christmas day. How long the basket will
last us Mary, dear, you forgot to close the
door, And again three watchers were shut out.
We have not room to- follow in Effie's
footsteps that happy evening. Here there
was an ailing baby relieved by generous
gift of money to pay doctor here whole
party of children made joyful; in another
place, a studious bov was made happy for
months by judiciously selected books; and
- obO HioSO a pOOI, CullultSS WIDOW Dau an
order for groceries enough to last whole
year, beside her Christmas dinner
AT about ten o'clock, Efie, Claire, and
Carrie came home again as tired and happy
trio as were in that city ON Christmas Eve,
1854.
The next morning, Clarence came into his
sisters room. Ettie," he said, "Gerald
talks of leaving me-" a
Leaving your" ~
The pretty little sunbeam was very pale.
Yes he's going out west"
Effie bent her head, and lowered her eyes.
EHel little sister how pale you are
You tired yourself last night"
No, no mean yes. Why is he go
ing west 2"
II will tell you. Efie, can you fancy me
doing dishonorable act 2" 49,. -.
mo" ..
"Well, did one last night went, af.
ter left you, to see Gerald. found him
writing letter. l peeped over bis should.
er, and read il, and then crept away again.
leaving the envelop told you about a week
ago; and he does not know l was near
him; but know his secret"
"Secret 2" ~ ..-, ... r. .
"Yes. He's in love-" ... -.s...., 4.
Gerald 7" .. -... .e
Yes, Gerald. In love with an heiress
Did you ever hear Of such presumption ?-
He poor clerk p " ~.
Well" said Effie, firing up, "he's bet
ter than one'h half the gentlemen that come
here, if he as clerk. Any woman might
be proud of Gerald Hastings love-" Then.
colorinng and confused at having thus com.
| mitted herself, she stopped
he is in love with nm heiress, and afi aid
to offer himself" said Clarence, not heed
ing her confusion, for fear she will think
him fortune-hunter. Efie, can you guess
who it is he loves 2" a
Silence.
| Efie, may give my little sister to Ge-
raid Hastings for a Christmas gift ~.
Still silence. -a-.... .
Efie, do you love him? Would you
leave me, Effie, to marry him 2"
We need not leave you. We can all
| live here. We"
pretty well % said Clarence, opening
his arms, and receiving his little sister in a
close embrace. Pretty we'll There, don't
blush so he is worthy of you. I say, with
my whole heart, that l shall give nv sim
cere good wishes 20 you both, and be will
""S w S"0 UP uiy SuhOedtu W HRnlen the
path of man esteem so highly as Ge.
raid" And, kissing Effie again and again,
he left her with parting directions to look as
pretty as possible, for Gerald was coming to
dinner and he depended upon her to Keep
him from going west. ~. ......-. ... -,
Gerald Hastings was walking slowly up
and down the large parlor when his em-
fployer came in. "Gerald," he said, sternIy,
walking up to him, you have repaid my
hospitality with ungrateful conduct. Did /,
when ! allowed, conrted your visits, give
You any permission Clarence could not
support his stcrnness. A sunny smile was
dimpling in the corners Of his mouth, which
made Gerald's heart bound with hope
Did ! give you, repeat, any permission
to fall in love with my sister 2" "
Gerald folded his hands like a timid
| seiiooi-boy, and faltsrea " Please, sir,
couldn't belpit." c-, .-.. .',
Effie stood in the entry. She looked very
lovely, her golden curls and bright complex
ion being heightened by her rich mazaripe
blue silk dress. a&
Clarence came out TO her. 4Go in" he
said 4 somebody wants to Zee you.n
About an hour afterwards, Clarence, COM
inc ar~o;v, Couol Easote o,,.I. f.lEu,. o.,n-