The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-12-31
Select gtory.
Christie's New-Year's Party

Christie's New-Year's Party.
scarcely knew how to spare dollar.
Spread out upon the little table before me
was the vast sum of thirty-fve dollars,
every penny of my savings for one long
wear. and the New Year would open in two
more days, 1t seemed SO little. that could
scarcely make myself believe that could
take out the crisp ten dollar bill | had put
to one side. Nobody knew | had intended
to give Christie a New Years gift, nobody
would blame me or feel in the least disap-
pointed if I failed to do SO. The time had
been when | could give presents of ten
times that value and never miss the sum !;
now [ sat looking at the banknote and won
dering if | could make MY last winter $
bonnet last till spring, if my boots would
look well until my next quarterly payment;
and if. after all, Christie would enjoy the
party so very much. And then | saw again
the pretty face with unshed tears in the
large brown eyes that perused the dainty
invitation, and heard the quivering voice
saying
..It is of no use to think of it, mother !;
have nothing fit to wear.
Pretty Christie Burgess was the daugh-
ter of the widow lady, with whom L board
ed. She had passed her seventeenth birth
dav, and was winsome, bright girl, we'll
educated, but without remarkable talents.
| gave her lessons on the piano, in singing,
in French, in part payment for my board ;
and being the only boarder that small house
could accommodate, | was confidential
friend of both mother and daughter, and
knew that, like myself, they had known
better days though, unlike me, there was
no bitter tragedy in their past to rise up
and haunt them They had lost husband
and father ten years before, and from shar-
ing large salary he earned in bank, they
were forced to earn their own support, their
small income just paying the rent OF the
little house. Somewhere in California there
was an Uncle Charles, Mr.. Burgess broth
er, who would keep them, they were sure,
had he known their circumstances, but
whose address they could not tell, and who
knew nothing of their having left their for
mer handsome home. We often jested
about the rich uncle in California, '!just
like novel hero" as Christie said; but l
think they knew but, little of him person
ally. as he had resided in A, previous
to leaving for California, and our quiet
home was in Cleveland.
Some of Mrs. Burgess's former friends
still visited her, and one of them, Mrs.
Wharton, had sent Christie an invitation to
New Years party at her house. As soon
as it was positively decided that she could
not 90, because new evening dress could
not be thought of, the spirit Of opposition
took possession of me, and [ resolved upon
the awful extravaganza of presenting the
pretty girl with dress for New Year
gift. | could make it myself; and, packed
away in my trunk, were few jewels that
I had kept as a relic of the happy days
had known in the past. [ thought the
glowing carbuncles would suit Christie
brown curls as we'll as my own raven locks
and if there was some pain in the idea O
bringing them to light, and lending them tc
another, Christies pleasure must balance
that pain.
New Years day was an annlversar.
whose very name made my heart sick but
perhaps, by giving pleasure to this inno
cent girl, [ might lay some OF the ghosts o
memory that rose up every January t.
haunt me.
So. in view of all these things, | put th'
ten dollars into my purse and started to bu.
Christie's dress. 1t must be white tarle
ton, decided, for that was cheapest, and
could make the skirts full enough to dis
pense with silk lining, and have enough
for a white silk waist under the thin fabric
white gloves, pair of dainty slippers,
cluster of white moss roses for the hair ant
bosom. l purchased, but found my tel
dollars already exceeded beyond my calcu
lations, and SO turned my steps homeward
mentally taking new gloves and few need
ed 'little things from my own list of ex
penditures.
It was worth it all to see Christie whel
called her to my room on the atternoo
of the eventful day, and introduced her t
the fnery spread out upon my bed. | ha
worked late into the night to finish tn
the dress, and had taken out my carbuncle
with fierce heart-pang, but when L say
the beaming happiness on Chrlstles FACE
| felt repaid for all.
She was all dressed for the party; ma
twined the roses in her hair, and arrange
every fold of her dress, before summone
resolution to take the jewels from the boz
Then crushing back my pain with de-
perate resolve, I opened the case, saying
as carelessly as I could:
) II have some Jewels here, Christie, al
going to lend you for this evening :,
ooh, how pretty and how odd sh
cried; II never saw carbuncles set in tina
pattern. Were they made to order, Ml'
Jane?' 90
eyes. They were New Years gift
me seven years ago, when l was your ag
Christie. The giver was something OF
artist, and designed the pattern himself
think shall never lay aside mourning, an
probably never wear jewels again, and the
will glow brilliantly on your white dress
and then, fearing to be questioned, clasl
ed the necklace round her throat, fastene
bracelet and brooch, let the glowing re
drops fall from her little ears, and talke
h,,rr;odlv of the marty and pleasure | hope