The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-12-25

'sf look ' q sas Y "a cu,;o.,,
flashed over Mary fice st these words a
| gift Of any sort for her va more than she
had idreenedof; but : ~ 49, The hch Asd
beautiful Stella wonld Prise - beyond svsn
the mystery; but presently her thoughts re.
again. 1t had never been holidAy-world
for her. u
sIcAanos come to the party, ssslia, = she
said, sadly.
'.But you must come, Mary, dear-nothing
must keep you away BY the way, Mary,
there is little matter i have wished 10 speak
| with you about. have in my wardrobe
blue merino dress | have never worn here,
as It il too small for me, and by some lnis.
chance it WAS made too short. | wish ron to
| accept Off ss Christmas gift from nue. il
| you will, and wear it to morrow night for my
sake; will you not, darling?'
"You are too good too generous, Stella.
cannot, ought not, I'd accept such gift. =
THAT is difficulty easily got oyer," said
the other, $50 | will do it up in as small .
parcel as possible, and either let yon take it
home with you tonight, or / will send it
around to your home, whichever you please.
There is little danger any one being too kind
to you, dear, after the way the world has
treated you. But cheer up, Mary love; there
are brighter days in store for you, | know.
Your talents will not always be unappreci,
ated nor suffered to rust in obscurity.'
When Mary unrolled the parcel her friend
had given her, in that small garnet room, her
eyes glistened with pleasure at the sight of
the treasures it brought to light. There was
dainty pair OF kid hoots-ker very number,
she knew at q glance; pair Of soft brown
gloves; two beautiful handkerchief, with
delicate tracery of vine leaves on the border
snowyscollars, and clasping one Of them WAS
a small gold brooch, with the Initials of Stella
Ashton land Mary Webb interviewer. The
idea of possessing such beautiful things was
an air castle she had hardly dared to build |
for the far off future The pleasure and ex.
element Kept her awake until the clock had |
tolled off twelve.
Mary scarcely knew herself in the old |
cracked looking glass as she stood arrayed |
for the evening party. No girl with such |
keen sensibiities could help being pleased |
with such becoming costume. But Mary |
was only pleased and grateful; she was not |
vain snd:: forgetful Of the charity that had be-
slowed the gifts. Indeed, she quite forgot |
herself directly in her enjoyment Of the bril-
liant scene before her. Ii seemed like fairy /
very ceiling with its many-hued fruits, the /
before it. and the warm, bright.ghted par
Tors. She almost feared it was q dream she
should presently awake from.
BY and by there was q hush in the compa-
ny, and little Rosa Bowers, who looked like
a genuine fairy, strayed in from the heather
bells, took her place upon one side Of the
tree, send grave d'"r's-A O. ~,
,-.-o. sso,ia upon the
other. 1t was the fairy's business to snip of
with q pair of bright scissore the bits OF blue
or gold ribbon which fastened the gifts to the |
tree. They were then passed to her cofh> |
panions, who announced the name attached
to each, the one for whom it was intended |
coming forward 10 receive it. The commit
tee had arranged matters we'll. so no one was
without gift box fdll of beautiful trifes
had been contributed by one and another, !
which were left unmarked, and these had
been wisely distributed. A feeling OF almost
happiness prevailed, and il did not
seem to be diminished when the name OF
some favori,e was called Overland over again.
When the last gift had been. bestowed, Miss
Shepherd advanced to the little table before |
the tree, on which we're placed various brown
paper parcels.
NOW dears, she said g if yon are ready,
/ have word to say. We have delayed Civ
ing the prizes until this evening, hoping to
add still further to the pleasure and interest
of the evening. Your writing-master in
forms me that the young lady VINO has inn
proved the most under his instruction IS Miss
Henrietta STYLES 1t il 4 beautiful aceom-
plishmeht and one In which | am Particulars
ly DESTROYS of seeing you improve. | there
fore take much pleasure In presenting Miss
Styles with this wrliing>desk as u reward for
the pains she has taken IN this department.
Various other prizes we're distributed, when
The teacher at last unfoded set of historical
books, most elegantly bound, and after mo-
ment's pause, remarked
Z" There is still one more prize desire 70
make, though it is an unusual one with u.s. !
lesire to present this set Of books to the
ioung lady who has shown the most untiring
industry in face OF great difficulties; who has
been the most universally exact in every study
she has undertaken; and whose conduct has
ben most exemplary, without single ex-
,eption Win Miss Mary Webb please step
forward and take them % she added. smiling.
But poor Mary head was bowed on the
window sill. and she was weeping and sob
oing. Stella took them up and carried them
DOWN to her; and the deaE girls, whose sym
pathies were always as quick as their nirnble
tongues, were bending oyer her with kind
words not exactly knowing what she was
crying about, but feeling somehow that il was
ast the thing to do. The Christmas Tree
WIS a success, and it made all concerned hap
pier, and who shall say that they were not
better for that happiness?
II was Marvs last Christmas in the old gar
ret home. Before another year had rolled
away, she was teacher pupil in the dear old
seminary. all her powers expanding fast IN
the new atmosphere Of love and refinement
which surrounded her. Better than all this,
ii was here she first learned to see and love
the heavenly Hand which had cared for and
guided her all through the days of darkness,
out, at last, into the clear sunlight Of the
sperfect day ~ Nsr7p.s Museum