Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1883-01-03
For the Vermont W
Christmas Patches.

Put a thought beneath their rags
There, my dear, isn't that thought ? and
Miss Serina Skillings laid down the paper
she had been reading, and, removing her
spectacles, looked through her weak blue
eyes at Miss Jemima Skillings who sat op-
posite to her at the table knitting indus
triously.
Isn't that thought Don't tell me,
Jemimy, that you can't bear Mrs. Browning
after that, because won't believe you. The
dear heart Put a thought beneath their
rags and tears actually blinded the faded
eyes,
Hum patch d be more serviceable or
some whole clothes, it seems to me. The
less thought that's under rags the more
comfort for the wearer, say. Anyway
wouldn't want to think much if had to be
a ragbag," answered Miss Jemima vigor-
ously clicking her needles.
"No, Jemimy, no more you wouldn't.
Think of you being ragbag replied the
sister meekly. "But that was thought of
yours, Jemimy, very smart thought, and
perhaps Mrs. Browning meant that when
she wrote that line. Like as not the thought
helps to get rid of the rags and but
timid Miss Serina did not finish her SEN
tence Instead she took up the towel she
was hemming before the paper came, and
sewed steadily without saying word.
They were twin sisters, these two, spin
sters of age unknown, the only things in the
busy little town which seemed to stand still.
For years the same gentle face, framed in
its short gray curls, had smiled out from
that same front window at the children
going to school. For years the same sharp
voice had ordered them from the plat be-
fore the door, whittier those smiles had lured
them, while the vigorous strokes of a broom
swept clean the path to the gate.
But the years which seemed to fall so
lightly were felt A lengthening of the
hours of rest, shortening of the hours of
toll, narrowing of their ever meager in
come, because of smaller strength with
which to work, all told tales of age coming
on. But Miss Jemima battled with her in
firmities, as she did with everything else
the world brought her, while Miss Serina
yielded gracefully, acknowledged the weari-
ness so constant a companion, and often ex-
changed needle and thimble for paper or
book. This winter afternoon she had found
this single line of Mrs. Browning's and it
had seized her heart. So as she glanced at
her sister, with head erect and fingers occu
pied, she dared to speak again.
"Jemimy," she said timidly, " Wouldn't
it be nice for you and | to put on some
Christmas patches ?"
"Some what 2" asked Jemima in aston.
ishment.
"Christmas patches"
"Christmas patches - echoed Miss Je-
NINA eying her sister as if she thought her
insane.
"Ye-es" hesitated Miss Serina. "You
know, dear, we have so little to give at
Christmas. With all our denying and con-
triving-and you know we haze denied our
selves and contriyed, Jemima-we could
only give one pair of socks and one ruffled
apron towards the Christmas tree. But we
could give little sewing. could put on
quite number of patches before Christ
mas and the poor little things would be
warm. We could sew on a thought with
the patch, you know, thought of love.
His love and ours. think he would like
it."
A very long speech for Serina. Before
she had ended Miss Jemima had dropped
her work in her lap and was regarding her
sister with peculiar look in her eyes.
"And you propose to patch up all the lit.
tie ragamufiius, Sereeny Well, must say
Where are the patches to come from 2"
"That is just the best of it p cried Sc
rins eagerly, delighted that her sister did
not veto the attempt. "There's Mrs. Jones
and Mrs. Simpson and ever so many more
who are too poor to give much Christmas,
and too busy, with their large families, to
work for others, who can furnish patches
and so help, and we can give the labor"
Seems to me that's very small thing
to do, Sereeny, sew on few patches" OBJ
jected Miss Jemima.
alt is so small it has never been done,
Jemimy, and if it's all we can do, and for
the Lords sake, then you forget the
thought, Jemimy, the thought o. the main
thing. That is why I'd like to call them
Christmas patches. Some of the poor little
dears never had anybody to patch or love