The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-12-26

| been intensely angry az the information
that an old friend and schoolmate had
received an offer of a larger salary than
she herself obtained, for position in a
neighboring choir; when she "knew
that many could not sign as well, and
had much inferior voice."
care you going home 2" inquired the
sexton.
Hattie Carol started from her reverie
like one half dazed. The others had all
gone, and the sexton had turned out all
the lights but one, and stood waiting for
her TO go.
II beg your pardon, Mr.. Wilson," she
said hastily, and hurried out into the
street. 1t was a clear frosty night, and
once started on the way home she re-
sumed her meditations.
"Hattie Carroll" she said TO herself
mentally, "what selfish girl you are
What have you done for Christmas To
be sure you have bought and made a
few presents for your friends, but you
know you will receive double what you
will give; and you have contributed to
the class present and have laid aside a
little sum of money for the servants |;
but what real heart work have you done
as your share in the peace and good
will p And now it is too late to do any
thing more"
"Too late ?" queried monitor with.
in.
IF had the time what could do :?
The Christian Endeavor has taken care
of all the poor folks (she had not become
member though often invited to do SOY,
the teachers have looked after all the
little ones, and the Ladies' Society looks
after the aged, and nothing is left for
me. Mother has often told me that
did not take to benevolence naturally,
but l should be glad to do something for
somebody, and YOU may be sure that
not one whom I could help has been
overlooked"
The field is the world suggested the
monitor,
"How ashamed ! shall be to wear my
lovely Christmas dress, when l cannot
think of ore sad heart have cheered."
As she thought OF the handsome new
dress, her fathers gift, the re-
marks of the dressmaker as she had
folded it up came into her mind.
This is nearly the last work we have
ln," she said, as she folded up the dress
carefully. IL am sorry the season has
been so short, my girls are all a long
ways from their homes and have their
hoard to pay they had not expected to
he idle so early, and they are feeling
very badly because they can not do all
they wish to for their friends at home
for Christmas. They will spend very
lonely Christmas, most of them" she
added.
Gould you do nothing for them ?"
querIed the monitor.
"But they would not accept presents
from me-"
But they might accept kind words"
said the inner voice.
Hattie had reached home, and enter
ing the library where her mother was
waiting; went at once to her for kiss
and asked il she might "do something
very nice for Christmas.
81 am glad 10 see my daughter inter
ested IN some good work" replied Mrs.
Carrot, and smoothing back the rebel =
,hous curls che returned the kiss with all
H mothers love and tenderness.
Hattie sat down and began to plan
what she could do. She was the only
child of wealthy parents, petted and in
dulged, but never brought forward, and
now although nearly twenty years of
age seeming scarcely more than seven
teen. She had united with the church
some two years previous, but had never
taken hold of the active work of the So
ciety; and now with her newly awak-
ened desires for usefulness, was some
what at loss to proceed.
At length a happy though came to
her.
II will have a Christmas tree and in
vite them all. have seen every one of
hem and they are all bright pretty girls;
and l know they would enjoy 1t. Ot
course shall ask Miss Sanford too.
What shall put on the tree for them /;
there is that package of cards have not
yet opened, perhaps they will do; and
we will have Refreshments and some
musiu; perhaps the other singers would
come-Oh wouldn't it be fine !"
The last she said aloud, and her moth
er looking up from her book inquired,
What would be fine ?"
She unfolded her plans to her mother
who was much interested and pleased.
The next morning found Miss Carol
very busy with her new plans. She first
wrote an invitation to Miss Sanford to
spend Wednesday evening with her,
also inviting all the young ladies in her
employ urging them all to accept-as shr
wished very much to help them have a
pleasant Christmas.
Miss Sanford was very much surprised
and delighted when she opened the note;
and carrying it into the woTkroom, she
read it aloud to the girls.
II Miss Carol could have heard the
exclamation and comments when the
note was finished, she would have felt
more than repaid for her good inten-
tions.
Isn't that lovely" said Sadie Thomas.
Il WAS just saying that it would be a
very long and lonely day 10 me; for
every one in the house is gong some
where, aud shall have no one to speak
to all day" o
"Well I" said KittIe Weston, Il shall
not he much better off than you" Effip
and have no friends to invite and nont
to visit. We always dread holiday"
Do you all accept the invitation p IN
quired Miss Sanford.
1--WE do we do ~ chimed in all the
voices. 1--WE should all be delighted to
visit Miss Carol"
Miss Sanford replied TO the note, say
lux Iutl "buiu bC NOlJ w
spend the evening with her and were
very grateful for her kindness and
thoughtfulness.
As it was her own scheme Miss Carol
was to do everything she possibly could
herself without calling upon any one for
assistance. She found quite little sum
IN her purse; not knowing that her
mother had quietly slipped in very gen.
erous bill which with the money already
there was amply sufficient for all her
needs.
She went out and ordered the tree and
evergreeus and bouDtiful suppy of cut
flowers to he delivered at the house on
Wednesday, and not being satisfied with
her stock of Christmas cards on investi.
CATION she purchased some exquisite and
appropriate booklets for the girls and a
beautiful and choice book Of poems for
Miss Sanford. She then returned home
after calling at her dressmaker's and OBJ.
tanned each girls name.
Meeting with the choir Saturday night
at the rehearsal she requested each, "the
| nlpaaura Of their c0mnanV on Wadnea.