The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1881-12-20
A CHRISTMAS GIFT.
BY NJ. t. cALDoR


"Yes, sir. | came home with my work
by the shops. could not help discover
ing it there" A soft, low sigh foated
out with the words, and deeper shadow
dropped upon the pale forehead of the
girl who answered.
The mild-eyed, gaunt-framed man had
just entered her attic-room, and he stood
watching her furtively with passionate
glances, that might have been pitiful or
malignant 1t was not easy to tell. for
his strongly marked face was as battling
as that of the Sphinx.
Her young face should have been
bright with girlhood's grace and bloom.
But poverty and care write cruel lines,
even upon the lineaments most nobly
lowered by beauty, and she had sewed
now for five years, with tireless effort, to
preserve her feeble life from starvation.
No wonder that the thin, pale counte-
nance betrayed the fact But the soft,
gray eyes had a beauty of their own,
and they were brave and steady.
She returned his look now and then,
and sighed still more heavily.
Then she bent again over her work,
and sewed with fierce energy for ten min
utes, never looking up or speaking a
word.
His restless eyes were still rowing
about him. They took in the whole Of
the dreary room, whose single window
even was dismal for a crust of snow lay
outside, dripping from its dingy edge into
icicles that fringed ragged sill with still
greater forlornness. The only prospect
it afforded was of the upper portion of q
half-dozen weather-beaten chimney-pots.
Even the sky, in its brightness of blue or
star, was obscured by a smoky cloud,
which came from a tall chimney at the
corner of the street, where petty man.
ufactory struggled for feeble existence,
and pulled languidly day and night.
Nor was the view within much more
encouraging. Discolored plastering, mil
dewed paper, carpetless floor.
The seamstress was seated in a wooden
chair, with one rocker missing from its
foundation. Before her was a plain deal
table piled with unmade garments, which
bore the unmistakable look of the lowest
priced clothing shop. Two other chairs
and bed draped in faded calico, with a
broken stove where bricks did duty on
one side for the missing legs, completed
the scanty inventory. The tea-kettle on
the stove did not even sing. The girl
wore a shawl while she sewed, and every
now and then paused to huddIe it closer
about her chest. And the man himself
did not even unbutton his overcoat in
that chilly atmosphere.
He broke out into laugh presently, as
if he thus summed up his observation of
the place and its inmate.
Pretty hard lines, Madge, isn't it for
Christmas Eve? And l returned on
you after this long absence
Madge glanced at him uneasily, and
tried TO smile bravely, as she returned.
1t might be worse, uncle. / have
what l can call home, and my rent
money is ready for next week. / needn't
look far to find some one worse of. There's
poor Mrs. Gregg, who is sick, and has
two helpless children crying for bread"
BAH What is Mrs. Gregg to you, or
TO mep But / say it is hard lines for
you, my girl, and I'm going to make 3
change. Come, put up your work, and
get out your bonnet. Pm gong to give
you Christmas sight, and Christmas
present worth having"
And he laughed again-loud and long
with an uncanny ring in the tones.
The girl was evidently schooled to
prompt obedience.
She rose at once, folded up her work,
and went to the corner of the room where
hung faded worsted hood, and an un-
pretentious straw bonnet.
She reached her hand to the latter, but
the man spoke authoritatively.
Take the other, it is the warmest !;
we have good bit of walk before ~,
and the cold cuts like q knife"
You viii tell me where am going"
she said, obviously. How long shall be
away?"
That depends upon yourself Forever,
if you choose. Come, we haven't much
time to lose"
The pale, worn face took on still more
ghastly tint, and she looked apprehen-
sively into his face.
"Uncle, i don't like such mystery.-
You are stranger than eyerto-night. H."
Tushi ] am taking you to goodly
show, Christmas scene of feativity.
You will be vastly entertained, child.
Besides, I'm going TO reveal to yon what
you have cOaxed for 90 long. am going
TO show you your fathers kindred and
yours. Does that content your"
A light leaped into her quiet. gray
eyes Hash shone over the whole pale
face.
Ali" was al she said. under her
breath bat the word had 10 Il whole
volume Of meaning He ehnckled to
himself as he opened the door and led
the Wnv stumbling along thu narrnvz 49,