Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1877-12-20
Nellie'S Christmas Eve.
BY EMMA GARRISON JONES.


hey were very busy at Walnut Hill,
The house was filled with company,
and there was great deal of work
to do.
Nellie had been on her little feet
ever since sunrise. She was very
tired. and i'll, too, with something
worse than mere bodily ailment,
hopeless, heart broken sorrow.
Little Nellie was an orphan.
Years before, when she was so
young she could only dimly remem-
ber the sad event, her father had
died. They lived in the heart of q
great city at the tine. But being
left very poor, and in feeble health,
the widow was led, by the hope of
obtaining respectable employment,
and the expeci, tion If findi G an old
friend, 10 remove to the neighbor-
hood of Walnut Hill.
The friend she hoped to find was
in his grave, and as the place afford
ed oher emplyment, having no al
ternatiye, bat to support herself and
her Child by constant labor, she set
tied down, and went to work, doing
plain sewing for the shops in the
village.
Years drifted by, and the widow
toiled patiently and accomplishing
ly, and little Nellie grew up happy,
promising child.
She and her mother were all in all
TO each other. During the day they
were inseparable, and at night they
slept IN each others arms.
One night, a night that Nellie,
never in all her after life forgot, the
child was aroused by her mothers
voice. ''Nellie. Nellie. get up and
light the candle, my darling"
The child obeyed. snmeIling in
her mothers voice thrilling her liL-
tie heart with vague terror. She
brought The light near to the bed
side. and seeing her mothers face,
cried out in wild anguish.
"OhI Mamma, what is the mat.
ter s?s
''Come closer, nv little girl, and
don't be frightened let me clasp
; you in my arms, darling There
now, I'll tell you what il is Nellie.
Ay last hour has come :; am dying,
my child"
Nellie's cry filed the silent night
with piteous echoes.
"Hush, my love" painted the dy-
ing mother, struggling hard for
power to speak. "You will not be
left to,perish The Father of the
fafherless will have you in His tend
er care, my iittle Nellie. The low
ing Father, who cares even for the
young sparrows, will care for vou..
When ! am gene, Nellie, some one
Will be raised up to be-friend you.
You have heard me speak of
my dear friend, Mrs. Goldthwaite !;
il you could only find her, Nellie F!
But there's letter wrote it when
l was i'll before You will find it un-
der the cover Of my Bible, Nellie It
la addressed to my dear friend
Alice Goldthwaite. If by any chance
you ever hear Other. send that let.
ter, and she will be yonr second
mother. YOu WON'T forget. Nellie +?
mo. Mamma, won't forget.''
Then there was silence The Ia
boring breath became slower. the
white face more ghastly. Nellie
thrieked aloud in her terror and
agony.
'sMamma, Mamma, tell me what
to do %
"Yon can do nothing. nv darlingl
Only kiss me. Nellie. Oh Father
in Heaven. into Thy tender hands
commit my fathe, less child 70
And that was the eid. The white
lips spoke no uIore. Nellie's moth
er was dead,
Nellie was now wholly friendless.
But Mrs Hathaway. of Walnut
Hill. being in need Of a girl to look
after her baby. offered her q home
Nell eh: d n ! choice but to accept
the OFF,.
For a long, wa " year, she had
lived there, until that w,ntry after
noon, which opens aLr stnrv. A
little maid of all work, doing any
and everything that came 10 hand,
and receiving small thanks and en-
couragement, and smaller pay.
Take Robbie INTO the library.
Nellie, while Jane tides mp the nur-
eery." commanded Mrs. Hathaway !;
''a d be sure yoI don't let him get
into mischief.
Nellie obeyed. Robbie was rest
less little fellow, and for some min-
utes he kept her eleEe at his heels !;
lat, at last, she got him quieted
"vera picture book ; and then she
tlnw s.0all scrap of paper from the