Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1867-01-02
res Rural New Yorker, 9ii
NsIaagg' sIag 9 aMason's Christmas.
BY COUSIN MAUDE.

II. was two weeks before Christmas, and
Maggie Mason wasS determined to bavea o
splendid party. 1t swas to be a gorgeous
affair. and to eclipse anything Of the
kind ever heard Of in B. So Maggie de-
cided and as there was no one to resist
but aunt Mary, the little lady was sure
have her way. 'ln2'la 9ai 70 2tL
II was cold. stormy night. Without,
the wind howled piteously, aud the first
snow Of winter, half snow. half hail as it
beat against the lofty windows sounded
like the tapping Of skeleton fingers on the
pane. The lamps were not yet lit in the
princely mansion of Ellis Mason but the
glowing mass of Lehigh coal in the crate
gave forth Pickering, dancing beams, rest
ing on and revealing the figure of Mag
gle, the only daughter, sitting curled up,
school girl fashion, in The capacious re.
cess Of a chair which extended its cush-
ioned arms and lovingly embraced her
whole form, evidently enjoying the re.
sponsibility of holding such precious
burden. She formed pretty picture,
sitting there in the Freight, her long,
golden curls resting on her shoulders and
pushed far back from her brow by the
fair shapely hands; while the blue eyes
looked steadily in the fire, and the ripe
lips, firmly clossa, as ifjnst having ar,
rived at the decision of very important
Iqucstion mud it was rather an impor-
tant question tabt Maggie decided in her
own mind and it was definitely set
tied in every detail she calculated aloud
II Il dolit see il don't, 4 don't care
for Harry Hail, and III let him see it,
too. Ihibk of his presumipg to favor me
with his views regarding what he calls
the extravaganza Of the age I'll have
such party as viii make him stare. .
and the red lips curled contcmptuously
while defaht light shone i'll the blue
eye. iI aa1.a.rr uIa
10 thiDk of it !" she brykc out ag in,
excitedly, addressing herself to the DARK
ness. ..He talk Of extravagauce when he
lis worth his milli6nl wonder if he
thought because had allowed him to
pay me little attentiuns,---sucha as dozen
Others have done and thought nothing of
it, that lie WIS entitled to lecture me on
ertraUagunce! !" aud she brought out the
last word with such tone Of contempt,
and such wiihefing glance of her eye,
that had Mr.. Hall been present he had
surely been anuibilated and at ence pro-
fcssed himself convert to the doctrine
that there was no extravaganza in The
world. only what was absolutely necessa.
fy. How long she might have continued
il this strain it is impossible to say, fo'
Just at this moment Aunt Mary entered
i the room. ,t,3 ..la. ,I g..t -la
| Aunt Mary was one Of those good, be
nevolent souls who find their chief enjoy
ment in promoting the comfort and hap
piness Of Others. Having been left 0
widow and cbildless at very early age
she had devoted her time and means t.
deeds of tharity. She dearly loved hc'
niece, Maggie. and when her sister, th'
late Mrs mason, died, at her request
Aunt Mary assumed the care Of Maggie
and took her station at the head of be-
brothers household. And second moth
or had she been to The mo therless girl
holding her with a very gentle rein, only
seeking to direct her in the riglt path
4 the waJ to holiness, the path of pleasant
ness and peace. But Maggie dearly, loved
gayety, aud though good hearted anc
i charil able. she did not give as much heet
to the zone thing needful" as her goot
l,aunt in vain endeavored to have her do.
/ 1.-The projected party abeeu spoken a
at the breakfast table that morning tO
the first time, and. had been rme
with loving 'WelL puss. enjoy yourse
as you please; you know | am you
a rker," from her father, and gentle
h. -hful 4 zc from Aunt Mary, a'
yet reproac. !.
Maggie rcjOined; u 10 near you
deed, papa. am Go '"l'e .
saw that. am going to make IT.
graud affair. and | want lots Of money p ''' J.,
2 ...How much do you thinks Allaselts
ho, father looked fondly IN her lace,
~ can't tell now, papa but II 'ei'