Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-12-23
MABELS CHR N GIFT.
December %, 1881.

a merry christmas, MISS MaOel!
1t was the first time Mabel had
heard the words that day. From early
dawn she had toiled at her needle,
The bells we're Ginning eleven and
Mabel stood, dripping aud shivering,
on the threshold Of an old tenement,
one OF whose poorest apartments CON
stituted her home The night was
dark and stormy. and she had had a
long walk, through the driving rain
aud sleet, from the fashionable quar-
ter in which her rich employer dwelt.
to the humber one that containd her
own miserable abode.
"a merry Christmas, Miss Mabel
aud here's a Christmas gift for you"
said a little dumpy old gentleman,
touching her arm as she was about to
ascend the steps, and thrusting a
erumpled slip OF paper into her hand.
What sharp eyes the little old gen.
tleman must have had to recognize
her in that dim aad shadowy light, for
it took the second glance Of Mabcl's,
young and keen as they we're, to make
out the jolly features Of MIR. Went
worth, who Lad once employed her to
COPY some papers, for which he had
paid her literally.
Mabel would have said THANK
you" for the gift, whatever it was;
but before she had time 10 do SO, the
little old gentleman was off
No wonder Mabel started when she
had lit her lamp and inspected hei
present. Such are seldom made out
side OF story books. Ii was a check to
bearer, on one Of the city banks, for
five hundred dollars.
What a muni6cent Gift to come
from one almost a stranger And
how opportunity it came, tool She
would be able to pay of the %arrearage
OF rent now, which had given her so
much trouble.
Mable went to sleep With her treas.
ure under her pillow; and while she il
dreaming happy dreams, in which 8
lace she has striyen hard to banisl
Of late is constantly cominggup, let Vi
tell the reader who she is.
Mabel GlessOn's fatber-she had
lost her mother in early infSncy-was
a wealthy merchant, whose study il
had been to lavish on his daughter,
and only child, every possible indui
gence, and to acorn her with every
a~ttainable accomplishment. II is nj
TOO much to say he idoliEed her; and
had her heart been less true. or hel
head less steady, she must have beer
totally spoiled.
A 1nanclal crisis came, culminatinf
in a crash, among the victims of which
was Mabels lather. Crushed auc
broken 10 spirit, his health gave way
and the end Of a few months tav
Mabel an orphan and penniless, fol
nothing had been saved from IN,
wreck Of her fathers fortune.
Feeling she could better bear he,
altered condition among strangers, she
had left her native city, and sought t,
home and employment in the metron
oils The result we have already
seen.
Mr.. Wentworth's check was dull,
honored-it would have been good foI
an hundredfold as much. Mabel
keeping out no more than suficed fol
present needs, deposited the balane,
In a savings bank. She took a lid,
room In a respectable street. which
she was fortunate enough to secure OF
moderate terms, and straightway ad
vert!sed for pupils in French anc
music.
Fortune seemed to smile on Mabe
at last. She rendered so complete sal
~lstaetion to the first few pupils tina.
gave her a trial, that she soon had a,
many as she could take. Her inoo,o,
enabled her to add to, instead OF dim
finishing her deposit in the bank: An,
she was beginning not to be SO ripit
nov IN her banishment. during 10.
walking moments, OF that face tba'
always would come up in her dreams
But shocking blow was in stor,
TOR poor Mabel. She was on her wa,
from the house Of a pupil n ds,
when a stranger a%ocOstei her:
1 am sorry TO trouble You. miss
but 1t is necessary you should 70 viii
me. l am a detective, and have !,
warrant Tor your arrest. AS / am mo
lr Uniform, no one will know You ar,
la custody"
wal you not at least iniorme m,
OF what | am accused?" Mabel ven
tured 70 ask. 'e"'
MY instructions are to apswer n,
questions said the man dogSedIv
You will learn all at the police ofSes
and 1t g my opinion the sooner we .,
there the better" 8
Seeing no alternative, Mabel acqui.
esced, and walked in silence at N,
side Of the officer.
When confronted with the Judge-
a shrewd, but Bithal pleasant loofip,
gentleman, on a high seat-she wa,
not 80 much intimidated as nigh
nave been expected. She bad had