Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-12-21

spent Christmas day at home, always.
They went to church always.
The beautiful Christmas sermon fell
on very sad and murmurous heart that
day; and as BeryPs sweet, powerful
voice arose in the first words of "I
Know that My Redeemer Liveth," it
trembled SO that she was frightened, and
with strong effort forgot everything
but the grand chant. Chow wicked [
must be" she thought to herself, "to be
thinking, always thinking about my own
self, and fretting about that when every
one tries to make me happy.
When the solemn benediction trem-
| bled on the air, as she arose for the first
time she glanced down at the congrega-
ton; but shrank back with her heart
beating tumultuously as she encountered
pair of dark eyes looking up into hers.
How long it had been since she had seen
them. Flushed and trembling she ran
down the stairs and hurried to the car
riage with a celebrity that greatly sur
prised Mrs. Dean.
eff I could only make some nnfortu-
nate happy, I think [ could be happy
myself" she thought, nervously. II
am SO selfish and egotistical In my sor-
| l.
comfort. All |" as sudden idea crossed
her, 81 know. will go and see Mrs.
Hull. Poor old lady, she will be lone
some to-day"
And SO while the late dinner was in
preparation, and the children in the
nursery perfectly carried away by some
wild play she silently attired herself in
a heavy cloak, and went down into the
| 1Aal0 i LII I'll
and jelly and grapes and everything
which she thought would be likely to
tempt the appetite; and took her way
through the wet gray day to little cot
tage mile or two away where dwelt
Mrs. Hull, childless widow, destitute
and alone in her helpless old age. She
found her, patient and accomplishing,
laid up with bad attack of rheuma-
tism-the fire almost out in the clean
little room.
The withered old face frightened up
when Beryl came in. 81 have come to
stay an hour or two with you, Mrs.
Hull" she said, taking off her water
proof and Frightening up the little fire
until it blazed and f1ickered in the cheer
lest manner.
"And here is your Christmas" wrap
peing thick wooden shawl about her,
and putting a pretty white cap and
handkerchief on her own pretty self,
and laughing and dimpling in the most
delightful manner at her little surprise.
"And you and [ are to have luncheon
together; [ couldn't wait to have it at
home, SO 1 brought it with me. I hope
you'll excuse my unceremonious entry
with my bundles. [ dare say mamma
will be scandalized when 7 tell her about
our picnic" and Beryl laughed one of
her pretty merry laughs, not caring to
see the tears in the old eyes.
This is like the larks we used to
have at school A whole year since I
was school girl, with heavy sign.
:" / haven't enjoyed life half so much
since" Girl-like forgetting the sum-
mer that was fairer than any poetic idyl
to her young heart; forgetting the bright
autumn days that were happy and dream
full and filled with delicious peace; only
remembering the sad winter days that
| had come in with storm and tears and
misunderstanding.
She put fresh coverings on the bed,
lifting the pain-twisted form tenderly in
| her strong young arIns; she bathed the
hands and face, and combed the gray
hair gently, and hushed the grateful
words that were her portion, by drawing
little table to the bed and covering it
with the contents of her basket, keeping
up running stream of gay girlish
chatter. Then she propped the old lady
up with pillows, and drew the one chair
to the table for herself, poured out cup
of hot fragrant tea which she had made
for Mrs. Hull, and waited on her much
more assiduously than she would have
done for any of her mothers elegant
friends.
=" Mamma will be anxious about me"
she said, at last. CT am afraid I must
go, putting on her rubbers. "I'H Just
step into Mrs. Dunn's and tell her to
send Maggie over for an hour or two, so
you won't be lonesome, and I'll come
again in day or two. I think til you'll be
around all right, soon. The 'fogness,
as my little sister Jessie s avs, is very
bad for the rheumatism"
She bent over the little white ed and
and kissed the wrinkled forhead gently
"God bless you, DEAR" the old lady
said. "You have made this happy
Christmas for me-"
And out in the wet street Beryl was
wondering how Mrs. Hull could be re-
signed to her poverty and loneliness, and
happy as well as content. Then she
scolded herself heartily for her restless
ness and the sore place in her heart.
know 1t makes mamma sad to see
me SO disconsolate. J. must certainly
reform. I'll begin this very minute. %
She ran up Tire steps blithely.
CHOW long before dinner?" she call
ed to Nora.
"Haf an hour, miss
"Can dress in half an hour?" she
queried to herself. 81 must" reso-
lutely.
She few to her own room.
81 have taken no interest in my ap-
pearance at all lately; one would think I
was perfect beauty to judge by my
nonchalent attire, and could afford to
slight the arts of the toilet Christmas
night t mist reform -