The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1881-12-24
BERYL'S CHRISTMAS.

Christmas eve, and raining. 1t had
rained from early dawn steadily. and
without cessation, and now the night
was falling and it was raining still.
10 the eyes of the girl who stood in
the west window of the little villa
among the elms, it was unspeakably
dreary. She had stood there a long
while watching the horses with their
laden vehicles splash through the mud,
and the pedestrians, laden, too, hurry
ing along the swimming pavements; and
now she pressed her face against the
cold pane, and great tears fell slowly
rom her eyes. She turned away in a
moment, and buried her face in the
cushions of diyan that stood near, and
cried as If her heart would break.
The little fire In the CRATE fickered
titfUlly on the walls and pictures Of the
pretty little room; the rain dripped down
on the veranda and battered against the
pane; and the girl sobbed among the pill
lows, the freight just touching the dis
ordered masses of bronzed hair, and the
slender form which shook with the i'll
tensity Of her grief
The little French clock on the mantel
chimed seven, and she lifted her tear
stained face, and pushed back the heavy
hair with two small white hands.
6 [ wonder If there is another girl as
miserable as I, she exclaimed, as SO
many girls have explained before her,
and as 50 many will explain again. 81
who have everything in the world to
make me happy-health, happy home,
and friends; and yet, because I have
of HIN ~
is less than nothing to me. Such q little
thing to quarrel about F.! He knows [ am
jealous, and he has no right to praise
Coral Gilbert when she is everything
that [ am not. :"
She was nervous, slipping a dainty
amethyst up and down one slender fin
pale, violet flames from it. Eyes, and
to send this back without word-with-
out one least little word. just a year
ago tonight he took it from me, and
promised to keep it until I sent him back
the one he had given me. Ii did send
his back, what right had he to return
mine? He knew [ would be sorry when
L had time to think; he knew, too, /
didn't mean one word of the hateful let
ter [ wrote him; and [ haven't seen him
Coral Gilbert TO the party tonight [
almost wish | was dead" The bronze
brown trees were recklessly crumpled
against the cushions again, and the rain
outside seemed weeping in sympathy
with her.
There was a clatter of glad childish
voices in the hall, a ringing of happy
laughter, rush of little feet, and Beryl
Dean had just time to jump up, wipe the
tears away and smooth her hair hastily,
when the children burst in without GER
emony.
"'Story, storyr p they cried. "You
promised, Berry, you know"
eyes, / remember" she answered
gently. In moment the petulant
grieviIg child had become the quiet
womanly girl. ''Have you had pleas
ant time this afternoon?"
"JoIly -
Lovely p
Delightful r
"Aunt Louise is the incest woman il
the world.
"Not nicer than sister," Baby jessie
said loyalty
ooh, no, indeed, of course not, p" they
all said, and then Harry rolled a grea
easy chair to the CRATE and drew Berry
into it affectionately, and sat down on
little hassock at her feet and leaned
against her knee; May sat down on ont
of the arms, Daisy on the other, anC
Baby Jessie clambered into her arms
And SO they sat in the cherry freight
and Bervl told them wonderful stories o
Christmas tide aud the Christ-child. he
sweet, low voice often broken by cage
questions, and Mrs. Dean came an'
astonished them beyond measure b,
telling them it was nine O'clock and bed
time; loving and with kisses and good
nights for the elder sister, the
trooped off.
But that night the white pillow unde
the bronze hair was wet with hot, glrl
ish tears.
Christmas day, and still it rained
would il never cease? Long befor
dawn the children had rushed into he
room with :" merry Christmas " on thel
lips. g Everything we wanted, W
have" they cried. Come down to til
nreakfast-room and see all your Lowell
presents" And she went down wit
pale cheeks and heavy eyelids, but WIT
smiles and cheerful words over tn
pretty things that had been lavlshe
upon her. Only the mother noticed tha
there were large shadows under the dar
eyes, and the face was very pale, aud tn
red lips often trembled as she locke
from the warm, coy breakfast-room, on
TO the wet, gray sky that leaned dow
sorrowfully to the sodden earth. Th
thoughtful little woman said nothing
but Beryl felt in many ways that til
mothers love was very tender an
precious thing.
Mrs. Dean had some household Gu:
toms that were as changeless rs the law
of tbe Modes and Persians. Her famll
snent Christmas day at home, always
They went to church always.
The beautiful Christmas sermon 1e
on J very sad and murmurous heart tn;
dav. and as BeryIs sweet, .poW.erlftl
voice arose in the first words OF ;,
Know that My Redeemer Llvet1'
trembled SO that she was frightened, an
With a strong effort forgot everythin
but the grand chant. . How wicked exc. ,
must be. :" she thought to herself, ito
thinking, always thinking about my oN
self and fretting about that when ever
one tries to make me happy.