The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-12-25

uke AtAe pleCe OF genuine wiz WOOos
reduced TO tiny proportions.
"Put some folks in," said Nell. '1'll
give you some Of my little china dolls, an
Inch high"
"0h ! no." said Maud. "Let It be a
genuine BIT Of wildness She'll like II al
the better"
30 dearl | can't bear to have 1t g
away" said Nell.
"But think how she'll enjoy I'll AND
l can make you another. Now, l mus
cover these black handles"
"Why didn't you put them under TIT
"Because they arc needed to lift 1t BY
Maud soon found some narrow brown
ribbon, which harmonized with the sol
tints OF the mosse1 and bark. With thil
she wound the handles, and the whole wa
done.
"Perlect I" said everybody down stairs
when Maud took It down 10 exhibit.
swell, lie really Christmas morning +
said Miss Prim 10 herself that morniug
as she put her little house in order, land
don't know as | ever spent:one quite 60
lonely or so poorly as I shall this. I won
der II l can be the same girl who used 10
have such 9 happy home, and such Joy
over my stuffed stockipgr
With sigh she put away the duster
and sat down in the low rocking chRil
before the fire.
~ can hardly feel reconciled that al
should be gone-all sleeping In their quiei
grayes-and ! alone-and poor! Alas
how poorp she went on, after o pause
"How father would have felt, and brother
Wilt they could have known-coult
have seen me as I am to-day! Aut
Harry All ! i would have been different
II Harry"
Here she sprang up.
"But | won't get sad over night.have
beens. I'll remember that Pm lonely
old maid seamstress, with my dinner 4
get" And resolutely she folded away
her life romance, and steadily she turned
TO stitching on the banda Of happier
girls apron, though she didn't get on sc
fast as usual, and quiet tear did once Of
twice fall on her hand.
At last twelve o'clock drew near, and
she rose to get her dinner. She covered
the little round table with fresh white
cloth, put her little tea kettle on the fire
and went to the cupboard to set out the
dainties.
What were theyP Well, first slice Oh
two OF cold corned beef, next two cold
potatoes, which she intended 10 warm up
and lastly q little bread.
"Not very luxurious, to be sure |" sale
the brave little woman, "but better thar
poor Sallie Ward will have, and gooi
enough-with the tea shall make.
dare say tomorrow ! shall be as happy
as though dined at the squire's today
But these things were not destined Il
grace her table that day, for Just at THU
moment came a knock at the door.
She hurried TO open 1t, and there stood
Maud holding the "mossery" in both
hands, and Nellie staggering under the
weight Of market basket.
"Miss Prim," said Maud, 1--WE wart vol
to help us enjoy Christmss, and view
brought you q tiny bit Of 1t. Won't vol
let Us I'M" For Miss Prim stood holdin.
the door as though she had lost he
senses.
"Let you in9 Why OF course 1 will
said she, starting back and throwing oper
the door. "But what Is that you said
and what is this wonderful thing yot
have brought"
"Look at it." said Maud, while l Sc
your table. You must have expected u
you've got the table cloth on"
She placed the "mossary" on a stand
and, Miss Prim, who loved the woods Al
well as Maud, but never got time to &c
into them, sank into a chair IN speecdles!
delight, while Maud and Nellie proceeded
to spread the table.
Out Of mammals basket came first .
roast duck and a nicely Drowned CHECKER
pie, then q dish OF mashed potatoes, gold
en- brown on top, then tumbler Of Gran
berry jelly, then a mince pie and piece o
cheese, then tarts, apples, nuts, and rals-
ms, then q beautiful loaf OF cake, and las
of oil small tin pail(ul Of hot coffee, thu
genuine sort, such as Miss Prim seldom
drank.
She, meantime, Sat in a sort of stupOr
which at last found expression in fit o.
tears. Maud and Nellie whose eye
would get misty-dll not disturb her, bu
having arraigned the table, Maud wen
up to her and said quietly.
"Now, Miss Prim, was real cross this
morning till 1began to think about max
ing your Christmas little brighter, AMI
you needn't say q word about 1t, for Il
has done me more good than it can you
and before Miss Prim could speak they
went ont, feeling very warm about the
heart and very damp about the eyes.
Miss Prim soon recovered herself, and
feeling that her pleasure was too great tC
be enjoyed alone, she put the coffee and
potatoes down TO the fire to keep hot
while she threw shawl over her head
and went over to Sally Ward. Sallywas
widow living in one room, and earning
a very scant living by making shirts BY
hand.
AS she expected, the good soul was
hard at work, with no prospect Of dinner
unless crust of bread in the cupboard
was intended for that.
"OhrIstmas has come 10 my house." said
Miss Prim, "and you are to ask no ques
tons, but come right over and help me
enjoy It"
Of the wonderful dinner, and the won
dertnl warmth and good feeling it woke
in their hearts, lean not halftell.
And Of the blessed warmth Of heart
and the heavenly goodwill to all the
world, that made Maud's Christmas The
most delightful shc had ever known. j
can't tell. still less.-HenrM md H,rna