The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1890-12-25

But don't give up yet, children"
she said, after half an hours rest Il
haven't II things were not for the
best of course things wouldn't be so.
No, can't stay now"
Up to her room she went forgetting
the cold and darkness in the one idea
| which now filled her mind. Searching
among the few things left of long ago
prosperity she found small bundle of
embroidered lace which she wrapped up
and again went out
'lt's hand-em broidered and very
fine.' she said, timidly offering it at the
fancy counter of large store.
Sorry" said the busy clerk, with a
glance at her wistful face, but there
are so many new varieties of laces
now that we should have no sale for
this
Out again on the sidewalk she took
few uncertain steps then turned into a
less pretentious store. How could such
little things as Kitty and Harry believe
that all things work together for good if
they were entirely disappointed in what
they had hoped for at this holiday sea-
son?
The seventy-ive cents were spent for
doll and a book, and she came out
with smile on her face as child
passed before her whose soft cur!s
might have belonged to Harry himself
The boy smiled back at her and was
passing on when there came noise and
confusion in the street close by.
Miss Crimp looked around in bewil-
derment. Some frightened horses came
rushing blindly toward the sidewalk.
The child, who had just got out of a
carriage and had been slow in following
those in charge of him into store, was
exactly in their track.
Miss Crimp never could recall any
thing between the moment in which
she caught the smile of the bright face
| and that in which she held the child in
| her arms on the ground outside the
curbstone, while noise of grinding
hoofs. shouts and EXPLANATIONS quickly
drew crowd about her. Then came
dim remembrance of confused inquiry
| as she was raised by kindly hands.
mo, I'm not hurt at all,'' she in
| sisted. "How is the boy?"
''Lively as a cricket" said police
| man.
She only waited to see him seized and
cried over before picking up the parcel
containing her New Years gifts, and
quietly making her way out of the
crowd. She was not hurt, she was sufe
of that Perhaps it was the memories
brought up by the sight of the old lace
in the bright gas-light which had
brought such mist before her eyes and
such weakness to her feet, causing her
almost to stagger as she went on her
way. And-the lace was gone. How
could she have forgotten to look for it
in the place where she fell? But it was
too late now, her feet absolutely re-
fused to obey as she half turned to 20
back.
The light was out in Mrs. Roberts
room and she passed on to her own. Its
four bare walls were all, it seemed,
which a cruel world granted her on this
New Years eve. No light. no warmth,
no food, no strength-no courage? A
little still, perhaps, built on founda-
ton of faith in the Lord who for weak
ness or strength, for life or death, earth
or Heaven, still orders the way of His
children for His own highest best.
A quick, sharp knock in the gray of
the early morning aroused her.
Get up, Mary Jane," called Mrs.
Roberts outside the door. ''Somebody's
asking for you.'
There's carriage, too," cried Harry,
Year. And a man that says he can't 20
till he sees you. Happy New Year
everybodyv'
1T can't be me he wants." said Miss
Crimp, as in a great futter of surprise
she at length made her appearance and
was hurried down the stairs by Harry
to the door.
lis this your card?" asked the man,
holding up one before her.
'Why, it is, sure enough" said Miss
Crimp, in greater hutter than before
| "1-why, dear me, it was in my bundle
Of lace. know it must have been for
it was the only card l ever had. Some
ono must have found the lace"
MRS NARROW sent me to tell you she
wants you to go to her house with me
at once-to breakfast, she said.''
"Mrs. Monroe?" asked Miss Crimp,
not quite understanding the name and
catching at it with faint hope that
Mira Monroe might have returned and
was anxious to make tardy amends.
| mo. mum, Mrs. NARROW. And she
says she won't take any denial and I
wasn't to come back without YOU"
"Dear me! 1t must be some mistake"
Miss Crimp shook her head in great be-
wilderment as she again mounted the
stairs, and it would be hard to say how
long 1t might have taken her to make
up her mind about any thing, or having
made it up to act upon it, had not Mrs
Roberts, by dint of hustling and coax
ing and encouraging and assisting, at
length made her ready for her early
visit
''It's some fine folks that'll keep YOU
all day." she remarked, as Miss Crimp
stepped out of the door, upon which q
dlsaeal wall arose from Kitty and Harry.
''She promised to come to dinner with
u.s."
! "1'n come," she declared. turning a
ver1 earnest face upon them. go
b'e2 and hunt in my room for some
+hInE."
~ ~, Atisk she'll esme7" as1ed