Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1882-12-20
A CHRISTMAS STORY.
CHARITY GREENS GIFT.

''Double fold, and only five cents a yard.
Il was the cheapest piece o'piaid worsted
ever laid my eyes on !" exc lsimed to her
self Miss Charity Green, the old maid tail
oress of AllantOwn, and she unfolded the
three-dollar bank-note which she had re-
ceived the day before for a week and q
half's sewing at the Squire's, and smooth
ed the ragged corners, and looked st it sf-
fectionateiy.
six ysrds'n make me full dress, and
l must have it to wear at cousin Nathan's,
as they've sent me their usual invitation to
Christmas dinner. guess III step over
and get the stuff at once and run up the
breadths this evenin', as I've got all them
button-noles on Joseph Blake new coat to
make tomorrow, and I've no time to let
grass grow under my feet''
Miss Charity Green was q very Door
woman who lived by her needle, and rent
ed the 'middle-room" In widow Blake's
small one-story house. She had q thin,
faded face, with nothing attractive about
1t, except when she smiled, and then little
children would be sure to forget all about
the wrinkles and the homeliness, and tan
gle her spOols of thread and play with her
scissors, which always hung around her
neck. fastened with black ribbon, and
never dream of stopping or being in the
least alarmed by her frequent, "There,
there, childrenl Dear me do believe
little hands are the busiest in the world I
Who ever did see u
Poor Miss Charity Greeni She WAS
thst very sad spectacle, lonely, almost
friendleSs woman, without father or moth
eT, brother or sister, husband or children
in the world. Her life was turning It's
face toward half century of years her
health, never vigorous, was gradually fall
ing her; and cold, lonely old age rose up
sometimes and appalled, her with Its chill
and gloom. She had TO work early and
lsts, for the roof that sheltered and the
bread that nourshed her. Poor Miss
Charity Greenl
But as she tied Oh her straw bonnet that
evening, there was quick knock at the
door. and the next moment little brown
curly head, with pair of eager, bright.
dancing eyes was thrust inside.
''Come in, JOHNNIE. what do you wantan
said MISS Charity Green. Aud If You had
beard her voice just then you would have
understood something OF the secret of her
being so general favorte with children.
Mother wants to know, Miss Green. if
you'll lend her drawin' o'tea She'll
pay you TO morrow
20 she needn't be IN the least bit obur-
" about that ere, - answered Miss Green.
as she took the little blue cup from the
boys band, do sit Gown, Johnnie, and
warm yourself by the fire."
And the boy sal down In the great arm
chair, while the woman measured the tea
II the cover of her tin canister.
''Mother and sisters pretty well to. day,
Johnniei"
''Ies, a'am, only mother said she felt
little O'rheumatIz in her right shoulder
this mI lin'"
Dear ne, SUI ! 1t won't do for her
70 let the rheumatic get hold on her this |
time o'year. Pil just step out into the
shed and get her little boneset. Ial'ays
lay up some every fall, for there's nothIn'
like II for rheumatic, as my grandfather
used 10 say"
And as the woman tied up the dried
herbs IN piece of brown paper. il struck
her that her little Delghbor was unusually
grave and silent; 50 half with the purpose
of drawing out any concealed trouble
which might possess him, Miss Green con-
unued the conversation.
swell, Johnnie, are you goln' to have
, merry Christmas at your house3'
81 don't know said the boy In a dis
tone of voice, twisting his brown
fingers in and out of each other.
''Whst you and sisters not going to
hang up your stockings2'
No, ina am; mother said she could not