The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1886-12-24
THE HAppIEST MOMENT.


BOW 1T CAME TO THE GUESTS OF a CHRIST
III nH MAS PARTY.
Honor, aged 90, and her Aunt Margaret,
aged 3S and unmarried, smaintained them
selves by keeping morning scliool for young
ladies in Paradise row, one of the back
streets of Camden Town, London, which
consists of ten mean little houses. Aunt Mar
garet was the daughter of the rector Of Bray
leigh, and Honor was her sisters child. The
sister had married an artist, aud she and her
husband both died when Honor was mere
baby. Her aunt and grandfather had edu-
Gated her. Soon after the sectors death the
two ladies were impoverished by the failure
of the bank which contained their little store
OF wealth. So the school was opened, and
they got on fairly well, enjoying their indie
pendencer .although not ia receipt of very
promising income. A
Honor had an uncle-her fathers brother
the rich Mr. Bryson, who, although he gave
them no financial aid, always invited his
niece and her aunt TO spend the holidays at
his house AS the Christmas of 1872 drew
near the two impoverished gentlewomen be-
gan to fix over their bits of finery in the ex-
pectation of the usual visit to Uncle Brysons.
Instead OF the anticipated invitation they re-
ceived a very polite r7te from Uncle b, say
ing that 'the coming SO far must have always
been tax upon them," and therefore he
"would. not again press the Invitation" He
softened the blow with check for 920, his
best wishes and the compliments Of the sea-
SON.
There was reason for this beyond what
the two disappointed ladies could dream Of
The Brysons had manageable daughter,
and there was a certain Sir Edward Dusart
who, they thought, was about to propose to
her, ard Aunt Bryson had discovered that
Honor was much too handsome and attractive
60 have around when such an important pos
sibility was pending; and Sir Edward was to
be Christmas guest Aunt Margaret had
fondly dreamed that Sir Edward cared for
Eonor, whom he had met more than once at
Uncle Bryson's. But when she heard that he
was about to propose to Uncle Bryson's
daughter Amelia she hoped that Honor did
not care for him. t
The first impulse Of Aunt Margaret and
Honor on receiving Uncle Bryson's check was
to send it back. Second thought persuaded
them to keep it and use every penny of it in
giving Christmas party themselves-not a
party for the rich and prosperous, nor even
for their financial equals; but party for the
good and kind among their neighbors the in
Iiabitants of Paradise Row, humble souls, to
whom all pleasures were rare
They took Mr.. Redmond, the incumbent of
tlie new church in their district, into their
confidence, and he was greatly interested in
the plan, and promised to help them all he
could. He was tho only friend the two ladies
kad made since they went to Paradise row
to whom they could say anything about their
past lives. He often looked in upon them
after their days work was done, and it seemed |
plain to Aunt Margaret that he took great in |
.erest in Honor Sometimes Aunt Margaret |
said to herself that the match would not be |
30 undesirable, although he was q widower,
with grown-up daughter, and little too |
old for Honor. t f
They had busy time preparing for the |
feast. They felt in duty bound to spend every |
penny of the money. In addition TO the sup |
per, every guest was to have a present, and |
several sick ones were to have presents sent
them. They called in "Old Mamie" to help
the maid of all work get the feast ready, and,
in her language, the house soon "smelt as |
good as cook shop" Old Mamie was to be
one Of the guests of the Christmas party. She
had been in charge of the guardians of the
poor; but had managed to have her GLOW
anccsv sant IN her 1owIv lodpino-s ond rever
got into the dreaded "house, where the poor
are taken In the last extremity.
Among the other important guests were
the "little tailor and his wife, y "Sallys grand
MOTHER" Johnny and his mother" and the
poor lodger." Sally's grandmother was in
Shc receipt OF parish relief. The "poor
odger,' as the neighbors called him, was q
young man about whom no one knew any
more than that he did not appear to havs . !,
- - A.