The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1878-01-03
MISS GREY'S CHRISTMAS GIFT.

MISS GREY'S CHRISTMAS GIFT. :
Miss Theodore Grey lived in a big
white house on bleak hilltop over
looking the small village of Elverton.
She lived alone, with the exception of
her servants. And such servants! A
small negro boy and stout middle
aged woman, with an immense hump
On her back, and so unutterably ugly
hat her presence on the premises seemed
sufficient protectionagainst outside mo-
lestatiOn. sfks
Her name was Joanna; his, Nicode-
mus.
Years before, Miss Grey had been
young and beautiful. She had had a
lover, too; but they had quarreled and
parted, and since then no sutton 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, af-
ter kindling the fires, sent Nicodemus to
clear the snow from the front steps
The world was all in white that morn
ing. The first snow of the season had
fallen in the night, swiftly, silently, soft
ly, as the plumage of angels wings,
dropped down from heaven to cover the
earth with spotless drapery for the
birthday of the Christ. In Miss Grey's
house was no wreathing of evergreens,
nor garlanding with flowers, to repeat
the message of peace and good will
among men. Only Joanna had gather
ed some sprays of cedar and arbor-vita,
from the stately shrubs in the front yard,
and, mingIing with them some scarlet
berries of the holly, had grouped them
in one of the old vases over the parlor
hearth.
We'll, when Nicodemus came to clean
the steps, he found basket sitting on
them, closely covered. He contemplate
ed it for some time in vacant sort of
way, scratching his head, and OCCASION
ally looking off into space, as if to sum-
mon some invisible agency to help him
solve the overwhelming problem-what
to do with.it. At last an idea seemed
to penetrate his woolly head; he shut
fled himself back to the kitchen where
Joanna was, and standing skeleton-like
in the doorway mumbled out,
ii What do wild de basket?"
"What basketp''
"On de steps,
Joanna never wasted time nor breath
comforting with Nicodemus. So she
thrust more wood into the stove, where
the breakfast was cooking, and went out
to investigate.
{ az wonder who has brought Miss
Theodore PRESENT." was her aston
ished reflection as she beheld the neat
covered basket.
Fl But to betray surprise in the presence
of Nicodemus was not to be thought of,
SO she quietly lifted it into the hall and
babe him get to his work. At that mo-
ment Miss Theodore herself opened the
door of her room and looked out.
"What is it you are bringing in,
Joanna?" she asked.
81 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 nest of downy flannel and
cambria.
"Lord preserve u.s." 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 near enough to take
apeep into the basket, when she like
wise staggered back with shrek of
CONSERVATION, and the two women
stood and looked at each other in dumb
dismay. Nicodemus suspended opera
tons on the doorstep, and stood with
open mouth, staring into their faces;
but for once Joanna failed to observe
him, and he was permitted to stare on.
Joanna found her voice first. "It's a
baby!" she gasped, in hushed whis-
per.
Miss Grey lifted her head "Joan-
MAJ she said sternly, ''were you at
home all night?"
"At homer To be sure I was,
ma'am!"
"Then how came this here?''
"Oh, Miss Theodore, how can l tell?
It's like as if a spirit had brought it. l
never slept so soundly before that