St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-12-24
Our Christmas Party--and What Came
of It
Written for the Caledonian. |


The short winter day was beginning
to darken to it's close and the shadows
were creeping in about me, where sat
alone in the empty school room with a
frown on my face and bitterness in my
heart. To think of being kept in, like
child, for an unlearned lesson l, a
young lady at boarding school How
dare Miss Stafford treat me soq Miss
Stafford! the poor despised under teach
er, toward whom all, in this most aris-
tocratic institution, turned the cold
shoulder. And why Surely with rea-
son enough: for who or what was she
Simply nobody.
No one knew where she came from,
ner any thing about her, excepting that
she never received any letters, and to
all appearances had no friends. Besides
oh, objectionable offence her ward
robe was of the plainest, and yet she
carried herself as proudly rs though
clad in velvet.
"Such airs !" as Rosamond Vaughan
once remarked, Greatly, from one in
her position it is insutferable ~
had rather resented this speech at
the.time. Miss Vaughan and | never
did agree very well. | always thought
her somewhat vulgar and purse-proud ;
or, at least, that is what | had once
heard Madeline Pride say of her, and of
course she must be right, for, whatever
may have been her faults, Madeline was
real lady, as no one could dispute.
"Rose would give her two ears, | do
believe" said blunt Nell White, ''if
Madeline would only take her under
her wing but she never WILL"
No, Madeline's circle was very select,
and it was counted great hOnOr-One
granted to few-to be invited into her
room. But am DEPRESSING.
l had been sullen all day, for | had
Just learned that we were to have but a
weeks vacation at Christmas, and of
course all my plans for spending the
holidays at home were spoiled. Not to
be at home for Christmas! The possi-
bility of such dire calamity had never
crossed my mind before. And how dis
nal and herrid it will be here, thought,
with rlost of the girls gone, and Miss
Stafford left to keep guard over u.s.
she was the only one who never had a
vacation.
More than a thousand miles from
home at Christmas time! those miles
had never seemed so long before. And
how lonely papa and brother Rex would
be without their "little woman," as they
called me.
The more ! thought about it, the
more sure l grew that it was perfectly
unbearable. All that day l sat with
my book closed before me, not so much
as pretending to study. Several times
l saw Miss Stafford looking at me, but
she said nothing, and continued idle.
Of course, the hour for recitation found
me entirely unprepared and Miss Staf-
ford had dared to keep me there alone
in consequence. l felt very much in
clined to rebel when she asked me to
remain but, willful as | was, had
never quite dared to disobey Miss Staf-
ford. And yet, had sometimes imag-
ined myself to be somewhat of a favor
ite with her: nor could | give any real
reason for this fancy of mine. She man
ifested no tangible preference for any
one-being too proudly conscious that
from her it would not be acceptable
but l could not help feeling that her
voice often took softer tone when
speaking to me, and several times | had
surprised her looking at me with an ex-
preston that almost startled me.
could not understand it then, but it is
plain enough now.
Well, here she had left me all alone
to prepare my neglected lesson but l
was not going to do it.
How could l be expected to study
when | was so wretchedP She might
have excused me for once. She may
keep here all night, but will not open
my book, thought defantly. So en-
tirely was | absorbed in the cOntempla-
ton OF my wrongs and woes, that did
not hear the door open, and Miss Stat
ford was standing at my side before /
became aware of her presence. l will
describe her just as she looked at that
moment, standing there before me in
the gathering twilight. Naturally tall
and slender, her plain black dress, des-
titute of trimming made her seem even
more so her face, always pale, looked
winter than ever in the cleaning; and,
her chief attraction, her great, wonder
full, bewildering gray eyes were strange
ly sad tonight; her heavy pale brown
hair was drawn smoothly back from her
face, as usual, and coiled low in her
neck behind, and her white, thin hands
were crossed before her, as she had a
trick of holding them when standing.
Not altogether an unlovely picture,
surely. But was in no mood to think
of anything but her ill-treatment-as
chose to consider it-of my precious
self. care you ready for me now 7"
she asked gently, taking up my neglect
ed book. Then all my pent up anger
and disgust burst forth, and spoke to
her as had never dared speak before.
How my cheeks burn, even now, as
recall the insolent and unladylike Ian
guage l used in my foolish passion!
She said nothing to check this tor
rent of wrath, only fixed her great dark
eyes upon me with all expression of
surprise, almost of contempt in their
depths. This l could not long endure,
and at length, covered with confusion,
1 grew silent. Then, in her usual calm,
even tone, she said:
"You may go now, Miss Lenox, be-
lieve you will be ashamed of this, when
you come to think it over quietly"
l was more than half ashamed already,
but pride kept me from saying so and