The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-12-25
Select Storg.
"ALL FOR THE BEST"
BY s. A. WEISS.

from OUHuuy 4'ey"e'
Christmas Day !-and as the ehurch-bells
rang out their rejoicing chimes, Miss Hetty
/ ThorIe stood at the window of hsf little
parlor, watching the snow-aakes tiat fell
thick and fast upon the whitening street,
or ghirled in stormy eddies in the gusts of
gind that swept around the corneFs,
san old-fashioned Christmas Day" she
thought, somewhat sadly. aPleasaut for
those who have plenty of money and friends,
but dreary for the poor and lonely"
She was a trim little woman of six-and-
twenty-an old maid, she called herself
with neat figure, a fair oval face and soft
bright brown eyes, like birds. But the
eyes were now full of tears, for she was
thinking of the last happy Christmas that
she had ever spent-of her stern but kindly
uncle, who had been parent to herself,
and little Tom and Lily and of anotheF-
q tall form, with handsome face and blue
laughing eyes, that always grew tender
when they looked upon her.
The day after that Christmas there had
been stormy scene between herself and
her uncle, who had accused him of being
too idle and pleasure loving to think of
marrying his niece; and then he had gone
away, telling her that he would come back
some time, but meantime would not seek
to bind her by any promise.
At first he had occasionally written to
her, but then the letters had Suddenly
ceased, aud Abel Harper, the prosperous
Young farmer who had been his rival, spread
report about his having married in the
far West, whittier he had gone.
Hetty Thorne did not believe it; yet he
seemed to have forgotten her, and she had
little thought of ever again beholding him.
And meanwhile, in the sudden poverty
that had hefallen them pn her qncle's death,
she had been forced to come to the city and
work for the support of herself, and her
little brother and sister.
They had left her now-Tom to work,
and Lily to go to friend of her mother
who kept young ladies school and offered
to give her an education.
She had expected to have them with her
this Christmas Day, but yesterday two let
ters had come-one from Tom, saying his
employer could not spare him; and the
other from Lily, complaining, in burst of
disappoiutmeut, that Miss Blake was afraid
to trust her to ride twenty miles on the
railroad without protector. As if she was
not ten years old, and able to take care of
herself
Miss Thorne was thinking over all these
things as she stood watching the falling
snow, and feeling very lonely and forsaken.
But it was not her way to yield to such
discouraging influences, so presently she
turned briskly from the window, and began
to make preparations for her solitary Christ
mas dinner.
Just then came an uncertain knock at
the door, and little black face, set off by
plaits of kinky hair, was thrust in.
"Is it you, Polly 2" said Hetty. "Come
in
Polly needed no second invitation. She
walked in conadeptIally-a quaint good
patured little being, dressed in clean
patched calico, and with bow of red-and-
yellow ribbon pinned above her forehead.
This latter an unwonted decoration in honor
of Christmas.
81 jest frought I'd step roun' an sees |
could help you any, Miss Hetty," apologet-
ically. "Gwine to hab any Christmas COM
p'ny to eat dinner wild yer ?"
aWhy no, Polly. My little brother and
sister cannot come, apd | have no friends
to invite.n
Polly looked sympathetic,
sDat's mighty hard on yer. | amt got
no fFiea's ngdder. We'se hofe ies ike,
Miss Hetty,"
She said this quite cheerfally, aud with
her usual grin.
aIt is very sad to be without friends, "
said Miss Thorne.
aWell, I dunno. l gifts long, an if we
is poor, dar's heap wuss off n us. He,
he r
Hetty looked curiously at the little black