St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1888-12-20
MISCELLANY.
MARION SPENCER.
A story of Christmas Eve.

A story of Christmas Eve.
Written by Daisie Wesley for The OdIedonidn.
"Come Ned, do cast off that terribly
sober face and talk with me. Now dc
say you will go home with me and
spend Christmas. | don't suppose
Nellie would ever forgive me if l were
not at home Christmas eve. The class
which are to graduate in June gives a
concert that evening. say Ned, wont
YOU as much as look at a fellow 2"
Harry Carter and Ned Spencer were
Young men who had been college
chums and were now in business in the
same city. Harry was a lawyer and
Ned partner In a wholesale dry goods
house. They were both live young
men entering into every work with
energy. They were members of the
same church and in church work were
almost invariably together. But there
was this difference, Harry Carter had a
home which contained the loved father
and mother and the darling sister. He
was now going home and was anxious
to take his friend with him.
Ned Spencer had no home, his faith
er and mother were both dead and his
little eight-years old sister had been
left in the care of an aunt. He knew
not where she was now.
AS Harry continued his pleading,
Ned replied,
81 would like to go home with you,
Harry, but | feel very lonely tonight.
1t is six years since learned any thing
about my little sister. | would give
much to find her"
"Now Ned, will you not tell me
about your sister, we may be able to
work together and find her. You have
never told me only that she could not
be found. Where was she when you
last heard from her ~
''It is long story, Harry, and one |
do not often speak about, but | will tell
it to you now, for hearing you talk of
going home and your sister makes me
feel doubly my loneliness.
GAS you know, father died when
was seventeen and when my sister was
only few months old. | remained
with mother a year, and tken came
West with fathers only brother. He
was very wealthy and had no children,
and as was his namesake he became
interested in me. He sent me through
college and then took me into his store
came one of the partners. | went
home every year as long as mother
lived and when she was taken Marion
went to live with an aunt. She was a
very peculiar person, one who was al
ways moving about. kept writing to
them and for awhile / received a letter
from Marion every week. Six years
ago tonight | heard the last | ever
L. Oh
way to find her, but have been unsuc-
cessful thus far. | do not intend to
give up but | don't know what to do
next. Money has not been spared in
trying to find her. Marion was love-
Iy child. | remember when | was on
my last visit home, she would stand by
mother and sing so sweetly. | almost
wOrshipped my baby sister and now
she is lost to me-"
Ned Spencer covered his face and
wept bitterly, he seemed so alone in
the world. This friend sat looking at
him his heart full of pity and then said,
"Thank you for telling me, and now
Ned you just come home with me,
spend Christmas and / will then try
and help you in your search. Who
knows but our united efforts may
bring SUGGEST We will pray for it,
any way. / must start tonight for you
know it is several days travel and Nell
lie writes if fail to reach there in time
to hear her dearest friend sing at the
concert, she will never forgive me, or
she thinks she won't"
Ned Spencer arose YEARLY from his
chair and said, 81 might as we'll go,
but | am almost too blue to be cOmpa-
r. 7
you at the station"
Ina short time the two friends were
being rapidly whirled toward the East
to n home where loved ones were wait
ing for them.
Harry Carriers home was one of lux
ury as you would notice at a glance
were you to look in upon it this even
ing of the Odd of December. A lady
and gentleman are seated in large easy
chairs the gentleman at once would
be recognized as HarIy's father,-a fine
looking person with dignified man
ner which commanded respect. Mrs.
Carter, as she leans back in her chair,
her white hair waving back from her
brow, disclOses face which has such
a sweet, mOtherly expression you would
love her at once. Curled up on large
Ottaman with her hand resting in her
mothers, is Harry's sister, Nellie. A
bright intelligent girl of eighteen years
of age. She is very much excited and
her mother laughingly suggests that
she stop to breathe.
"But, mamma, you know Marion is
the grandest girl in the whole class,
and | do think it was too mean in Fan
ny Morris to ask her what her dress
was to be that she would wear Christ
mas eve. Marion turned little pale |
but answered just rs patiently, Il
shall have to wear the one | have worn |
to church this year, Miss Morris. 1t
will do nicely | think Fanny does |
not know half that Marion does, but
she is rich and can have a new dress |
any time. You know, mamma, the
girls in our class nearly all wanted to
dress in white, but Marion did not feel
that she could afford to get new
dress now, so of course the vote was
not carried, 'as it would not do to have
an odd one Fanny said. | did pity
Marion, they said such hateful things"
81 am very glad the vote was not
carried, little daughter, for | could not
have allowed you to dress in white on
such cold chilly night as December
usually has. 1t would have been You
instead of Marion that made the
trouble. | am sorry the girls cannot
realize what grand girl she is. There
are but few that would have worked
their way through school as she has,
not relative living that size knows of,