Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-12-21
jamie MOOre's Christmas
Gift.


what they were going to do. Sug-
gestions were made, both wise and
foolish, some accepted, some reject
ed, and the pros and cons were ban
died back and forth with the most
jolly good humor.
But through it all jamie Moore sits
apart listening, aud irresistibly inter-
ested, yet, with a self-repression,
strange in one so young, scarcely
permitting herself to smile in sympa-
| thy, much less to take part in the
conversation. Why is it? and why
does she at last get up and leave the
| room?
Little Mary Lou has been wonder
ing all the time, and now she inter-
cepts her, and, slipping soft hand
in hers, whispers pleadingly: "Don't
60, jamie, We want to know what
you think about it, too
81 don't think am needed" the
girl replied chilly, though her lips
culver and her voice is scarcely
steady. Once more little Mary Lou
begs:
eyes, but we do need you: nobody
can tell us as we'll as you what to get
for mother and father
But jamie shakes her head, and
though she cannot forbear giving a
kiss to the coaxing mouth, persists
IN leaving.
And what to do? All to do what
never docs anybody any good, to go
up to her own chamber and brood
revel in her discomfort. But why?
Over what? 1t would be hard to tell.
Poor, unhappy jamie Her father
and mother had both been dead for
some years, and her fathers only
brother had requested her to be plac
ed at school until he and his family
should return from Europe. A few
months before, she had been sent for
to come home to them.
A girl of huoyant, energetic ma
ture, but shy, sensitive, and reserved
with strangers, she came fresh from
a boarding-school training, into a
family, each member of which had
the most perfect ease and self-pos-
session-that air of being satisfied
with ones self and the world, which
comes to some people naturally, to
others, from having been always
treated with consideration. 1t need
not, ought not to have been SO, but
the atmosphere of the home circle
made her she'll like an oyster, and
there was some danger of her getting
the credit of being grum.
An insane idea had been brooding
in her mind for days. This morning,
in the children's conference over
Christmas, it had been quickened into
, startling life by the simple, childish
act of one of them turning to the 9TH
er to whisper some state secret, with
a significant glance at her as if she
was the one not intended to hear.
ssThey do not want me here she
Immediately concluded, "why should
| ! stay nobody cares for me; yes, |
will 90 this very evening, and | know
: they will be glad when am gone.
; They don't perhaps, intend me to see
it, but | do. Uncle and aunt are
very kind, and dear little Mary Lou,
| do love her dearly, she is always so
sweet to me, but don't suppose even
she will care; it is just natural for
e her to he kind and loving to every
/. body. | am sure don't blame them
for not wanting me. If were only
beautiful like Lena, or as bright and
witty as Flora, or if I could sing like
!, Birdie, they might learn to love me
and l should be very happy to stay
j but to be dependent upon those who
e don't care for me who never can
:. and she began to cry softly.
t jamie Moore was no child; she
was fifteen years old if not older, and
ought to have been wiser, but we al
y hoodwink ourselves sometimes. She
. soon dried her tears, however, and
began to make some little arrange
t, ments that looked like travelling.
$ Now jamie had no money of he
It own. Her aunt had done all he
: shopping, and though her wants were
abundantly supplied, like all the res
of the children, she was expected tt
Il ask for money when she wanted it
II this jamie would never do. ''But
!: can walk" she said sturdily, 'ant
3 when night comes l will stop at some
farmhouse; / am sure they will no
refuse to let me stay all night, an(
for something to eat, well-God takes
|, care of the sparrows," and she gave
u another little sob.
'e Yes, jamie was actually going t.
IF try and make her way back to tn
old school. 81 know / can do SOM
la kind of work there to earn living
- - without being in anybody's way, un
! til l am old enough to teach
v, All day jamie was more shy ant
to cold than usual. Once or twice he
uncle's efforts to be kind brough
v tears to her eyes, or little Mary Lou
Sc tender, thoughtful love sent her t.
!, - her room in fit of regret. But eacl
ps time she hardened herself by the re
Iy fiectlon, lit is only pity after all,
lie can't be otherwise, when 1 know
ty am utterly unlovely.''
- She often took walk in the even
Id
ing, so she got off unobserved, an