Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-01-13
0eryl McClOskey and Pansy Perkins.
From the Chicago Tribune

"a sad Christmas indeed"
1t was pretty face. albeit stained with tears
and weary with watching, that was raised from
the snowy-white pillow that lay upon one end
OF the fduteuu as Beryl McCloskey spoke these
words. And just then, as If to mock her repin-
Ing, great gust of wind beat the big rain
drops against the windOw-panes more fiercely
than ever. ard the bare, black limbs of the old
oak that stood near the yeranda of BriertOn
Villa swept through the air with noise that
was almost human in its mOurnfulness,
As the girl sat there. the freight Just touch
Ing the disOrdered masses of brOnzed hair and
bringing into strong relief with its ,ltful
flashes. the pale, sad face and slender form, the
French clock on the mantel struck eleven
Beryl knew By this that 1t was nearly five
O'clock.
Il wonder IL there is another girl In all the
wide, wide world miserable as I ann" she ex-
claimed. 81. who have every thing to make
me happy-health, pleasant home loving
parents and every thing that money can pur-
chase, And yet am miserable; oh, so miser-
able"
you can never be happy, my darling" said
MIS- MeCloskey. who had stepped quietly into
the room through a pOrtiere, until you strive
to make other lives brighter. other hearts glad.
1t Is only when we have brought sunshine into
homes that have been bleak and dreary and
desOlate Tor the want Of it-only when we have
seen eyes that We're dimmed with tears spark
hing with laughter-that the true meaning of
happiness comes TO us, and 1t Is a revelation in
deed"
"You are right. mother" said Beryl. the look
OF discomfort leaving her face even as she spoke
land your words have taught me a lesson that
i trust will not soon be forgOtten'-and rising
from the fauteuil she stepped to the dressing
case and began working the powder-puf.
why. where are YOU going my darli ag?"
asked Mrs MeCloskey. as Beryl began to ex-
Tomorrow YOU will know ALL" was the re-
ply, and after turning the hands Of the French
clock back seven hours, the mother returned to
In q little cottage which stood at the foot of
Huckleberry Hill lived the widow rkins and
her only Child, a daughter. Pansy Perkins al
though born to struggle with poverty, was en-
dowed with beauty of face and figure such as
rarely falls to the lot Of any girl. Having been
eighteen years old for three consecutive sum-
mers, she was Just budding into womanhood-
Just crossing the boundary line, upon one side
OF which stands Youth, with rosy cheeks and
laughing eyes, and on the other Maturity. with
Ill Its mellOwed charms and Tipened praces
But Al Pansy Perkins sat by the hreside beneath
her mothers humble roof this Christmas Eve
tears OF sorrow and disappointment were cours-
ine down her pretty cheeks, and around the
rant mouth that the buckwheat cakes knew SO
well there was an expression Of pain-a sad
cant-hnd-tny-chewing gum look, which told toe
plainly OF a great grief that had settled on her
: young soul.
Presently there was knock at the door, anG
Pansy answered II. The visitor was Berry
AcCloskey, the he,ress OF BriertOn Villa.
II have come to see you tonight Pansy,
ohe said, because il seemed to me that to
girl who Is almost alone i'm the world Christmas
time must bring with it many thoughts ant
recollections that are far from pleasant"
That Is true" replied Pansy. 1.-TWO year
ago last Christmas fell down while skating ant
broke my hustle"
And so, said Beryl. scarcely needing the In
terruption, II resolved that one Christmas q
least should be to You tint of happiness an,
That is wis have come here tonight Yo,
know that. apart from my fathers fortune, an
rieh In my own right. and you must not refus
my gift, which YOU will find In this littl
package. Always be kind to your mother
Pansy, and try to make her lite pieasant"-an
turning, Beryl was about to leave.
But what is your present." asked Pansy
have" said Beryl, smiling sweetiy as sh
spoke. given you my second best bang"