The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1879-12-19
Margaret .ArnoId's Christmas.

Margaret Arnold laid letter on the
table in the hall, where were other let
ters awaiting the hour of mailing, and
tripped upstairs cheerily, with a smile
on her lips and in her dark eyes.
She even hummed little song softly,
as she passed through the nursery and
entered the school-room; and the chill
dren ceased their noisy play to run after
What makes you sing, Miss Ar
noldp" questioned the little Elsie. "You
haven't sung for so long, and you look
tonight, though. What is making you
glad?"
The child laid her head against Mar
garet's shoulder caressingly as she spoke,
and patted her governess's cheek with
a soft, tiny hand.
Why do l singP" replied Margaret.
is coming, and we ought to be glad
oughtn't we, sdear?'' ~
"Our house is jolly at Christmas
time, tell you!' interrupted Harry, a
boy of seven winters, who had himself
been Christmas gift to his mother, and
who, as consequence, enjoyed an un-
0odfb1 Oild1C Ol CoCAt6 db CdC1 LCUQIu vi
his birthday. 'fIt's awfully jolly, and
nice timesSat your house. Miss ArnoldP'
*We used to. when was little girl,
Harry, but there are only two of us now
days are quiet, although very happy,
when we are together
Won'tyou be glafto get home again,
NAsrc "A ia vc,,11 L
away from mamma SO longm
And Margaret replied, gently:
"Glad to get homep Oh, Harry, if
you only knew how glad!"
The opening of the schoolroom door
interrupted the conversation, and Mrs.
Granger entered.
"Oh, here you are, children. Papa
was asking for you. Run down stairs y
merTily through the hall, the lady
turned to her governess.
g / came to say, Miss Arnold, that it
viii be impossible for you to go home
this year for Christmas. MY daughter
us during the holidays, and you can un-
derstand how troublesome the children
will be without your care. ] am sorry;
but. after all, it can't make much differ
ence to you, presume, and really your
presence will be absolutely necessary to
me-"
She withdrew herself and her trailing
robes from the schoolroom, as Margaret
bowed a silent reply to the command
which had Instantly driven the gladness
of only few moments previous from
her ileart.
What did she know of the glad plans
and hopes which the children's gov
erness had ventured to form in honor
pf the coming season of joy and peace?
| Or, If she had known this woman of
fashion and ease, would she have cared ?
But the twilight shadows came on and
filled the schoo1room with gloom as
| dark as the gloom which crowded the
sunshine from out Margaret's heart, and
presently the girl went YEARLY out of
the room and down the stairs.
Thomas, the footman, was just gather
ing the letters from the table for the
purpose of mailing them; but Mar
| garet's voice arrested him.
Thomas, there is letter to my
mother amongst those; will you kindly
hand it to mePn
The letter, with all its words of loving
cheer and glad anticipations for the
lonely, widowed mother far away, was
laid quietly upon the Goals and burned
before Margaret's eyes ere she lighted
| the gas and penned, with trembling
hand, another whicn must go in Its
| place.
The tears were dry, and the patient
heart had grown yet more patient, after
he following lines were written and sad-
dressed to Mrs. M. Arnold, --,
Conn. !" = sakss v4k
.fMx DAHIaNG MOTHER: I thought tt
spend this Christmas with you, but
Mrs. Granger has decided that my SER
vices are needed here, am paid fol
those services what right have we to
grumblep In fact. what rights have
/ the poor at any time, motherp Does
this read bitterly? Well, my heart has
ventuIed to rebel against fate little TO-
night, for, one hour ago, Twas SO happ5
/ fairly sang, and my heart was SO full
/ of plans for you and myself that ] eyer
regretted the few days intervening be.
tween now and thetime of my expected
homeward start. Oh, mamma, dear
help me to be patient, and, above all
help me to look on the bright side, i
| there be such side, to our lives.
q 7 ours, MARGARET"
/ This letter was sent at last. and Mar
garet now awaited Christmas as though
it were only the usual Sunday, wlicl
wouldgi her one day from study
-She-turned the light down low, replen
/ ished the fire. and drew her chair clos
4 beside the glowing Goals. Down stair
the children were .romping with theil
father, Isabel was singing at the piano
and Mrs. Granger in her boudoir, wa:
a