Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-12-24

stood in Its old position, 80 did the sofa. bu
there was no sign Of tho Prossers. While 1 wa,
LOOKING, i saw the sofa moved around 10 var
the hre, and then the skirt of dress brasa
past presently the slipper-d feet appeared, bu,
onty for q moment, and saw inst I'd the heal
ana shoulders which appertainei to tAem
from their position l understood that Nc
Iross.T was able 10 sit up now. Their Sunrise
came TO fetch her bird, and hal good view II
her Pleasant face. 1 vas very glad / had
thought Of doing anything to please her.
After breakfast i sailed fort to walk three
miies INTO the neighboring town. I was we'll
repairs Ior my trouble; the roads were almost
impassible in some places from the heavy
drifts, but the extreme beauty Of the smooth
wave,lke tiers OF snow had never seen equal
leo. The trees and hedges were like CRYSTAL
lied silver, the whole earth was a giant fairy
land. 1t was worth taking some trouble to see
such lovely sight.
When reached the town I went TO the poul-
terer :, and bought q turkey aud some saus-
ages; then l bought new-iaid cggs, q ham, q
sponge-cske, some port wine, apples, oranges,
Having ordered all these things TO be sent tn
the came shop, had them packed in a hamper.
Where shall send them, sir?- asked the
man, as he was tying them up.
.ddss end , them ~ to-day's carrier TO Marley;
Carriage paid" And now what have TO pay?''
. That being settled, waited to see the direc-
ton properly fastened on, and then retraced
my steps knew enough of the country ways
10 be able to guess with tolerable accuracy that
the hamper would arrive about three O'Clock,
and by that hour should have got home, and
he IN a position to see the result.
Everything worked well. [ reached Marley
In time for my midday meal, and then drew nv
easy chair so that could see INTO my neig Dor 5
room without being seen by them
by and by the heavy carriers cart stopped at
theIr gate, and after sundry cogitations the
hamper was delivered. / waited some time;
men L saw Sunrise come to the window TO
catch the waning light upon the card of ad-
dress. 1 saw her lips move, and L knew she
was reading what was written on it, then she
turned 10 James, and / heard a merry laugh.
After time saw they had dragged the ham
ier nearer the light, and Sunrise was on her
Knees unpacking it; it did me good to see her
race as she handed the things to James; felt
very happy in having made her happy.
ate my Christmas dinner alone, yet / was
not lonely, for knew in the next house there
was mirth and enjoyment. The twilight was
railing, and L was waiting for candles, when
Jane appeared, bringing me slip OF twisted
paper, This has come from next door, sir !"
she said.
Surely they had not found me out! Iopened,
and read
"We saw you at the window, and want you
TO come in to tea with us night, as soon as you
can. Il PD
"No beginning and no ending to the note: no
quaint little scrap. Who was /" j. I. 2"
Inc handwriting was neat, irregular, and
firm. Was it his or hers? To solve the question
answered the note in person.
Sunrise was looking for me- and opened the
door herself She gave me glad welcome, and
followed her into the room, and was intro
aueed to James. He rose 70 greet me, and
Jaw he was able to walk now He was a fne.
handsome man, in spite Of the traces his iIlness
had left upon him.
"Ifit had not been for your nots,'' L said.
turning, oIninS to MT. Pr0.'er 81 should have spent
Sunrise smiled, and he answered, "It was
'Ianets thought, not mine. i did not know of
YOUR being here until she told me.''
n Nm IrfA H.
asked her about her picture. MIR. Prosser an
swered proudly for her.
1T was sold directly, for twenty .uinea,,"
81 congratulate you j." 1 said. turning to her.
days"
lated.
But like to tell, )" said he, land Mr.. Bailey
likes 10 hear
Indeed do" said.
"And what 10 you think she does with her
money!" he continued.
cannot guess" was my reply.
Spends II upon mel" sad James.
Oh james," she again expostulated.
looked from one to the other. Was she
heartless, and shallow, and vainP There was a
glow upon her face and "a light in her eyes that
made her almost beautiful.
8 But haven't told you all yet" continued
James. When the rest of the world forsook
snd blamed me, Janet stood fast; when poverty
and sickness came, Janet came too"
But James, she interrupted, "you seem to
have sent for Mr.. Bailey only to 60 into rhapso-
d1tes about mel and as she glanced at him, 1
saw there were tell-tale te AIRS in her eyes.
Well, dear il is Christmas Day." said he.
Mr.. Bailey will forgive me for being happy
over YOU
Forgive you indeed.' said /. s.There ia
ness. could forgive great deal to be con-
vlnced that there are trne women still in the
world; and begin to see there are"
We were once rich-J was going to saw and
happy" he continued, 'but we are stitch
Janet? We stood the storm together nv little
sister and i; and III the face of the whole world
o! relations, she upheld me ia what was right;
and we gave up property that we might legally
have kept, for the sake of being honest-eh,
JANET"
She sat stroking his hand in hers. while her
eyes grew more and more misty.
Pardon me for telling YOU all this" said
James. " 1t is Christmas, and have need to
She has done for me-"
But don't say any more James; for indeed
only did what pleased me, ;" said Sunrise.
"Ay, that's where 1t is said her brother;
All through my long illness, all through my de-
pressed spirits, she has always been cheerful,
always been the best of nurses"
But now won't you let me give Mr.. Bailey
some tea?" she said 'and won't you let me tell
him about the wonderful hamper? You forget
am woman, and my tongue aches for want
OF use
He smiled, and so did 1. Then she busted
herself with the tea things, aud began to relate
the whole history Of the hamper, winding up
with, " Now who could have sent it?"
Some kind relation, should suggest, said
They both smiled.
. "No," said they; "all our relations gave US
up when we gave up our property"
"a friend" said 1; 'perhaps one Of your
brothers school friends"
mo, oh no, said she. - None of them knows
our address"
'Then must come to romance and suggest a
fairy, real old-fashioned Christmas fairy"
said. a. WI hat say you?"
. could love that fairy very much" said
she, laughing.
% No doubtful fairy would be delighted that
you should" said 4. IL Love and fairies and
Christmas all go together, you know
" All, they did when L was child" she an
sgeIed, with a sigh.
and they do now to those who look and be-
iieve in them" said.
{" And do yOu?'' she asked.
- L don't know about the fairies,' 1 said;
"but We all believe in the other two, don't we?'
- hope So" she said, gravely, beginning to
cut up the sponge cake
Ii was years since had been in company with
much genuine affection a. that / saw be-
tween this brother and sister. L could not get
over the strangeness of my being with them,
and feeling as II l had known them for so long.
watched one and the other, and listened to