The National tribune., 1882-12-28

I it was such trife. after ali, she was ashame,
e to complain so she called up a smile, and salt
D g0od-naturedly:
Yes, it is lovely, and will be Just the thin
e to keep trinkets in when the candy is gone
e These elegant boxes are what grown-up yount
t ladies get at ChTstmas so YOU will feel quit
grand when YOU show yours
She tried to look as usual, but Alice saw tina
something was aniss, and, suddenly thinking
| what it might be, exclaimed eagerly &" ! truly
= didn't know they were coming when | tool
your place and in the furry l forgot to run t.
ask if you wanted to 90 back Please take the
box: YOU would have had it but for me. Do
| shall feel so much better if you Will, and for
give my carelessuess."
Kate was naturally generous, and this apollo
gy made it all right, so her smile was genuine
as She put the pretty toy away, saying heartily
this time:
NO, indeed you did the work, and shall
{ keep the fee. | don't mind now, though | did
want to see the fun, and felt cross for a minute
| don't wonder you forgot"
q Ii you won't take the box you must the
candy. / don't care for it, and you strait &c
halves. There, please do you dear, good-nat-
ured thing cried Alice emPtying the bonbons
into pretty basket she had lately bought. and
giving ii to Kate with kiss.
This peacc-oiicring was accepted with good
grace. and when She had resumed her cap and
apron Kate departed. carrying with her some
for two pair Of eyes followed her with an eX-
precision far more fattering than mere adnira-
ton. and she felt happier than if she had
waited on a dozen lords and ladies. She said
nothing to her cousins and when they con
doled with her on the loss she had sustained
she only smiled, and took a sugar plum from
her store, as II determined that no foolish re
greet should enblter her small sacrifice.
Next day Caihy, in Il most unexpected man
ncr, found an opportunity for seifdcnial, and
did not let it slip. She had lghtened many Il
weary moment by planning what she should
| buy with her ten dollars Among various de-
sirable things at the fair was a certain green
/ and white afghan, beautifully embroidered
, with rOse-buds. Ii was just ten dollars, and
after much hesitation she had decided to buy
/ ii, feeling sure Grandma would consider il u
/ useful purchase. Cathy loved coy warmth
like cat, and pleased herself by imagining
the delightful maps She would take under the
pretty blanket, which 50 nicely matched the
roses on her carpet and the chintz ON the couch
/ III her charming room at home.
IN have it, for green suits my complexion,
as the millzmad said, and | shall lie and read
and rest for a week after all this trotting, SO it
/ viii be nice to cover my tired feet. III 60 and
/ get it the minute | am off duty" she thought,
as she sat waiting for customers during the dull
+ part OF the afternoon Her chair was near the
door of the temporary kitchen, and she could
hear the colored women talk as they washed
! dishes at the table nearest her.
u told jimmy to come fore dark. and Git a
! good waTnin' when she fetched the clean low
/ els. Them pore children is most pershed these
! cold nights and ! amt been able TO git no
! blankets yet, Rent had to be paid or out we
| goes and work is hard to find these times; so
most give up when the children fell sick" said
! an misunderstanding woman, glancing from the
! bright SCene before her to the wintry night
/ coming on without.
Pears to me things amt give round even
! like. Some of these ladies has heaps of blank
cts, amt doubt, lying idle and it don't occur
! to EN- we might like Il few | wouldn't ask
! for red d-and-biUe ones, with main fine flowers
and things worked on 'em; I'd be mighty thank
! full for pair of common ones for three or four
/ dollars, or even Il cheap comfortable. My old
| nanny is with me now, aud suffers cruel with
her bones, poor creeter, and | can't bear to take
my cloak Oil her bed, so Pm gittin' my death
with this old dud of a shawl"
The other woman CoUghed as she gave Il pull
to the poor covering over her thin shoulders,
| and east an enyiouS look at the fur clOakS
hanging in the ladies' room.
Il hope she wont steal any Of Them"
though Cathy, adding pitituliy to herself rs she
heard the cough and SAW the tired faces. - |
wonder they don't. poor things! 1t must be
dreadful to be cold all night I'll ask mamma
to give them some blankets. for know shall
think about the sick children and the old
woman, III my own nice bed, if | don't do
something"
Here a Topsy-looking girl entered the
kitchen, and went straight to the fire, putting
up a pair of ragged boots to dry. and shivering
| till her teeth chattered, as she warmed her
hands and rolled her big eyes about what
must have seemed TO her a paradise of good
things
" Poor child don't suppose she ever saw so
much cake III her life. She shall have some.
! The sick ones can eat oranges ! know, and
can buy them all without leaving my work
I'll surprise her and make her laugh if ! can"
Up got Cathy. and, going to tho great re
ire5hmcnttable bought six fine oranges and
platetul Of good. solid cakes Armed with
these letters Of introduction. she appeared be-
fore the astOnished jimmy, who stared at her
a if she were Il new sort Of angel in cap and
apron. instead Of wings and crown.
"WIll you have these, my dear? | heard
your mother say the babies were sick, and |
think you would like some OF our goodies as
well a. they she said, smiling, as she piled
her gifts in Jinny's outsretcned arms.
" Bless your kind heart, miss She aint no
words to thank you," cried the mother, beam
ing with gratitude. while jimmy could only
show every white tooth, as she laughed and bit
into the first thing that came handy. Its
like NANNY from the skies to her, poor lamb;
she don't git good vittles often, and them
babies will jest scream when they sees them
splendid oranges
As Mrs johnson gave thanks, the other wo-
man smiled also, and looked 50 glad at her
neghbor's pleasure, that Cathy having tasted
the sweets of charity, felt desire TO do more,
and turning to Mrs Smith, asked in a friendly
tone:
What can ] send to your old mother? 1t
is Christmas time, and she ought not to be for
gotten when there is such plenty here"
A little mess Of tea would be mighty wei |
come, honey. My old nanny lived in one of
the first families down South, and is used to
genteel ways; 50 it comes hard on her now, for
| can't give her no Injuries, and she's ninety
year old the twenty ilst Of next Jenniwary," |
promYag responded Mrs. Smith, seeing that
her hGafer had tender heart and a generous
hand.
She shall have some tea, and anything else |
You think she would like. I'll have a little |
basket made up for her, and tell her wish her |
a merry Christmas
Then, hearing several bells ring impatiently, |
Cathy hurried away, leaving behind her three |
grateful hearts, and jimmy speechess still with |
JOY and cake. As she went to and fro, Cathy |
saw the dark faces always smiling at her and |
every order she gave was attended TO instantly |
by the willing hands Of the two women so |
that her work seemed lightcned wonderfully |
and the distasteiul task grew pleasant.
When the next pause came she found that
She wanted TO do more, for Il little food was
not much, and the cloak on old Mammy's bed |
haunted her. The rosy afghan lost its charm
for it was an unnecessary luxury, and four
blankets might be cot for less than that one