The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-01-02
Miss Grey's Christmas Gift

Miss Grey's Christmas Gift.
Miss Theodore Grey lived in u big
white house on a bleak hilltop over
looking the small village of Elverton,
She lived alone, with the exception Of
her two servants, Joanna, a middle
aged woman, and Nicodemus, a small
colored boy.
Years before, Miss Grey had been
Young and beautiful. She had had 8
lover, too p; but they had quarreled and
parted, and since then no suito- had
dared to face the pitiless flash of the cold
eyes, that looked as if they had never
known the softening dew of tears.
One Christmas morning, Joanna, after
kindling the fires, sent Nicodemus to
clear the snow from the front step 8
The world was all in white that morning.
The first snow of the season had fallen
in the night, swiftly, silently, softly.
IN Miss Grey's house was no wreathing
OF eyergreens, nor garlanding with
flowers, to repeat the message'of peace
and goodwill among men. Only Joanna
had gathered some sprays of cedar and
arbor-vita, from the stately shrubs in
the front yard, and mingling with them
some scarlet berries of the holly, had
grouped them in n of the old vases
Y the parlor hearth.
Well, when Nicodemus came to clean
the steps, he found a basket sitting on
them, closely covered. He returned in
doors and reported to Joanna.
Joanna thrust more wood into the
stove, where the breakfast was cooking,
and went out to investigate.
Ct wonder who has brought Miss
Theodore a presents ?" was her aston.
ished reflection as she beheld the neat
covered basket.
At that moment Miss Theodore her.
self opened the door of her room and
looked out.
"What is it you are bringing in,
Joanna z" she asked.
CT don't know, ma'am," answered
Joanna. 81 found it on the steps,"
Miss Theodore walked up to it, and
lifted the cover without ceremony. Two
blinking blue eyes peeped up at her,
from a nest Of downy flannel aud cam
brio.
"Lord preserve us !" she cried, re.
treating so suddenly as nearly to upset
Joanna in the rear. Then she leaned
against the wall, looking white and
breathless.
Joanna ventured neal enough to take
peep into the basket, when she like.
wise staggered back with a shrek of
CONSERVATION, and the two women stood
and looked at each other in dumb dis
may. Nicodemus suspended operations
on the doorstep, and stood with open
mouth, staring into their faces.
Joanna found her voice first. "It's a
baby !" she gasped, in a hushed whisper.
Miss Grey lifted her head. Joan
na," she said sternly, "were You at
home all night?"
sat home? To be sure I was,
ma'am"
"Then how came this here?"
ooh, Miss Theodore, how can 1 tell ?
1t'slike asif a spirit had brought it. I
never slept so soundly before that some
thing wouldn't have told me, if any
human thing had come inside the gate.
"Getyour bonnet and shawl, Joanna"
said her mistress, sand take this child
to the village poor-house."
Joanna disappeared, and Miss. Grey
went to the basket and looked in it
again. Curiosity got the better of her,
aad she stopped and threw aside the
blanket that %enveloped the rosy bundle.
and gazed curiously at the dainty en-
broidery that covered the infants robes.
Up came o tiny hand-a small fist full
OF fingers came out and grasped one of
hers, and a bird.like note gurgled from
tle perfect mouth. She drew back half
frightened the little one opened it's
blue eyes wider, seeking hers with a
wondering, wounded look, and burst
into a low, grieved CRY.
Joanna came backsATith her wrappings
oa. The little ones piteous cry went to
her heart.
"Poor baby |" she murmured, stoop-
ing down and rocking the basket gently
to and fro.
There was something motherly. in the
very touch Of her hand upon the basket,
and in the strangely softened tone of her
voice that awoke a fierce jealousy in her
comparisons breast. She almost pushed
her aside, as though she could not bear
the sight.
"What do you know of children, Jo-
anna 2" she said "give it to me-"
Then she took up basket and all, and
marched into her OWL room. Joanna,
going back to the kitchen and to her
cooking, heard her telling Nicodemus
to put more wood Oh the fire. Presently
she came into the kitchen, got some
milk from the cupboard and warmed it
in a cup on the stove, saying never a
word !; and after a little, Nicodemus
brought the cup back from the room,
empty.
When Miss Grey was called to break
fast, she came out looking as serene as
could be. She left Nicodemus in the
room with the baby during her absence.
During the morning Joanna contrived
an errand into the sitting room, ana
found her mistress busily working on a
small garment of delicate texture, while
the infant lay soundly sleeping in its
strange cradle-the basket.
Joanna" said Miss Grey, 81 have
named this child Emily Grey, after my
mother"
otis girl, then" said Joanna.
"Certainly. Did You suppose 1
wanted to raise up q boy to break my
heart in my old age?"
"No, ma'am.'
bring me a Bible, and pen aud
ink"
Joanna lifted the heavy, richly-bound
volume from it's cushion on the table,
and carried it to her. then brought pen
and inl. from a small writing-desk by
me window. Miss Grey turned to the
Family Record, and under the head Of
Births, wrote on the clean page in o
fair, clerkly hand
"Emily Grey, December 25th, IS"
All thst morning, while the bells
called the people to worship in the little
white church under the hill, and the
choir sang the Christmas anthems, Miss
Theodore sat and wrought patiently on
asIip for little Emily. Peter Brook came