Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-12-25

give you some Of my little china dolls, an
inch high
"Oh no. said Maud. Let it be a
genuine bit Of wildness. She'll like It all
the better"
Oh dear can't bear TO have it 90
away said Nell.
But think how she'll enjoy il And
| can make You another. Now, must
cover these black handles
Why didn't you put them under the
cloth2"
Because they are needed to lift it by
Maud soon found some narrow brown rib
bon, which harmonizsd with the soft tints
Of the moses and bark. With this She
wound 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 morning.
as she put her little house in order. and
| don't know as | ever spent one quite so
lonely or so poorly as shall this. won.
der if eau be the same girl who used to
have such happy home, aud such joy over
my stuffed stocking !"
With 4 sigh She put away the dassor, and
sat down in the low rocking chair before
the FIRE.
d" / eau hardly feel reconciled that all
should be gouc-alI sleeping iu their quiet
grayes-and ! alone-anl poor! Alas /!
how. poorw She went on. after pause
3" How father would have felt. and brother
Wifi they could have known could
have seen nc as am to-day! And
Harry! An! il would have been different
if Harry"
Here she sprang up.
But | won't get sad over mght-have-
bcens. III remember that I'm lonely
old.maid seamstress with my dinner to
get" And rosolutely 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, ard a quiet tear did once or twice
fall on her work.
At last u 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-kottle on the FIRE. and
went to the cupboard to set out the dain-
ties.
What were they2 We'll, first a slice or
two Of cold corned.beef, next two cold po.
tatoes, which she intended to warm up, and
lastly, little bread
Not very luxurious, to be sure - said
the brave little woman, but better than
poor Sally Ward will have, add good
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 to
grace her table that day, for just at this
moment came a knock at the door.
She hurried to open it, and there stood
Maud, holding the mossery" in both
hands, and Nellie staggering under the
weight Of a market-baskei.
Miss Prim," said Maud, we want you
to help US enjoy Christmas, and we've
brought you a tiny bit Of It. Won't you
let US in ?" for Miss Prim stood holding
the door as'though she had lost her senses.
" Let you in? Why, of course l will"
tho door "Bas vha, I T. ,ta, '",us ro', ViS9 ;So
ana rLa, :. ~ ranJa.G,l ,h;n. M ~ 1L'- ~.
brorabt91 M 's V' nav
i" 7oo. %, ;,us.id Md q ,.h,,a -,
ronr ,ahlo ", -.as, 49, o.,an,.s s -
you've got the table-cloth on
She placed the " mossery on a stand, !,
and Miss pin who loved tbs wood ~
well as NIand but never cot ,;me 10 40
into them. sank into a chair In sreocbless
delieht while Maud and Nellie ,rooocdod
to spread the table.
Out Of mamma's basket came first a
roast duck and A nicelv.brovned chicken.
pie. then disb Of mashed notoloos colon
brown on ION. then a tnmblsr or cra9berry
ielly. then mince.pie and niece of cheese
then tarts. arples buts and rai.ins tben !
beautiful loaf Of cake and LAST ~ an a
small tin.pailful Of hot coffee the genuine
sort such ms Miss prim seldom dropt
She meantime. sat in sort of stunor
which AZ last emnd cxnreesioo in 81 az
tears Maud and NellieIwbose ewes wonl5
rot misty-did not Jistnrb her but bav.
inr arranged the fable Maud wcntnn 10
her and said. quietly
Nov Miss pin 7 wos ro,l oross ,his
morrin, IN bccan n tb;nl abon. nat
inc vo9r Christmas a I,nc hri,bter and
von nced,,t sav rord ahout Il Car !, has
done me morc good tLan Il con Won and
bcfore Mis- prim coulJ sroat ,bcy Won, on,
very damp about the eyes
Miss iHm soon recovered herself and
ieeling mat her pleasure was too great to
oe enjoyed alone she put the coffee and
potatoes down to The hre to Keep hot, while
she threw shawl over her head and went