The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1884-12-19
MARGARET'S CHRISTMAS.


BILE in the hall, where were others await
ing the hour of mailing, with smile on
her lips and in her dark eyes.
She even hummed little song softly, as
she passed through the nursery and enter
ed the school room; and the children eeas-
ed their noisy play to run after their gov
erness and climb into her lap.
''What makes you sing, Miss Arnold -
questioned little Elsie. you haven't sung
for SO long and you look SO tired always.
You don't look sorry tonight though
What is making you glad"
The child laid her head against Marga-
ret's shoulder caressingly as she spoke,
and patted her governess's check with a
soft, tiny hand
''Why do | sing % replied Margaret
''Oh, Elsie, don't you know Christmas is
coming, and we ought to be glad-oughtn't
we dear?o
''Our house is jolly at Christmas time, l
tell you,' interrupted Harry, boy of sew
EN- winters, who had himself been Christ
mas gift to his mother, and who, as a con-
sequence, enjoyed an unusual share of the
presents at each return of his birthday.
Its awfully jolly, and we have lots of com
pany. Do you have nice times at your
house, Miss Arnold p
eve used to, when | was a little girl
Harry, but there are only two of us, now
mother and land our Christmas days
are quiet, although very happy when we
are together
"Won't you be glad to get home again,
Miss Arnold? Id be awfully homesick,
away from mamma so long
And Margaret replied gently:
''Glad to get home? Oh, Harry, if you
only knew how glad,''
The opening of the schoolroom door in
terrupted the conversation, and Mrs. Gran
ger entered.
ooh, hero you are, children! Papa was
asking for you. Run down stairs
Then, as the little feet went pattering
merlily through the hall, the lady turned
to her goyerness.
Il came to say, Miss Arnold, that it will
be impossible for you to 60 home this
Christmas. My daughter, Isabel, expects
company to remain with us during the
holidays and you can understand how
troublesome the children will be without
your care. | am sorry; but, after all, it
can't make much difference to you, | pre-
sumo, and really, your presence will be alb
sOlutely necessary to me.
She withdrew herself and her trailing
robes from the schoolroom, as Margaret
bowed silent reply to the command which
had instantly driven the gladness of only
few moments previous from her heart.
What did she know of the glad plans and
hopes which the children's governess had
ventured to form in honor of the coming
season of joy and peace? Or, if she had
known-ths woman of fashion and ease,
would she have cared?
But the twilight shadows came on and
filled the schoolroom with gloom as
dark as the gloom which crowded the
sunshine from out Margaret's heart, and
presently the girl went YEARLY out of the
room and down stairs.
Thomas the footman, was just gathering
the letters from the table for the purpose
of mailing them; but Margaret's voice ar
rested him.
Thomas, there is letter to my mother
amongst those; will you kindly hand it to
me %
''And don't We want it sint Miss ?" he
asked, wonderingly.
He noticed that the governess S face was
white and drawn, as she stood i'll the full
glare of the hall-light, but her voice was
steady and quiet, and she smiled Thank
YOU as the man returned the letter which
had been written so gladly but an hour
previous
This time she went slowly up the stairs,
and, in place of the glad light which be-
fore had filled her eyes, there We're tears;
and instead of the song so softly hummed,
there was only low, half-restrained sob,
as back into the schoolroom, lighted only
by the dull grate-fre, Margaret Arnold
walked with flushed cheeks and aching
heart.
The letter, with all its words of loving
cheer and glad anticipations for the lonely,
widowed mother far away, was laid quietly
upon the Goals and burned before Marga-
ret's eyes ere she lighted the gas and pen
ned with trembling hand, another which
must 90 i'll its place.
The tears We're dry, and the patient heart
had grown yet more patient, after the fol-
lowing lines were written and addressed to
"Mrs. NJ Arnold -, Conn"
my DARLING MoTHER:-G had thought
to spend this Christmas with you, but Mrs.
Granger has decided that my services are
needed here | am paid for those services
what right have we to grImbe? In
fact what rights have the poor at any
time. mother? Does this letter read bit
terly? Well, my heart has ventured to re-
bel against fate Il little tonight, for, one
hour ago, was SO happy fairly sang, and
my heart was so full of plans for you and
myself that | even regretted the few days
intervening between now and the time of
nv expected homeward start. Oh,mamma
dear, help me to be patient, and, above
all. help me to look ON the bright side, ii
there is there is such a side, to our lives.
"lour aflectionatc daughter