The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1885-12-23
For the Reporter.
MISS. JAMES CHRISTMAS.
BY MRS. Il. p,


The coming winter look d long and
dreary to Miss Jane Hardy. To be sure,
she was blest with good health, plenty of
money, a handsome. house, and 81 fl.
cieDt number of acquaiD' ances. But, here
1t was, only the first of December, and
this poor, rich woman, actually dreaded
the thoughts of the lonely days ahead.
Somehow, her mind persisted In revert
Ing to her early chldhood; before
wealthy, and chiidless aunt Nancy, had
ever dreamed of adopting the little coun
try-girl, and making her, her heiress
Cousin John Fernald lived on the "old
place" now, with his large family OF small
children.
1t was only about thirty miles from the
city, and occasionally, in the summer-time
Miss Jane urifted down there for u day or
Two.
She bad never thought of going there
in the winter, until to-day; but as she
stood 10 her warm dining-room, looking
out upon the snowy streets, she suddenly
wondered how it looked out ia the couu.
try.
"Why," she said to herself, 81 really
think | should like to slide down bill.
believe will try and spend Christmas
with John and Nell-if they want me-
with little sigh. And she tbereupon
proceeded to write to her friends; and
right here, let US remark that Miss Jane
was not good pen-woman. Moreover,
her letters were after the manner of tcle-
gr aphc dispatches; very brief, ami right
to the point. Accordingly, her letter ran
as follows:
"Desr Frends-Will you receive poor
lonely woman at your home, for Christ
mas visit? l feel the need of friends this
year. If can arrange to do so, | would
much like to visit you at that time. If
perfectly agreeable, please communicate.
Yo1r afiectionate cousin,
JANE HARDY"
Now be it distinctly understood, that
Miss Jane was not an unkind, nor a pen
urious woman. But she was lltllc
thoughtless, and very unobserving. Con
sequenty, during her flying visits at
"cousin Johns" she uad never noticed
any of the little economies and make
shifts about the premises. To be suie,
it did occur to her last SUMMERTIME time
she was taken i'll there, and Obliged to
stay two weeks instead of as many days
that cousin Nell sewed good deal, and
she privately wondered why they did not
keep two servants, instead of one, half
grown, incapable girl. After she came
hume however, so many things had claim
ed her attention that she had not thought
very much about her friends But now
Christmas was near at hand, and, like the
majority of people, Miss Jane thought at
that blessed time, rather more about those
who might possibly not be quite so fortunate
rs herself, than at any other time IN the
year. SO, after fully deciding upon her
Christmas visit, she bethought herself to
pack up some gifts to take to the child.
rem And really" she thought benevo-
lently "perhaps John isD't very rich. l
will carry something really useful to John
and Nell"
While she was trying 10 make up her
mind as to the usefulness of handsome
rug the following astonishing epistle from
her relatives was banded her.
"Dear cousin Jane We are truly
grieved and surprised, to hear of the loss
of your fortune. But do not fret over 1t
any more than you can help, and come to
us at once. We will give you a hearty
welcome, and home with us as long as
you may desire. Please accept the en-
closed small check for travelling expep-
SEES. We only regret 1t is not larger; but
1t is all the ready money we have in the
house. Now Jaue, do not hesitate to ac-
CepC LIllS llbbie lOhu VIC aiC WHY wv E'aN
to repay In part. for past favors. The
children all send lots OF love
Your afiectioDate cousins,
John AND NELL.
"For goodness sake!" exclaimed Miss
Jane, looking first at the letter md then
at the s.small check"-for five dollars
"Why, they have someway got it /, to their
heads that have lost my property. How
in the world"-aDd she read the letter the
second time. But no light was thrown
upon the mystery.
However, one thing-yes, two-became
manifest to her mind first that ohm and
Nell were her good, true, and loving
friends secondly, that they were decided
ly not rich As third reading was i'm
possible, owing to a slight dimDess of heI
vision, NJ IS Jane gave it up as something
too deep for her penetration, and sat and
| scolded herself vigorously for full hall
| hour, as being a blind, selfish creature
| To think that II had never occurred to bel
| that these dear friends might sometimes
lack. If not the actual necessities OF life
some unnecessary things that help u
make lille worth living. At the end OF the
| half-hour she wiped her eyes, pocketed
her handkerchief, and arrayed herself FOL
a shopping expedition.
| "Psst favors I" she thought to hersel
as she paid for warm, handsome CLOAK
| for Nell, ~ wonder If l ever did favol
| item with anythin but few Christmas
| cards, or some such nonsense. But u
was something more than "nOnsense'