Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-22
JEANrH,s ca1RrsrmAs GIFT.
BY EMMA GARRISON JONES.

4
| As Jeanne sat on the old meadow stile, in the
radiant splendor. of the September afternoon
| she was thinking of Sabbath morning. when
her father sat in the cottage with the great Bible
on his knees, reading the sacred word to his
| family. 1t had been bright summer morn, and
| the very scent of the roses and lavender, and
| the busy hum Of the bees, seemed to come back
| to her
1t was her fathers custom to require Jeanne
and her little sister Dot to repeat verse, when
| he had finished reading That morning Jeanie's
verse was, 'Inasmuch as We have done it unto
one of the least of these, my brethren, We have
/ done it unto Me-
| what does this mean, papa?" jeanne had
asked.
| And papa said:
why. my dear, it means this If you were to
| see poor beggar sitting by the roadside and
| gave him food and drink or shelter the great
Lord would regard your kindness just the same
| as if bestowed upon Himself"
| This was the memory that came back to Jeanne
| as she sat on the old stie. She repeated the
verse softly to herself, and then. with tears
rising in her blue eyes, she glanced over her
shoulder in the direction of the village church
yard, where her father now slept
ChildhOod'S sorrow. however. is short-lived
She soon dried her tears. and began to Jingle
| the two silver dollars in her pocket. Two round
| silver dollars! Oh, how hard and patiently she
had worked for them, picking berries in the hot
| sun for the village market.
When they were earned and she held them in
| her little brown hand mamma had said:
''They are yours. jeanne; you shall do with
them as you like Buy new hat for yourself,
| Or"
breathlessly 81 will do without the hat let
me buy the dolly with the eyes that go to sleep
! and the darling little bed to put her in for Dot
the dear. Oh, mamma, she has wanted them so
| long"
''Do just as you please. Jeanne, love; you
| worked hard for your money, mamma said.
And now jeanne was on her way to the viii
lage to make her purchase. Dot was weakly
and somewhat defOrmed-poor little mite-and
could not accompany Jeanne. But Jeanne had
kissed her when she set out and said:
'NOw, sit here, and be patient, and watch for
me, Dot; I'll hurry as fast as ever can and you
shall have the big dolly in your arms the very
minute get back
jeanne thought of Dot. as she jingled the two
silver dollars in her pocket; and springing from
the stle, hurried across the meadow. When she
! came close to the great elm that stood by the
wayside she stopped short. Sitting beneath it
was man with bandage across his eyes, and
a little dog at his feet The dog had forlOrn
look. and the master was clad in rags. jeanne
looked on in silence for some minutes; and then
drew lit lie nearer.
"Good man, are you blind ?" she asked.
'NO; not entirely" answered the man. give
/
Jeanie's tender heart was moved. She drew
still nearer and patted the little dog
"What makes you sit here?" she asked at
last. ''Why don't you go homer"
g! am trying to get there, but walking makes
my head hurt"
"HOw far is your homer"
''Nearly hundred miles,
"Oh, oh! You surely don't mean to walk that
far?" cried jeanne.
81 did, but l can't make much Roadway
now"
''Why don't you go on the cars %
The man laughed scornfuly; sad, half des-
perate sort of a laugh.
Because haven't got cent" little one.
"POOr man" said Jeanne, ARE you hungry %
"Not very; got bite on the road.
"But you're tired and sck?''
''Yes"
There was silence minute or two. The
elm leaves rustled overhead, and the little
dog watched jeanne, with wstful entreating
eyes.
'How much would it take to carry you home
poor MANI" she asked, suddenly.
1.-TWO dollars"
The child recoiled. as if from blow. A hot
color rushed into her cheeks and her lips quiv-
cred. She put her hand into her pocket, and
clutched the two silver dollars.
I'm sorry for you" she said, hurriedly ''but
must go-indeed, must go.''
She started off at rapid pace, her hand still
clutching the money in her pocket. Presently,
she stopped, however. and looked back; and
between her heavy respiration, she repeated the
verse, ''Inasmuch as We have done it unto one of
the least of these, my brethren, We have done it
unto Me-
Five minutes went by. JEANNE looked to-
wards the village. and then towards the man be-
| meath the elm tree.
at is just as if the great Lord himself were
sitting there" she said at last in an awed tone.
And then, slowly turning she retraced her steps.
When she reached the tree. her childish lips were
almost cOlorless, SO terrible had been the strug-
gle; but in her young eyes shone steady and
resolute resolve. She put her hand in her pocket
and drew forth the money.
" Here, poor man, take these two dollars and
go home" she said.
The man pushed up the bandage from his eyes
and looked at her.
"What!" he cried, in surprise, putting aside
her extended hand. mo, no, l can't take it.
You must. 1t is my very own. l earned it
picking berries. 1 was going to buy big dolly;
but-but-" her voice choking-'I'd rather give
the money to you. We couldn't say our prayers
tonight. Dot and I, if left you sitting here
She forced the money into his hand.
''What's your name?' he asked. ''Where do
you live?'
"Jeanie GOOdwin's my name-I live across
yonder, at Hazelwood Cottage. Good-by!'
The last few words ended with sob, and
jeanne darted away to hide the tears she could
not keep back.
DOT wewon't grieve, will WEI" she whispered
that night, clasping her little sister, as they
nestled together in the same bed. "Only think
Dot. it's lust the same as if the great Lord him
self had been sitting there under the elm tree
and we gave our money to him. We won't fret
about the big dolly, Dot?"
mo. of course" answered Dot. obligingly,
land the rag dolly's just as good after all.'
Years went by; years of patient and incessant
| toll to the widow and her children at Hardwood
cottage. But their combined efforts failed to
| keep want from their door. Dot was almost
helpless. and the mother herself was frail and at
| last fell ILL., The heavy burden Of care rested on
| Jeanies shoulders.
One winter afternoon found her very sad of
| heart. Her mother was in need of nourishment
and medical attention; poor little Dots pale face
| betrayed her lack Of strong, wholesome food,
| and debt hung over the cottage, which would
| soon make them homeless
Suddenly she remembered that it was Christ
| mas day. But, alas there was no Christmas cheer
| FOR them, much less Christmas gifts And yet
| how she would have liked to buy some little
| trife for Dot!
| jeanne stood in the door, and looked out at
the fastfalling snow. A tail, slender girl, grac-
| full young willow with sweet, sad face
| and tender, resolute eyes. 1t was an incement