Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-12-19
Nellie's Christmas Eve.


Christmas was near at hand and they were
very busy at Walnut Hill. The house was
filed with company, and there was a great
deal Of work to do.
Nellie had been on her feet ever since sun
rise. She was very tired, and i'll, too, with
something worse than mere bodily ailment--
hopeless, hpart-hroken sorrow.
Little Nellie was an orphan Years be-
fore, when she was % young she could only
dimly remember the sad event, her father
had died. They lived in the heart of great
city at the time. But being left very poor
and in feeble health, the widow was led, by
the hope of obtaining respectable employ
ment, aud the expectation of finding an old
friend, to remove to the neighborhood of
Walnut Hill.
The friend she hoped to find was in his
grave, and as the place afforded her EN-
ployment, having no alternative but to sup
port herself and her child by constant labor
she settled down and went TO work, doing
plain sewing for the shops in the village.
She and her mother were all in all to each
other. During the day they were INSOFAR
able, and at night they slept in each
others arms.
One night, night that Nellie never in
all her after life forgot, the child was reused
by her mothers voice. "Nellie, Nellie, get
up and light the candle, my darling"
The child obeyed, something in her moth
ers voice thrilling her little heart with vague
terror. She brought the light near to the
bedside, and, seeing her mothers face, cried
out in wild aneu III:
"Oh mamma, what is the matter ?"
Come closer, my little girl, and don't be
frightened; let me clasp you in my arms,
darling There now, I'll tell you what it is,
Nellie. My last hour has come; am dying,
my child"
Nelie's cry filled the silent night with
piteous echoes.
Hush, my love, painted the dying mother,
struggling hard for power to speak. 4" You
will not be left to perish. The Father of
the fatherless will have you in his tender
care my little Nell. The loving Father, who
cares even for the young sparrows, will care
for you. When am goue, Nellie, some one
will be raised up to befriend you. You
have heard me speak of my dear friend,
Mrs. Goldthwathe; if you could only find
her, Nellie But, alas, | have not heard of
her for years But there's a letter; wrote
it when | was i'll before; you will find it
under the cover of my Bible, Nellie 1t is
addressed to my dear friend, Alice Gold
thwaite. II by any chance you ever hear of
her send that letter, and she will be your
second mother. You won't forget Nellie p
No, mamma, won't forget
And soon came the end The white lips
spoke no more. Nelle's mother was dead.
Nellie was now wholly frlendless: but
Mrs. Hathaway, of Walnut Hill, being in
need OF "A girl to look alter her baoy, otfered
her IA home Nellie had no choice but TO
accept the offer
For long, weary year, she had lved
there, until that wlntry afternoon, winch
opens our story. little maid OF all work,
doing any and everything that came to hand,
and receiving small thanks and encourage
ment and smaller pay
Take Robbie into the library Nellie
while Jane tldies up the nursery com
manded Mrs. hathaway; land be sure you
don't let him get into mischief
Nellie obeyed. Robbie was restless llttl'
z fellow, and for some minutes he Kept hel
close at his heels; but, at last, she got HIN
quieted over plcture-book and then sh'
drew small scrap of paper from the poke
OF her dress, and began to examine 1t closely
"Charles Goldthwalte, ESQ., attorney-atiaW
Grafton, were all the leglble words the ol
of newspaper contained For weeks Nellie
mad carried it in her pocket.
wonder where Grafton Is, and II Charle
2 Goldthwate knows anything OF mamma
e friend ?" she thought looking wistfully on
iuto the falling twilight.
Crash and a loud scream from Maste
Robbie. Nellie turned round. The httl
l fellow had climbed in chair and pulle'
. down his mothers pet Dresden vase, AM
1 shivered it into fragments.
: "Oh My buttons See what Rob's done
, Won't you catch 1t, Nell Z cried kosaoe
Il putting her head in at the door; IN goin
+ straight to find mamma"
Il In two minutes Mrs. Hathaway appeared
!. You wicked, idle, dlsobedient girl, sh
! cried, pale with anger " didn't charg
l. you to keep Robbie out of mischief Tax
a that and that, and that; and | wish you
e take yourself out OF my house you're nc
worth your salt. She struck the chil
o savagely, as she spoke, blow after blow
I Then, gathering up the fragments oi ti
2, vase, she fiounced out Of the room.
't Nellie had not uttered one word, but he
y dark eyes were filled with tears, her liz
d quivered. her little heart throboed, almo'
e. to bursting. Poor, motherless child i@hel @
is was no one to take her part. She LITE
u Robbie in her arms, and carried MN 10 u
d nursery; then, taking her shawl and hoe
u from the rack, she put them on, aud sto
u silently from Tue Housc'
le 81 will not stay another hour" she sal
AZ " must try and hhd poor mamma lrlehu
NJ Away she went across the yard, a httl
VI, homeless bird, seeking shelter from Il
10 storm. On and on, past the village churc
at past her mothers grave, white with the WI
AZ ter's snow over the fields and down to Il
1t station, where the lights were twinkling
le the darkness The train was on the POI
"A Of moving out.
g please, sir, will this train take me
Id Grafton p she inquired.
IT. Grafton Not quite That's some mil
m ahead from the next station. All aboard
he The train was moving. Nellie went
rs. with the rest. When the fare was collecte
ne she took her little purse from her pock
"a and poured its contents into the condn
at or's hand.
or q" hope there's enough to pay, sir, 5
li' said, simply.
70 lie gave her back some change, and smil
kindly at her, as he disappeared Ana throu
pc the wintry darkness, the tram New on.
I'm At last the tram stopped AT ltlie WI
'u' side station
we Passengers for Grafton J. somebo
au shouted
dT- Some half-a-dolen persons got out a
Nellie followed them but they soon d
appeared, and she found herself slandil
utterly alone, under the ann ught ol
rol winter stars.