The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-12-23
BEFORE AND AFTER.
A Christmas story in Two Chapters.
= REFDpE CupIcTNTAS

ChTistHdS STORY III TWO ChaptefA.
I. BEFORE CHRISTMAS.
The girls had never liked Hetty. 1t
began with her first day of school, that
cool, October morning, when she APP
peared in her pretty dress of blue cash
mere, which formed so lovely contrast
with her fair skin and yellow curlS.
None of the Cotton Hollow girls had
curly hair except Hetty Jones, whose
black locks kinked up funnily all over
her head and although one or two of
the younger children secretly admired
the golden floss that tumbled itself into
such fluffy heaps over the white fore
head, or strayed down TO play with its
owners apron strings, nobody had the
courage to say so after Sarah Grant had
declared that she ''WOuld rather have no
hair at all than such sozzly looking stuff
as Hetty Northam's.'
Then Hetty wore dainty white aprons
unlike the Bingham and calico the school
had always known, and the new schol-
ars boots and stockings were altogether
of a different order from Susan Cum
mings' or Gerty Smiths.
When Hetty's father purchased the
great mills at Cotton Hollow, and took
his wife and Hetty and Baby Dimple to
live in the house vacated by the former
mill-owner, it was decided that Hetty
should attend the small school in the
village. Across the ravine q mile or
more was large school, to which the
foreign portion of the mill-workers sent
their children; but the little school by
the side of the church was made up of
dozen or more girls, and half as many
boys, mostly Americans, but all children
Ofpoor parents.
So when shy, sensitive Hetty took her
place with the others, and at recess did
not speak to anybody, but sat in her seat
musing over her spellmg-b book, so I'M
usual proceeding was at once attrlb-
uted to pride and haughtiness, and an
unfavOrable impression was created that
was not easily ctfaced. This impression
was dcepcned three days later, when
Hetty answered correctly question
which the others in her class missed,
and in consequence gained the first place
(Which for months had belonged to Sarah
'Grant, the best scholar in school. This
event reused all the fire in Sarah nature,
and although she regaincd her position
During the weeks before Christmas
Hctty made almost no progress in ac-
quaintanceship with her companions
She surmiscd from their actions that they
did not care for her company, and being
an exceedingly bashful little girl, she
drew more within herself, and watched
their games from her silent corner on
the window which overlooked the play
ground, often wondering why nobody
seemed to like her better. Once, shortly
after her entrance into school, Gerty
Smith had asked her to "cOme and play
tag" but Hetty, confused and abashed
by the number of curious eyes bent upon
her, had abruptly declined the invitation
The next moment she was sorry she had
not said yes; but nobody asked her again,
One day at recess, when it wanted
but week of the happy Christmas
time, Hetty was alone in the school
room. The last scholar had disappeared
down the stairway, and Mr.. Bacon the
. teacher, had gone down the street on his
daily visit to the post-ofiice. Hetty
crossed the room, and threw open the
window. The air inside was hot and
close, and she stood for a moment
breathing in the freshness, and watch
ing the cloud-shadows on the opposite
hills, now white with their sparkling
mantle of newly fallen snow. Outside
on the steps below were huddled to-
gether group of girls. As usual Sarah
Grant was the speaker:
proud, stuck-up thingn' she ex-
claimed, angrily. Catch me bowling
fn hn, lnl - I 4 H.
she's got to be so proud over, for my
part
why, Mr.. Northam is awful rich,
Sarah
"What if he is? Money amt every
thing, and Hetty Northam amt any
smarter than other folks. She can't
parse sentence right to save her life;
and she has no business to dress as she
does, wearing a fur cloak to school! l
should be thankful to get anything to
Keep me warm. There is pa working
Tor almost nothing and he heard that
all the mill hands were TO have their
wages cut down next month. | say Mr..
Northam hasn't any right to screw us
GOWN so as to buy fine clothes for Miss
Hetty and hate hern'
AHc SlIlS were uSeu 10 Saran S ndran-
CUES, and soon tired of them, so Emma
rorter fastened to say in softer voice:
We'll never mind; let's sit down here
IN the sun and tell what we'd like for
Christmas. !, for one, want new pair
Oh skates, What do you want, Sarah?"
=, u don't know of. anything should
IKE better than lots and lots of books.
unless it was. good, warm shawl. 1
almost freeze in mine. Yes, do know
Mhat want most though--a book with
sIaI piece of poetry in it that Hetty
HNorlham spoke last week. o, it was
beautiful!
On the Friday before Hetty in her
,urh' according to the custom of the
s.chool, had recited Poe's Bells" and
men men strange music had charmed Sarah
@rant. who, Notwithstanding her blunt,
ttonleumeS coarse speech and hasty
"nper' loved poetry, and she longed to