The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-12-25

ces, and, with an effort to preserve her com
posure, the former said:
s Indeed have, Lille
" But you only ate one tiny morsel OF that
nice cake that Patience made,' opposed
Lille, argumentatiyely.
"oh, well, will eat Il some other time,"
said Miss Hester.
Ahl" said Lille, as If pondering the af.
fair, HAren't you going to eat any Of that nice
cake, Patience ~ she inquired, anxiously.
" Bless the little soul ~ muttered Patience,
fairly grinning with pleasure. ''Yes, my
dear; am going to take my tea nowif and
she vent of, chuckling and murmuring to
herself in intense delight.
I" Poor Miss Hester Now isn't ii like as
if blessin' was sent to cheer her lonely life ?i
soliloquized Patience, in confidential inter.
course with her black tea pot on the kitchen
hob. Little lamb Amt she talkin' so
nice and wise and pretty to her aunt now ~
So she was; and Miss Hester was lost in
amazement, and unbounded admiration as
well, at the fund of talk--winning, sober, in.
initely wise, guileless child's talk, the charm
that comes and goes so early in the morning
Of life, which was possessed by her little niece.
Itwas not until her "auntie" as she styled
her grave, elderly relative, during the first
ten minutes of their acquaintance, had been
thoroughly informed about poor uncle's gar
den, and poor unce's nice cat, and the two
white pigeons, and nurse, and nurses mother,
who kept nice little shop, and sold such
lovely buns, thai the little woman ceased her
prattle. She had been nursing the big cat,
who was purring like a small steam engine
with satisfaction; but now the little face, shad-
owed by the long locks of pale, glistening
hair, was resting YEARLY against the cushions
other chair, and the waxen eyelids were droop.
ing over the large brilliant eyes.
"You are sleepy, my dear" said Miss Hes
ter, softly.
She could not speak otherwise than softly
to that pale, gentle, sleepy little child, though
Miss Hester was not in the habit Of styling
children "my dear"
"Yes, auntie."
Little Lille slipped out of her capacious
armchair, put pussy down gently, and came
over to aunt. Presently, passing the kitchen
door she espied Patience.
Goodnight, Patience. am going to
bed, Patience"
Goodnight, missile, goodnight, my dear, +"
raanopdad pat;anoa oron;n, ha, ,,ao,l- 20 "a. , IL
a last sight of Lilies frock through the bal.
listers.
1t was new task to Miss Hester to help
child to undress, to put on little night robes,
and to have a small, slim white figure kneel at
her side, to repeat in childish accents the even
ing prayer. II was a new task, but it was
sweet one. The long-repressed and deeply
buried emotions of maternal love, dormant in
every woman, thrilled throughe ach nerve, and
warmly glowed through the lonely woman S
breast. Little Lille, lying in her snowy nest,
amid all the spotless dimity and the frilled
pillows, put her little golden head through
the folds of the curtain.
Isn't tomorrow Christmas Day, auntie?'
Yes, Lillie-why ~
"My birthday, auntie-seyen years old to.
morrow. know, for mamma said was her
little Christmas gift"
" And now you are my little Christmas
gift, " said Miss Hester. The words came in.
voluntarily gushing from the yearning hope
and affection Of her heart. "Good.night,
my child
A nice little child, Patience"
Miss Hester was down in the kitchen, and
Patience was getting the warm ale and toast
which formed their nvariable supper.
"Nice ~ echoed Patience, elevating her
toasting-fork. There was never the like ol
herr
at is rather soon TO say so,i said Miss
Hester, but not coldly.
"No, Miss Hester,' objected Patience,
stirring the ale with one hand while she crisp.
ed the slices of bread with the other. "Any
one can see tits in the child's face and in
her ways. There was never the like of her. y
After this not very lucid expression of her
opinions Patience renamed silent until supper
was ready, and then her mistress took the
little tray on which her own share was placed,
and as she did so, she said:
g Patience, she will be company for us. !
am her nearest relative, after all; and shall
not let the child go to those Scotch people, y
"Oh, Miss Hester ~ cried Patience.
shall take the child myself" went on
Miss Hester.
Yes, Miss Hester,'' said Patience, with
Frightening eyes.
And bring herup properly and carefully y
ITO be sure, ma'am," supported Patience,
rubbing her hands one over the other.
1t will be o great change, Patience--full
Of care and trouble
"Bless her little heart n murmured Pa.
tieuce.
"But Think she is an obedient, affectionatt
child, Patience"
Laws Miss Hester, you may take your
note of that interected Patience with 9
shake of her head. ITO hear how nice she
said "Aunt hasn't good appetiten I'll
engage five shillin's down that she's good
little dear as ever came into house"
"She has come at Christmas to us, Pa
tience," said Miss Hester. "She will b,
seven years old tomorrow.
"A real little Christmas gihin cried Pa
tience.
$50 her poor mother said,' returned Mis-
Hester, softly; ''and SO l said. Good night
Patience.
"Miss Hester said Patience paused
resting her hard labor-marlzed hands on th,
kitchen table "mark my words-'twas HEAVIER
sent you that little one to be blessin' and
comforts twas Heaven sent you this Christ
mas gift'
After this most unprecedented ouiburst o
feeling Patience hurried into the scullery.
Her words kept echoing and re.echoing il
her mistress heart all through the dark hour
of that night. She got up twice to steal softl
into the little frelit chamber, and listene,
beside the little draped bed to hear the calm
sleeping breath ofthe child.
Once there was small white arm throw
l. a.. a. -