Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-12-29
"Aileen, could you lay your hand on
YOUR fnraa in the lnrlr 9r


made glad with half crown, and the
half asleep.
The morrow dawned gray and misty,
and was made additionally cherries by a
drizzling rain which soon began to fall.
The little sitting-room, which the sisters
had taken SO much pains to make home
like on their arrival month before, was
at its worst always in such weather. The
sea view, its chief advantage, was blot
ted out, and Mrs Durkie's chimneys never
| drew well with u southeast wind. The
three breakfastcd almost in silence. EN-
my looked pale. Ailccn was evidently in
low spirits. Marian suggested church,
but Emmy was not up 10 the rainy walk,
and Aileen would not leave her.
Mrs. Durkic came for the days orders.
| Her contcntcd, rosy face aud "Merry
Christmas" rather Jared ON the home
| sick three
'Don't, for PHYS sake, order anything
unnatural for dinner" said Aileen. LET
us make the day MS unlike Christmas rs
we can. ! don't think l could bear a
feeble imitation Of the home holiday.
The only way is to forget all about it.
Eyes if only we cam" put i'll Emmy,
from her sofa, with something like sob
| Ill her NOHe.
| In moment Ailccn was On her knees
beside her. Fragile little Emmy was the
pet and best loved of the other two.
after all, we have the best thing that
| Christmas could possibly bring MS,
cooed Ailecn, stroking the soft hair
"you are better"
Eyes, think am, n little" admitted
Emmy.
Marian meanwhile held her lousekeep-
ing conference in the entry.
| you'd like to have turkey to-day,
suggested Mrs. Durkic i'll persuasive
tone.
mo, | think not'-racking her brains
for Il prosaic suggestion. "Chops, l
think, Mrs. Durkie and sole, if you
can get II fresh one !; and cauliiiower
with white sauce : and-mashcd potato
That will do very well.
Dear me it's not bit like Christ
mas diuner'-in disappointed tone.
'And for the sweet course, Miss RANDI
"Well," said Marian, 81 think we
wont mind about that to-day. None of
us care much for sweets"
Mrs. Durkie looked deeply, darkly
doubtful. She shook her head, and SEEM
cd about to speak then her face relaxed
Il little sagacious smile shone in her eyes,
and she departed without saying more.
The day went by, MS hard days will.
There was Il good deal of luborious cheer
lulness in the party. Aileen practiced
stoutly on some difficult music Marian
read Froudes Caesar aloud to Emilia
! Neither of the three said word about
the far-oil home OF which all We're think
IuB. Toward hiSht tie ram ceased, ana
Mniiun, iSa1ilns OUT 10 close iie oiii'"'
"nn9unceI tle moon 10 he visible
,, Don lie, dress Tor Gunner, she solu !,
We "re "il so comlof'apie as we aie.
Du1 thihk her OBJECT was TO discard
even so commonplace an observance, 10
iiuNe tlie uuE, us II "efe' even less 'h"''
ordinary oaNs'
Dilliier c''iiie up ana was eaten WIN i.''
utcpihpui.ihen' Oh ci'at wlilch grew hlp-
puL, now 'i'"t trI 'l'c Httn'.eu io'iulE WIS
iulils pus'' nc "illtec"ppeu niii'' re.
moved slie piotes, ana swept INC i"S'
i, I'M, rom tiit t"oie.
iueie Is noun Moiii'il peS"i pu'
IL t'l''' 'io'i't,lt ine doof opened, anu i,i
ennir Mrg, Dur riti' nGr Luce piisht WIN w.,
nit' her EYES WIN Triumph anu III iJi
aalluS; raised aloi', Il ulsli, on when 1i
li"Llicu sil'aii pi,i syihnie1ricnl pu'.I',nS'
surrounded Win 'iaZiiG brandy 'ii" Top,
PeM Win towering sprlS OF fed-perrieu
molly =. -,
1nS'ieh' sue s"iu. li ~ We .ooh ,iii IN, nv
cr'! Vi ni"hinS Eo" CiIie'i''"s Puu,'iiiS
Ill our EhSiish way. anu nope you IL eA-
Gust IL; anu "oc'P'' Will lily "e9' ~
sp9.ts 49,, .,,,..-
II WIS sloch' p"l "o"''s"t "1fWt'
ahu "iier u singie moment Oh tons!erii"-
'ion; the i'"ii'lS lousGu 10 thS si'u" ~
A't tHI =. H..
ii'M G'lN 500" " 20" pWt III Nm I-.t.
ny, we "io 'o o'li5o''' oe"i ME- i''i
Nit ,.,..u ,.,,.,. a. ,. ,,
W., i uoIp'n sri'i ~ ~ Dem youi
SlVH1as tmo urS % .. 1Tia iin iusJ ~
81. u W mus iin Inv
nn and N, mother P sho alWo ", fcit GO too
This is her recinn md if Inns oot MI tLc
thing 20 in Il t%nt o,,aht 70 bn eo "'' ''
5 "Ill the tIinDs that onpbt TO he
What 10 yo,, r,nor ." osloJ tho ,,nv1Iod
Marian.
"Oh. | don't mean plums and such
e like. ma'am. Every pudding has them
at all seasons of the year. But the
Christmas pudding is the only one. YOU
l know which has the ring. the sixpence,
: and the thimble."
"What?"
a "The ring, the sixpencc, and the thin
: BILE. ma'am. It's for luck, You under
stand. The sixpence means money. vol
: know the one of Won that gets that il
n her slice is sure to have some'at left hey
h in the course of a wear and day as ,
II legacy like. The ring means husband
of course and the thimble is poverty
: All, Miss Rand. Won are laughing. I see
+ but I've known it to come true more time
l. than one. The pudding seldom misses.
o 81 call this excitin1" said Aileen