The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1873-12-12
Homes Christmas Tree.

Hopes Christmas Tree.
"What is it, Hope?'
"Oh, nothing much" said fretful
voice from the bed d" only I'm so tired.
I've embroidered and crocheted, and
painted, and read till I'm just sick of
everything {; and my bones ache, and
l don't believe I'll ever get well. And
the head went down among the pillows,
and the pale face was buried out of
sight.
my dear" said her mother, gently,
{" know it is very tedious to lie on
hard bed for months, especially for one
so active as you. But the doctor says
you are improving, and you mustn't get
discouraged.
ed like to know how | can help 1T,
sobbed Hope turning ear-covered face
to her mother, "when I've been stuck to
this horrid old bed for three months,
with my knee strapped to boards, and
when I've made every fancy thing /
could think of, and read every interest
ing book in the library, and got SO aw-
full tired OF everything. And now it's
most Christmas, and all the girls are
having such splendid times going to
parties and getting ready for the Christ
mas festival, and L have to stay poked
up here III bed
81 saw some girls yesterday" said
Mrs. Laurie, hoping TO divert Hopes
attention from her own griefs, "that l
don't think are having any gayer times
than you.
q should like to know where ?" asked
Hope, indifferently.
"At the orphan asylum" Mrs Laurie
replied, where / went to a meeting OF
the Board, you know Poor things !
they have little to look forward to-a
few years shelter of the asylum, and
then bound out to work somewhere.
And most of them are as bright and in
teresting as children who have parents
to make life happy for them."
How many are there ?" asked Hope,
somewhat interested.
"Only twenty-five now, said Mrs. Lau-
RE; "and it's very fortunate there are no
more; for it's such hard times just now
that it is all the Board can do to feed
and warm them. / really don't see how
we can make Christman festival for
them, as we have heretofore, unless we
get help outside. It's apity, too, poor
things -
At this moment Mrs. Laurie was
obliged e. 20 out, and Hope was left alone.
Perhaps some blessed angel stood by
her bed at any rate she could not get
those wretched orphans out of her
thoughts. She pictured their life in
the great, barn-like asylum; she thought
of the dreary round of lessons, with no
mother to go to at night, and no home
in all the wide world for them she i'm
agined their dismal holidays, with moth
ing to look forward to, and nothing to
talk about.
Bed time came. She was undressed
and laid down to sleep, the shaded night
lamp placed in the corner, the glass OF
water and little bell (to ring if she
wanted anything put on the table by
her side, and the family went to bed.
But something was the matter with
Hope. Wide awake she lay, staring up
at the wall, not crying now, but with an
earnest and thoughtful face-more
thoughtful than sixteen-year-old faces
usually are. 1 can't tell just what she
thought but by and by a bright color
came into her pale cheeks, her face
grew eager and happy, and not till to-
ward morning did she fall asleep.
why, IOW pilSuV you iOOh was
her mothers morning greeting. " Dc
you feel better?"
ooh, yes, mother ~ exclaimed Hope
and I've thought of something I've
got plan ~
"What is it?" asked Mrs. Laurie
glad to see her interested in something
at last.
"Tll tell You all about it pretty soon,
said Hope only first l want you t.
tell me something. Will you?"
Eyes, if L can" said Mrs. Laurie
smiling at her eagerness.
"Well, how much do you except t.
spend for me at Christmas ?" askeC
Hope.
"Dear me I don't know" said hel
mother; g usually look about till
find something you would like, and ther
buy it. J."
ayes but there's some limit" sale
Hope, earnestly; "you wouldn't think o.
spending thousand dollars"
Ofcourse not, laughed Mrs. Laurie
especially this winter. Well, at ,
rough guess ! should say not much oveI
fifty dollars this year.
oh, that'll do nicely exclaimed
Hope. "And now, mother. I'll tell Vol
my plan: In the first place, / wan
you to give me the money itself, and be
fore Christmas, too; and with it | wan
to get up a Christmas party for thos,
forlorn orphans. L want n tree-a rea