Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-03-24
CONFINED finn first page. !,

wanted to do it.; but | did not have to
think, knew all the time, and gave 1t
to you true, just as told mamma; and
she said was right. .
But shall give you something; come
sit by me-"
"Oh, please do not" said the child. Il
could not take it, indeed could noS.''
but it is something You could not pur-
chase any more than | could buy; a gift
like yours il is only a kiss: would You
take it from me %
.'Oh. ma am. coul.l you. would !you."
slipping upon Ter knees.
Something in the 'wistfnl look of the
upturned eyes opened the fount of her
long closed heart, and she lifted tke red
lips to hers and kissed them again and
again.
Now 90, dear she said, and dripping
her face in her hands, she wept a. they
weep who have long l,een unused to tears.
Remorseful tears. maj-hap.-proud tears
This Christmas morn, she said right boast
fully. that she had neesi Of nothing; = little
child had spied her lesnncss out. ard this
evening she wanted evervrhing-she
wanted love.
Miss Mansfield astfnished Mrs. Finch
beyond measure by co ming into the kitch-
en- to ask when dinnea would be served,
and gave heb '.turns' from which she
did not recover all nigSt. when she desired
that they. for this ONE. enjoy the feast
together.
.'YOu know she eats nothing Christmas
ses,'' she remarked to the gardener:
.'them's her fast day;; and If was TO
be choked to death with this turkey bone,
] couldn't tell whethersit was her eceen-
iricities. Or whether it Syas that apple
apple, ! reckon. if:you was spcaking
Of choking and Of yoSrself; apples has
choked folks afore nou.'' said John.
"Ycs. know-mefa; women swsllow
easer." said Mrs. Fin9i. seeing She bad
mwittingly turned the.joke anon hesself,
hounced out Of the rooia.
Before the year whiG:, was so nearly ut
an end finally closed. tss good housekecp
er ran hastily in one das', to her ladyl say
ing: / :
"Oh Miss. couldn't iou do sometlS ng?
Miss Lee. she's dead; lf.en weakly good
while. and not cent " bury her Eit.l,
and Mary crying her lo.s ssome heart oct ~
The something" MSS Mansfields had
undertaken to do pr.sed TO be scry
much. Hers was no ha'' hearted geD.ros-
attending the last sad lite Of her lswly
neighbor had been assumed BY her, the
arrears of rent paid tip. and the sRlall
effects gathered into one room of her i,wn
spacious house, and little Mary thorou5 ally
domesticated at '.Radclhf"
Careful questioning brought out the fact
the orphaned girl had neither brother nor
sister. that grandparents had died, and
"cverybody was gone
Among Mrs. Lees few papers. which
Miss Mansfield felt it her duty to look
over, there was one letter without date
though evidently written some time be-
fore, signed Your Borrowing mother"
1t held some loving messages. but much
reproach. There seemed to have been
disobedieHce and wilfuness in marriage
on the part OF his daughter. The letter
went on to sav-"And row your brother
has wandered of. | think he has quar-
relied with his Mary. or she has proven I'M
worthy-he does not say; You never saw
her. but she was to be his WIFE
Miss Mansfield read no more her own
name was Mary; the words had new
sacredness: she must not unveil the Sc
crets of other hearts--sad hearts--two of
them had laid down the burden of life, and
one nau Sought 10 nee from II.
As the months went on. the new inmate
of the house began to throw off her de-
preston.
81 cannot call you Mary Miss Mans
field said. ait is my own name-I cannot
bear it lightly spoken; and it is also Your
home name TO your mother-so | will call
you Maize shall you like it? | am not
sure but was little bewitched and he
wildered the first time saw YOU"
"Mazie-Mazie-yes. shall like it.
thank you very much
II has been said that an unmarrie d
woman may be told by her tight" ex-
preston it is perhaps the rcsiduum of
long self-centering be this rs it may. un-
der the incentives and cares OF her new
position. Miss Mansfield's naughty face
was somewhat matronizing. A more lib
eral. mellow look. so to speak, sat daily
on her features. Her Thoughts We're no
longer confined to one groove like the en-
banked canal. with its slow boat and plod-
ding horse. but extended 10 avenues ocean
wide. and but horizon bouad.
All the needed discipline and tutelage
Of her protege was carried on ut home :;
govcrncss and tutor gave her peculiar
care.
Il itl lht u W'tt. saiS MdIlt W.
ing made over into f'pwer; and oh
mamma-auutie. I'll BLOSSOM right charm
ingly for you. by-and-by.".
My bud has had five gears to open,
and she must go away tor Eve to put the
velvet finish on" said this lady with !
smile. |
"And then. mamma-lu ntic. wher.
Christmas comes !:
"Yes child. when Chrissmas comes. ::
She had said this before. IN her youth:
But all this was over. sfhe past She
would put behind her. and :begin Il new
era. Life was not meant t3r stagnation
nor love for eternal night. New courses,
the world over. took the streams thereof.
and light rctractcd. held II w power OF
illumination. She would soon be thirty
four: past the age OF sentimentality. or
iittulness Of project Men built at that
age would be enduring; foundation deep
and root-tree broad She had a plan in
her heart that bore well her most jealous
inspection aud otf-repeated rehearsal.
She would adopt Maize '~vhen Christmas
CAME" with solemn formula and prophetic
eclat, and invest her with the some time
heirship of all she possessed: thus might
children, perhaps and children children,