The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-12-29

10 Ally'S great SatlSlaCtlUn. lHey Were
their own seamstresses, these girls
Eleanor cutting and fitting, and Ally
evencing her skill and artistic taste In
the matter of trimming Perhaps, II
you had seen this pretty Ally, busy
over her new dress-had seen her fold
ing and refolding the trimming-had
heard her light and easy chatter, you
would have said that her heart was as
lightand easy as her talk. But it is only
in very unnatural novels that young
women wear the visible sackcloth and
ashes of their woes. Most persons, after
the first shock of a grief, go about the
daily business of life much as usual
The external surface of things seems the
same. But underneath, far out of sight,
the nerve lies sore and sensitive, which
any chance word may thrill with bitter
pain. People do not foster a real grief,
either. Real griefs are con tended with,
being put away as much as possible into
the dark background, and fought silent
ly against day after day--often, too,
covered over with all manner of gay
and lightsome things to cheat the weary,
weary ache for time. And as Alice
Roberts grief was real one, and as by
force of her nature she had little hope
to help her, she strove with it, or turn
ed her back upon it in the way that /
have told. So now, as she laughed and
jested over her new dress as she set
herself with will to its adorning, it
was partly that resolute desire to over
come and partly that instinct Of cheat
ing pain.
But Eleanor was not deceived. Flea
nor knew how much was habit, how
much was effort Wien Alice paraded
up and down the room with her gored
! trail of silky lu5tre sweeping after her,
and her gay little speeches thereat.-
But the effort was good for her. The
excitement of preparation was good for
her. And the greater excitement of
finally netting that half-remmbered
Aunt Polly, and that mysterious and
wholly forgotten Uncle John, and the
troop of cousins, was the best thing in
the world for her.
"Isn't it jolly though, having you
here?" said the younger John, or
Johnny, as he was now called, and who
was very much taken with Alices
bright eyes and pretty ways.
"No-is it?" Alice made answer,
laughing out of her lighter mood.
"Yes, the jolliest thing this Christ
mas and New Year, I know. And
we're to have gay old party Christ
mas night. We always have one; but
this year there'll be no end of fun with
you here, and Mr.. Godfrey"
"Who?"
"Tom-brother $ friend, Frank
Godfrey. He's pri tell you. When
we boys go up to the city with Tom, he
takes us to all the plays there are CO.
ing"
"Only think, Eleanor. Frank God
frey is coming" cried Alice, as Eleanor
came up to them. Eleanor was saved
from reply by Johnny's glib rattle;
but a sense Of uneasinesS made her ling
er, and by and by change the converse
tion. What else did Johnny know :?
She could not ask Johnny himself, but
she could ask Aunt Polly. SO away
she went TO the storeroom, where that
motherly face was beaming over copi
Gus measurements of raisins and spices,
and other Christmas condiments. Ell
eanor had gone back very easily to her
old liking and intimacy with Aunt
Polly. The, had had all sorts Of conf.
another one now. Uncle John, smok
ing his pipe in the little stting-room
adjoining, wondered "what mother was
at" as he caught detached sentences
like these:
"No, nobody knows anything but
Tom-an old Acquaintance If his, too -
and "thcy'll be down The very night. "
This, interpreted with sundry little
laughs, and a great deal Of nclhcrly
my dear'-ing on the part of Aunt Pol,
ly, and an acquiescent, but less hopeful
sentence now and then from Eleanor,
was quite enough to justify "A less eX
pericnced person than L c'e John, in
thinkiug that "mOther was fixing up
some Of her mysterious plans for those
children And Uncle John sitting
there, laughed quietly t himself over
mothers ways Why, bless you, she
was as young Hs any OF 'em. And
johnny himself wou!dn't ,ujoy his
Christmas better than mother. Which
| ,,,,;, a nf ln
lieve that Master Johnny, Lver his
crammed ocking that Christmas
morning, could have possibly been in
such state of enjoyment as this good
mother, this kind aud genial Aunt
Polly, when she sat down at her full
table that day, and looked across al
: those three orphan faces her heart haC
yearncd in motherly compassion ovel
J 50 many times Uncle John, too, that
morning, was more than usually gentle
and tender AS his gianca fell upon hi
3 brothers. children. And when he asked
his Christmas blessing, there came int
/ his voice quivering note as he thank
r ed God for the peace and unity that ha,
| bIOuEHL ttth bbSt'iici bhAt ui'iN
: Everybody there, even Johnny, who's
mind was very much occupied with hi
l crammed stocking, snugly slowed ava.
e behind him, knew what Uncle JohI
I meant here. And everybody WAS quit
: touched and subduod at this evidenc
t of emotion from so reserved person n
Q Uncle John. Poor little Ally felt SO
coming up into her throat, rs sh
thought low far away she was, eve
: now, from peace aud unity. But Aur
G Polly, observing her sad face, her dee
t drawn sigh, said softly to herself
n "GOd grant that full happiness ma
come to her under this roof"
a Poor little Ally, indeed, There WI
= Tom, with his pretty Raace, and Coz
5! sin Mary with that new engagemel
1 a. ii, Il