St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-12-24

room. At the door | paused and hesi-
tated a moment, more than half inclin-
ed to go back. l gave a hasty glance
toward Miss Stafford, and saw her sit
ting upon the seat had just vacated,
with her head bowed on the desk before
her, and, was it fancy? l could not be
quite sure, but thought l heard half
stified sob.
waited few minutes, but hearing
nothing more, concluded l must have
been mistaken. She was only tired, and
of course wanted to see nothing more of
me now. l would go away as she had
told me.
And what had done, after all, that
she should look at me as she did? No.
L was not ashamed, was only misera-
BILE! there was no more good times in
this horrid, hOrrid world, and l might
as well be out of it Thus, ike a fool
ish child, as l was, nursed my trouble
to keep it alive, and refused to he COM
| forted.
The door of Madeline's room stood
ajar, and [ heard murmur of voices
within, as l was passing by.
sis that you, Belle 2" called out Flo
renee Ashley's voice, "if it is, come in,
we WitnI 10 see you.
| SO pushed open the door and walk
ed in. Madeline was standing by the
window, looking out upon the fast fall
ing snow, while Florence and May Ash
ley reclined upon the lounge near by.
"Why Belle, what is the matter 2"
asked Florence's gay voice. "You look
as though you had lost your last friend,
and never expected to have another!n
"Matter enough" l replied gloomily,
''to think of staying in this dismal old
hole over Christmas, with Miss Stafford
to keep guard over me l would about
as soon be dead and done with it,"
"YOu are no worse off than the rest
of MS here :" Florence responded. "We
were just trying to decide what we
should do with ourselves when the 9th
ers are gone but we had not thought
of taking quite so tragic a view of the
subject as you seem to-"
"Of course" put in gentle May, sit
is rather hard not to be at home for
Christmas, but think how much worse
if, like poor Miss Stafford, we had no
home in all the wide world"
No one replied to this, but my
thoughts went back to the lonely figure
with dropping head in the dim empty
school room.
"COme and see how beautiful it is
outside !" said Madeline from the win
dow.
81 do believe this snow storm has
completely bewitched Madeline" laugh
ed Florence, 'she can think of nothing
else"
"Yes, but you know it is all so new
to me. White as snow,'" she repeated,
81 never fully realized the meaning of
those words before"
And to think" said May, softly,
''that we may be made as pure and
clean within, rs free from stain of evil
thought or deed, through Him who
came to earth on that first Christmas
day so long ago. 1 wonder if we do not
often forget ,Uhy we make merry aud
are glad ut Christmas time!"
.'Tm sure" l responded, 81 never
really thought much of anything about
it. 1t doesn't seem quite right, does
it 2"
Hardly" answered May, "to forget
the one from whom all our blessings
come"
Once more silence fell upon us, and
it was long time before any one spoke
again.
At length Florence said, in her usual
lively tone: "Well, girls, we must sure
ly try and do something to have good
time at Christmas. l suppose we each
expect box of good things from home,
and perhaps, with the help of these, we
might have a little festival here by our
selves, we four"
"And," added, hastily, supposing
we invite Miss Stafford to come and en-
joy it with u.s."
"Well, you are the queerest creature,
Belle - Florence exclaimed, looking at
me curiously. "One moment you are
bewailing Miss Stafford as the bane of
your existence, and the merit, proposing
to invite her even into the one place
where we might escape her. | do not
understand you at all"
"But L dO;' said May, sliding her
hand into mine.
"Yes," spoke up Madeline, in her
clear, decisive way, ''let us do as Belle
says! You may have my room because
it is the largest, and we will make it
look as festive as possible"
For the next few days we were busy,
indeed! Every moment we could snatch
from lessons was occupied, and l did
not even have time to think of my dis
appointment. We decided that we
mast make Miss Stafford present
'Just the incest one we can think off,
said Madeline, "because | am afraid no
one else will give her anything"
At length the time was near, and
was commissioned to be the bearer of
the invitation to our teacher. She will
think 1 have come to apologize for my
conduct, the other day, l thought, as |
paused before the door of her room /;
and l will, 1 resolved, as she bade me
enter.
"We are to have Christmas party in
Madeline Pride's room tomorrow"
began, "and have come to ask if we
may have the pleasure of your COM
pany.'
1 can see yet the look of pleased
surprise that dawned in her beautiful
eyes, as | said this.
"You are very kind. I shall be most
happy to do so," she replied.
"And, Miss Stafford" l added, 81
wish to tell you that am both asham-
ed and sorry for my conduct the other
day. Will you pardon me for speaking
to yon as did,"
at is both forgiven and forgotten
from hencefOrth," she replied with a
smile, that more than confirmed her
words. Impulsiveiy turned and flung
my arms about her neck-'You are
just as dear and sweet as you can be ~
| exclaimed kissing her fair cheek. She
drew me still closer to her side, and
held me there for some time without
speaking. At last, | looked up, and
saw those proud lovely eyes were filled