The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1879-12-25

She had left Crawlin Place far be-
hind her. The houses she now saw
were beginning to wear very well-to-
do look. On she walked until the
streets grew wide and the houses very
| fine.
What a contrast to Crawlin Place!
eff you get envious, back you'll go,
Kizzy H., without chance for present
money!
This was probably addressed to an
other weak spot in poor Aunt Kizzy's
makeup.
She went on without an idea where
to stop. A house with the curtains up
attracted her attention.
" Massy!" she exclaimed, as she
looked in the window. "They must
be made of gold and silver in there!"
She walked up yhe steps andra the
| bell.
"If you please, MISS" she began, as
| the door opened.
"Back gate for beggars," said the
servant shortly.
With choking feeling in her throat
Aunt Kizzy stood staring at the closed
door.
"You can't stare money enough out
| of shut door to fill stocking, unless
a miracle takes place, Kizzy H." she
said cheerfully, as she went down the
grand steps.
House after house was passed before
another struck her fancy.
"Don't look quite so grand as
t'other," she said, as she looked in at a
window. There's a picter O. Christ
blessing little children. 1t makes me feel
orful old. Dear little creeters! don't
believe the grand brass images and
fumjacks have pushed everything good
out of this place"
And she went up the high steps. As
her hand touched the bell, a light step
was heard behind her, and a pleasant
voice said: "Whom did you wish to
seeP''
81 came,"-Aunt Kizzy's voice was
little unsteady,-"I-I came to ask
if any of the ladies here would-would
ing"
IL certainly should" said the young
lady, pleasantly; " and I'm sure grand
mamma would.'' ...-
"Open your eyes and take in all the
style, old Kiz, to tell Car line," said
the old woman to herself, as they
walked up the broad handsome stairs,
but when she found herself actually
standing before a sofa, where lay q
proud looking old lady, she forgot
g r'line," and almost her errand.
"She is going to sing us some old
fashioned music" explained the young
lady, as her grandmother stared at
them both.
Aunt Kizzy closed her old hands nerv-
ously together, but though she
pressed them very hard, no song came
to her mind. What would they think
of her! Her breath came in little gasps,
and the red spots frightened in her
cheeks.
"Sit down and rest yourself a little
while," said the young lady, kindly.
81 brought you 1p too many stairs for
you to sing right away"
"There wasn't so many stairs. miss,
as there's been years since 1 sung afore
folks" said Aunt Kizzy, then adding
mentally, "Don't act like a fool if
you've got common sense, Kizzy H.r'
She stood respectfully before them,
and in a voice, not by any means to be
despised. sang simple ballad of "ye
elden time"
"Can you sing anotherP'' asked
the young lady. as the last note died
away.
III don't wish another yet," said
uST L I" duG buc SdiuO
again"
Aunt Kizzy's heart beat joyfully. She
had forgotten money; there was happi-
ness in the thought.of being able to
give pleasure. She sang until her old
voice sounded weary, and they declared
she should sing no more. The young
lady gave her a dollar.
.Too much," said Aunt Kizzy, firmly.
81 sang ten songs, and two cents apiece
is high enough to reckon EN-"
"a dollar for a good concert is cheap
enough, and have not enjoyed one SO
much in many a day, madam"
"If you insist on it, can't help it."
said Aunt Kizzy, with shining eyes, as
she thought of Carols stocking.
81 do not consider that l half pay
for my pleasure" said the young lady's
grandmother, as with old-school
dignity she placed five dollars in Aunt
Kizzy's hard.
~ couldn't sleep tonight if 1 took
thatr' she cried. "Don't make me
think Pm dreaming now, and III wake
up without a cent for Carol stockin'."
She held out the money to the young
lady, who took it, saying:
You shall not be overpaid, but let
me give you muff; your hands will be
cold going home. This is an old one,
but it is warm, and here are some
pieces of silk for q new lining"
"Tell me all about itn' cried Carol,
on Christmas morning as he stood with
full stocking by the fireplace in the
little sitting room on the fourth story
of Number One, Crawlin Place.
"I WON'T"
"Sit right there Aunt Kizzy, till you
tell me where you got SO much money.
"A Christmas present ought to be
bought with money that don't need
washingr"
"Well," in a whisper, =" if you must
know, boy, I sang for it,"
"Sang for itr' Carols surprise was
as genuine as Aunt Kizzy's had been,
but he recovered himself and said:
"Like beggarP"
"No," said Aunt Kizzy demurely.
81 didn't ask for money; they gave it
to me without
"Dear Aunt Kizzy, tyou call this
a lucky ChristmasP" said Carol, as he
pulled on new boots, while Aunt Kizzy,
with a new bonnet on, took snuff ex-
travagantly, and his mother stood with
her hands in the muff.
"Nothin' to DO with luck,'' said
Aunt Kizzy. "We worked for some
thing and It amt sense to expect when
you work for something that you'll get
n-othin'.' With merry jerk she
pulled out a pair of warm gloves from
the long black stocking. "Cast your
bread upon the waters, old Kizzy H.
Give Car line an old muff. and get new
gloves from Santa Clausr'
81 shall not allow you to give me
this muff," said Car'line. cit is just
what you have wanted for so long; and
new lining will make it just as good
as ever"
"Massy, Car'line the silk for it is
in my pocket. Plenty of it you see."
As she unrolled it, she gasped; "Carol,
hand me tho campfire bottler' for
carefully folded in the little bundle of