Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-12-28
MISS PRIM'S SURPRISE,
A Christmas story for the ChiIdre

A Christmas Story for the Children
"I don't believe there's person in the village
who hasn't Christmas present" exclaimed
Little Nellie Dutton, dancing around her own
unless it's old Miss Prim. L don't believe any
body would give her present"
Nellie's sister Maud, I'm sorry TO say. sat by
the window, sulking Not because she had been
neglected. but because she had not received the
( little gold watch and chain hat she had set her
heart on. Somehow Nellie's careless words
brought to her mind as In flash, the forlorn
and lonely home of the poor little sewing wo-
man. She could see the tiny brown cottage of
two rooms, with its patient ssd-eyed tenant sit
ting by her low window, sewing. No Christmas
tree, even no Christmas dinner, she feared, for
she knew Miss Prim had to sew early and late
to earn her living.
~ don't see how can help it." Maud said to
herself, for shecouldn't avoid feeling that some
body ought to do something. "I've spent every
cent had"
For while she sat thinking silently. Then.
almost 10 her own surprise, she exclaimed:
:. :. Nell Nell sg9pp3se we give her something z"
my things, and you can't give away presents,
No / don't mean that; let's make her
sCmething-not TO wear, or TO eat, but 10 enjoy.
Let me see"
"Ohl you make her a fernery!'
I" Il can't do that on such short notice; bat
know what can make, and believe III DO it
now"
Among the rubbish in the woodshed, she had
noticed an old dripping-pan. Now she went and
got il, asked her mother il she could have it
telling her something of her plan-and at once
proceeded to work.
what can you do with that old black thing?"
won't thank you for that"
"won't she, Miss Nell! You come up into
the attic with me and see if she won't"
Now, Maud was very fond OF the woods and
| every few days through the long summer ana
| fail she had made excursions into Them return
ing loaded down with treasures she couldn't
| bear to leaye-beautiful moses and lichens,
! lovely stones, and thousands Of things ven
WOods-loyers know.
Now Mrs. Dutton was a neat housekeeper, and
abhorred glitter" So she forbade Maud's
! filling her pretty room with these things bat
gave her free access to the attic. Sundry trunks
and shelves, therefore, held all these beauties.
| and to them Maud and Nellie went.
"First," said Maud, must cover the bot
tom of the pan, So il won't soil Miss Prim's he at
house."
After some hunting she found an old moth
| eaten cloth cloak, which she said was Just the
| thing. Cutting piece few inches larger than
| the pan. she covered the bottom of tn At much
used article, brought it up on the sides, and
fastened il securely to the wire around the ed %
| by means of holes which she punched with a
| sharp nail and hammer.
THE next thing is 20 cover the sides OF the
pan, so it will be ornamental"
''The sides are covered, >" said Nell, who was
| impatient TO see by what necromancy Maud
| could turn an old dripping-pan into a work OF
art.
ayes. know they are-with old cloth; bat
| don't think that's very pretty, do your
We'll, no-not veryi but it's as pretty as the
"OhI you wait till get at the inside, Miss
Nell said Maud, now In high spiIiIs. " Next
/ 4 must make some glae.n
| From shelf she took an old tin cup and soma
| pieces OF glue and went down to tae kitchen
| stove to melt it Mrs. Dalton was busy helping
. Bridget TO cook the big Christmas dinner 10
| which q house full of friends were expected, but
! she told Maud she would take time to pack a
! few goodies for Miss Prims table.
" 18th the pot of hot glue Maud went back TO
tie attic, aud soon had the sides of the an COW
| cred with pieces OF delicate bark and twigs,
| with here and there an acorn, or small Goa
| from an evergreen tree. When done it boxed
rustic and pretty. Maud was satisfied and Nell
was in ecStacies.
Snow tor the inside, said Maud; "and FIRST
! / must get some good sOil.''
Another journey was made, TO the cellar this
| time, where a box-full of earth was kept by the
gardener TO start his early plants in. M aud soon
| bled the pan, forming the soft earth into hills
ami valleys and uneven shape. Then She found
1 piece of broken looking glass, which she
/ washed clean, and carefully Embedded IN the
! soil on one side, m aking sioping banks up from
! the glass. 1t looked like little pond.
"Now, Nell" said Maud, "will you go down
! TO the wood-shed and bring me this basket full
! of the green MOSES We had under the Christ
mas tree last night? They were thrown on
with the tree. Pick out nice pieces, aud ali tn I.
kinds there are, white L hunt Up some rocks for
| our little moSSery.'"
| Delighted to help, Nellie did as she was re-
bas ket-full of those wonderfully beautiful green
! moses which grow SO luXurisntly in the woods,
| and which Maud and her elder brother had du 2
! out from under the snow few DAYS before
! III the mean time Maud found u few rough
stones, one with an exquisite bit of gray lche en-
| growing on il, and another haif-covered with a
golden green moss. These she imbedded In the
roll, the messy one hanging over a bit OF lake,
| and the other over in corner. From the lake
! 10 another corner she made q sort of winding
ravine, and then proceeded to cover the whole
! xxsrN frash hn al -
| put on according to her fancy. Little tree-Iike
sorts, planted here and there, looked like fairy
| trees. Two or three Overhung the lake. Bits
| OF twigs covered with moss, the little exquisite
| red and brown-cspped sorts, she laid about to
| look like fallen tree trunks. Near one corner
! she carefully set out very small growing fern.
| little piece OF the genuine wild woods, reddced
"P1t some folks in" said Nell. "ITgive you
| some of my little china dolls, an inch high"
sob! no." said Maud. "Let it be genuine
bit OF wilderness. "She1. like it all the Better
go dear!" can't bear tO have it go away
'But think how she'll enjoy It'll And can
make you another. Now, L must cover these
| black handles"
sWhy didn't you put them under the cloth?n
"Because they are needed to lift it by"
| Maud soon found some narrow brown ribbon,
which harmOnized with the soft tints OF the
handles, and the whole thing was done.
| "Perfect!" said everybody downstairs, when
| Maud took it down to exhibit.
| "Well, it's really Christmas morning." said
| Miss Prim to herself that m orning. as she put
| her little house in order, sand L dOu't know as
i ever spent one quite SO lonely or SO poorly as
| shall this. wonder II can be the same girl
| who used to have such happy home, and such
| joy over my stuffed stOcking!"
| With sigh she put away the buster, and sat
| down in the low rocking chair before the tire.
| 81 can hardly feel recOnciled that all should
| he gOne-all sleeping in their quiet graves-and
| 1 alene-and door! Alas how p0or!" she went
on, after q pause. SHOW father would have
fell, and Brother Will--ifthey couldhave known
| could have seen me as 1 am to-day! Aud
Harry. All! it would have been different If
| Harry"
Here she sprang mp.
"But won't get sad over might have-be ems.
| I'll remember that I'm a lonely old M aid seam
stress, with my dinner to GET" And resoiutely
she folded away her life romance, and steadily
she turned to stitching on the bands OF happier
| girls apron, though she didn't get on SO fast as
usual, and q quiet tear did once or twice fall on
| her work.
At last IL O'Clock drew near, and she rose to
| get her dinner. She covered the little round
| table with a fresh white cloth, put her little
teakettle on the fire, and went to the cupboard
| to set out the dainties.
| VIVA, Uara tbav1 Well n furo NJ