Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1886-12-23
MARGIE'S CHRISTMAS EVE.

1t was the day before Christmas
A cold still day with leaden sky
hanging like gray curtain over the
earth. A day cherries enough tc
make poor little Maggie Hepburn's
| heart sink and her blue eyes fill with
tears as she sat pressing her cheek
gainst the car window and trying
va inly to catch glimpse of the sun
Just one little ray of sunlight would
have set her eyes and heart dancing
again, for there never was a merrier
fairy than MAJ gle, but the grey clouds
hung lower and lower and she could
not help being mi 'erable.
Poor child She was all alone in
the world, with nothi ng but her tight
heart and her trust in Providence to
keep her from dispair. Four years
ago she had been left an orphan, anti
since then the cold, unwilling cha. rlty
Of her aunt had supported her at a
city boarding. school. She was goin1
now to live with her aunt as the I'm
der-paid governess of tribe of inso-
lent, ill-bred children. She had been
travelling all night, and cold, fatigue
and unhappiness had made her cheeks
pale, and her eyes languid, but the
brave young heart kept hoping, hop
ing on, and trusting the future to bring
her peace and happiness. Now, !
mean to topthinking about myselfand
look for something else bright, if |
can t see the sun, she thought, as the
train halted in city depot. There
! knew | should find something cheer
full. What pretty group Of girls
And how happy they look, chatting
and laughing with their friends
They are coming in, declare. Now,
| shall have pleasant occupation in
watching them.
The party entered three young
girls, dark-oyed, blooming and pretty
and five gentlemen, young, too, and
all good looking. The merriest set
they were, and evidently, from their
remarks, they were bound upon some
very pleasant expedition. With a
good deal of hustle and laughter they
were at last seated, and, as they smil-
ed and nodded farewells to their
friends on the platform, the train went
Earring and laundering on its way
again.
Little Margis, seated just opposite
the party, watched them quietly, and |
learned many things about them. She
learned that the two brown-eyed girls
with such dazzling compilations were
Alice and Emma, and one of the
young men their brother Leslie. The
tall, queenly girl with a skin like a
magnolia bloom, and dark lashss
dropping low over her black eyes, was
Adelaide Adelaide Brent, appar-
emily, for gentleman whom she call
ed brother, and who was by far the
graVest of the party, was addressed as
Mr.. Brent by the two hazel-eyed girls.
Then there we're George and Tom
Hardy, two fun-loving youths with
almost imperceptible moustacbes, and
John Winston, a distinguished-Io look
ing young man, with very dark gray
eyes, and quiet, graceful manners.
He always spoke in low, subdued
tone, but what he said was sometimes
accompanied by smile of intense
amusement, and glitter of the deep
gray eyes. Then shout of laughter
was sure to follow from the rest of
The party, and Margie would wish she
mad heard what he said.
Poor little Mareiel The merry par
" opposite paid very little attention
% her. A glance or two from their
aughing eyes fell on her quiet figure
and glinted off again coldly and care.
essly. She was only a pale, sleepy