Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1873-11-22
mAGGsE.> sAcRIsICE.

piece OF gOi9 on the kltchcn table IS
he spoke, and turned toward his wife
with a fond, proud smile. She look
cd up from her Christmas cookies with
an answering ligh. in her eyes. but
said, half chidiugly.
Come, father, don't make her
vain"
Maggie sprang from her perch on
the arm OF the old-fashioned settle,
and clasping her father round the
neck, half smothercd him with kisses;
then catching mp the shining c0in, she
danced mp and down the kitchen till
her bright curls were in a simmer of
light. The old man watched her with
fond delight, but the prudent mother
said sharply:
why, Maggie, Tn surprised at
You TO act so foolish
Maggie sat down obediently, the
gold clasped tight ia her hand, her
blue eyes dancing with happy expec-
tation. Ina moment she sprang up
again.
.'AIother!" she exclaimed, ''may
go and get it?"
''Get what, child?"
"Ohl you know, mother; the blue
silk-the one we looked at-and tho
white gloves
OF course the mother knew, and
was almost as much pleased as her
daughter; but she answered gravely
enough:
"Well, l 'spose so, Maggie; and call
by Miss Tabby's and tell her to come
round tomorrow aud fit the dress for
you; but, child, don't be so proud O.
your clothes, it's a sin.
tOh, mother, I'm not proud, I'm
only glad" laughed Maggie. winding
her white comforter round her heod,
and dancing of in the direction of the
dry goods establishment, In whose
window the long-coveted blue silk was
displayed.
There was 20 be great ball on
Christmas night, given to the young
people of the village by Squire Steb-
bins. OF course Maggie was invited,
for she was a great favorite with the
Squire; but her Old merinO frock was
sadly faded, and all the girls were get
ting new and handsome dresses.
'If ] only could get that silk. moth
or cho had said, sts the obliging clerk j
displayed 1t IN cleaning folds; lit j.
so lovely. OH 1 wish / could.
Bat the prudent mother shook her
head and said: EToo costly, too cost |
ly. You must have. a plain merino,
Maggie -
Maggie pouted, but her doting old |
father said nothing until after be had /
sold his last lot OF oats; thea jhe 4
broad gold piece rang down on the /
kitchen table.
With light heart Maggie danced |
over the snow on her way TO the dry 4
goods establishment. "No one has 4
gotit before me, 1 hope" she mused 4
to herself; "thereu not be sgch an
other at the party. Dear, dear papa.
Miss Tabby must put white lace on
the cuffs and round the neck, and I'll
waar the gold chain that Henry gave
me. Oh! won't Henry be surprised
when he sees mc-won't hep and, Civ
ing way 10 her feelings, the silly lit
tie thing INDUCED IN a variety Of un-
lady-like capers, to the secret amuse-
ment OF a sober young man who was
making his way along the opposite 4
side of the street.
But there was the store. and there,
in the windoW, the identical silk, /
cleaning with ell the splendOr of
heavens own blue; and suspended
above it dainty pair of white gloves,
trimmed with lace cuffs and knots of .
blue ribbon Maggie's heart began
to palpitate so ioyously that she could /
scarcely get her breath.
"What is the prize OF that silk and 4
the trimmed glOYes?" she asked tim
idly. stepping into the store.
q tsfWentF-fre dollars. Miss, aud 1
choap ns dirt rsplin1 The clerk.
. 1ecnt vi ge dol'1rs, 5ast the amount |
of her money.
} al think I will take" she began:
but an eager hand plucled her sleeve, |
and turning, she met q wan face look !
ing pleadinglY out from the remnants |
Of q tattered hood.
Please, Miss, 1 never begged be-
fore; but help my poor mother, they
are turnin' her out IN the street; and
poor fathers dyin', the doctor says"
The slender, plaintiye voice went to
her heart ike a knife.
''What can 1 do?-hOw can I help
you?" she asked.
''Oh, Miss, it's twenty-five dollars
we owe-rent, You know; and poor
mother can't pay It. Please help
Maggie closed her fingers over the
gold IN her hand, and looked toward
the blue silk with a swelling heart
Seeing her hesitation, the clerk came
round and took the child by the
shoulder.
go ont, he said, roughly, "and
don't let me catch You in here again.
Don't heed her, Miss, lie added, clos
ing the door; SIT IS all lies they tell.
Shall I wrap the silk up?"
Poor Maggie, for an instant self was
predominant. She must have the
blue silk, she must 90 to the Christ
mas ball and dance with Henry; but in
4 little while something nobler got
the supremacy-som that made
her young eyes outshine the silk that
the willy clerk 50 temptingly dis
played.
''No, she resolutely replied, "not /
now. I must look after that poor
child first.
Half an hour later q poor woman
went tears OF gratitude and Joy over
her dying husband, il the cheerless |
garret she called her home, and Mag
gle went back TO ;he Old farmhouse
with G step slow and sober enough.
"Wel, pet" said her old father,
fondly, 81 'spose you've got The blue
silk at last2"
No, papa, no!' fGitered Maggie,
with gUsh Of tears that she tried in
vain to repress, II didn't get it. Il
I gave the money away to poor little
girl"
Il was Christmas day. The snow
lay white and crisp on the chain Of
hills that shut in the old farmhouse,
and the sun, Just dropping out of
sight, tinged their SUBMITS with a
soft glow, aud gave the strip of win
try SKY beyond q rosy warmth, sosug-
gestive of summer twilIghts, that one
forgot the keen winds and biting
frost, and fancied the notes of the
riDg-dOve IN the wood and the breath
Of violeis on the air.
But Maggie was not INDUCING in
any such reyesies rs she stood on the
front stoop, her pretty curls pushed
back and her blue eyes briInful of
tears, as sleigh after sleigh flew by
with its merry peals of bells, bearing
. freight Of happy girls to The gay
party.
"OhlI did want TO 60 SO bad" she