The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1885-12-25
On Christmas Eve.

Five schoolgirls, bright eyed and
merry- voiced, were hu idled about q
great fire i'll the otherwise deserted
echoal-room at - Seminary not far
from the Clyde. The roaring winds out
side only made tn fire seem the cheer
lei. And, to-, these five girls were SO
6 nd to see each o,her again, now that
the holidays were over, that no amount
CT cold could dar.pen their spirits.
They had been "chums" ever since
they first entered the school; sometimes
quarre occurred, and they paired off.
with prett Martie Banner on both sides;
but 1t only lasted little while, and the
=" Elve-umvirate, as Fanny Decker
al rays called it, went on as smoothly as
ever.
Clnrissa Gray was the Oldest and most
etsltious, Ella the handsomest, Martie
the most amiable, Netti the most sty-
H'}1 and Fannie well, Fanny was the
dearest A wild wild elf was she, the
fourth child of family of ten, who
were all igood-nat red and happy, but
none like Fanny Eighty Fam" as
her tail iavorite cousin nicknamed her
years ago. hey had abbreviated it
il @ "Fligh y and thus she remained
Eighty Decker. Not teacher in the
st;h.,o was there who did not reprove
he at least oneA Il week, and as she did
So, sigh for small share of the girls
spirits.
b 10 .eturn to that December evening.
They were eating apples, and Fiighty,
having pealed hers, was decorating with
the red, unbroken pairing the fair
hair of Martie, who sat at her feet.
She did not speak (quite unusual for
Ler), but listened quietly to the others.
Papa gave me some diamond ear
Oh ps," Ella was saying "You cannot
ipague how surprised was. girls
Christmas morning, at breakfast table,
they ly i'll blue velvet case by my
Plate.
"Oh, pshaw!" interrupted Nettie.
81 wanted diamond ear-drops, but papa
said l am to young, 50 he gave me two
lovely bracelets. fine gold snakes, with
large diam ND eyes; almost as good as
ear.drops"
"W.s that all you received?" asked
little Martie, innocently turning her
head SO that long string of red pairing
fell over her ear, at which Fli.:hty
laughed i'll the most approved school
girl f:,s ion.
"Oh, mercy, no." cried Ella and
Neitie together Il had j"
"Young ladies, cried Flighty. "do
wait. Martie, love, run for my note
book, 70 that / may mark them down"
4 Dead silence; one of the lifts" inn
mihent.
II had pair of beautiful skates"
said. ,Martie's soft voice, land tan
colored, six buttoned gloves, and box
of 0oR bons
a"That was not much. I don't call
thoso nice Christmas gifts, interrupted
EIa N q s8 E
" s'Dsar me don't youi" aud Flighty
1opnd the cold apple skin around
Marte's neck, making her jump aud
scream. "Was Santa Claus ct yessr
house. Oada" 800 ~
"Yes." replied Ciarissa. with rising
color. although Ella may scarcely call
whak;he left Christmas gifts have q
beautiful volume of Schiller. and the
SHAtin Dictionary I have wished for so
- SWELL" laughed Netsie eff you don't
call the strangest things gifts Papa
gave me the dictionary as soon as
asked for il"
"Bother!" cried Flighty. II be It
you all My Christmas gift Il got but
one worth mentioning) is brighter than
your diamonds, more durable than skates
and gloves, will afford more pleasure
than Latin or German, and is all i'll one
parcel, received by Miss Frances Decker
at eight o'clock ON Christmas Eve"
"Why. Fligh'y!" cried all four.
''True as fate itselfi"
"What was it? What could it be?
Do tell u.s. Eighty !" they chorused.
"Well, be quiet, and I will, answered
the heroine of the hour, genially, and {
little patronizingly. "Did you eve.
ass-'o. .ny COUSIN, t'arke nLglaham2"