Middletown transcript., 1876-12-23

night across the hedge, when she WI
supposed to be snug in bed, but Reir
stte watched her fight and her return
only to be the more wretched for be
pains. The only thing in which sh
found pleasure was the long -contem
plated scheme of Christmas tree f
the children of the almshouse, and afte
considering dozen methods of raisin
the money, she had at last bit upon
plan which required all her strength {
will to accomplish. and which bad take
all her spare moments since the date {
old Nancy's funeral to perfect It wa
no less an affair than a concert. to b
given by the children Of the almshous
themselves, each of whom she ha'
drilled to sing its role Of solo or chorus
while few were to take part in min
iature operetta.
Reinette's share in the undertaken,
was profousd secret, for her step
mother supposed that Reinette's visit
at the almshouse had ceased with oil
Nancy's life. However, as luck woult
have it, the child who was to hav,
taken the chief part in the operetta tool
cold instead, and as the audience wa.
waiting in the hall. and the tickets wer,
sold. and the thing would be failure
without a prinaa donna. Reinette wa.
obliged to disguise herself under a je,
black wig, corked eyebrows and an un.
natural palor brought about by the aid
of cosmetics, and step forward upon the
boards. But there was one presen,
from whom she could not disguise the
liquid sweetness of her voice, and after
her duty was ended, and as she was
tearing down to the dressing-room to
send up the next little quaking soloist,
pulling of her wig as she went. she
stu m bled into the arms of Mr.. Theodore.
"Oh. what made you come here and
find out my poor little secret ?" she cried
II did not intend to do ito sing. 1
mean; it was quite an accident"
"Was it an accident that you sang
like an angel ?" he asked
at must have been an accident if it
sounded SO to you. But pray don't
mention to any one that it was I. 1
only needed to raise some money"
"And could you not come to an old
friend like me, Miss Reinette, if you
needed help?"
"Oh, | thought you were step moth
sr's friend, instead Of mine," laughing
bravely "And her friends are not
nino."
81 am sorry indeed. if l have for
'eited your friendship by any ill-con.
'idered step of mine," be continued =
will you never forgive and forget? ?"
Had step-mother Airted with and
ilted him. and was be begging her
,ardon for preferring one SO false?
"Will you forget the past, Reinette.
nd let me help you-as an old friend
nd neighbor merely. if you can do no
letter r
"You are mistaken" said Reinstte,
roudly. IL am not raising this money
Or myself. I thank you. but just now
am in hurry. Good night"
The receipts of Reinette's novel ex-
eriment we're greater than she had an
cipated: SO that when Christmas eve
rrived she was enabled not only to load
,e tree with the useful articles such as
,e town hardly deemed necessities for
8 poor children. but with the luxuries
toys, books. pictures, and cornuco-
las Of fruit and candy, all illuminated
ith colored tapers. burning against the
ackground of the dark and fragrant
inc boughs 1t was shivering night
inside, decorated with frosty stars and
rosy fringe of northern lights along
lie horizon, while inside the old aims
'use the scene was bright and jovial
e fire blazed in the wide chimney
ace, tended by smiling crone, the
How dips burned more clearly than
! less festive nights. while the capar-
6 feet Of children and the trickling of
lighter gave the place home-like air
hen the Christmas tree stood revealed
the assembled inmates, children of
rger growth and all, the excitement
came intense.
"Who planted it ?" asked the little
lncbback. with open eyes and dis
nded mouth ut warn't there this
orning, sure"
"It's jest like the feller's bean stalk
read about onst' that growed up in
lgle night. clear up to Heaven" said {
other
"Yes. but this un isn't growed up to
eaven; it's come down from Heaven,
reckon" +,
"Oh. l see John bring it in this !
'rning," quotb a small in6del.
I'D jest like to hev a slip of that :
,der plant, said one old soul.
you've hcerd tell of the century !
int. eh!" returned her companion
guess this ere is one on 'em-it !;
It bloomed here for a century. I'm
tin"
1T minds me of the apple-trees in
hers orchard, when l was a gal."
d third. "jest as if the boughs d
uld break and spill the hull " u
'Wa'al, these be all windfalls, any, v
y" put in her neighbor t,
I'D like an orchard of sich fruit
es."
Reinette was quite carried away her. Ii
by the novelty of the scene. For
7hils she almost forgot the troubles c,
had left behind her-her own home-
'ness. with keeper in the Emlyn t.
and the house itself under T
hammer of the Emlyn creditors. and d.
Emlyu Golfers empty; she almost o,
got that Mr.. Theodore had illusions lo
cerning her step-mother. that the "
y-haired rector had renewed hi, pro- tr
al, and she had consented to consi- B
it, we'll knowing that the woman
} hesitates is lost. For time she al
rendered horaelf IN tho claosura ofI -,