Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-12-24
A REAL CHRISTMAS.
How Miss Hopkins Enjoyed Her First Merry
Holiday.


Holiday.
"Ugh! I wish it was all over for another
yearr' whispered Miss Priscilla Hopkins to
a sparrow on the telephone wire. just why
she should wish the merry Christmas day
passed, Miss Hopkins herself could hardly
have told.
The big New York boarding. ouse was
almost deserted. All Of the thirty boarders
had scattered for the holidays, except the
invalid on the parlor floor, the crusty Ger
man professor, old Mr.. and Mrs. Brown,
and the pretty, poverty pinched young
widow on the fourth floor. Even the little
music-teacher was off for q holiday trip,
and Mics Hopkins could hear the chamber
maid calling blithely to the grocer boy, that
''she'd be ready-oh, by seven O'Clock,
sureP'
Miss Hopkins pressed her wrinkled cheek
against the window pane, and looked down
into the dull, city street, with its patches of
dirty snow. A hard, bitter feeling crept
times and she s'not in 'em." The lodger
on the fourth hoor back was leaning against
the window pane, too, but her cheek was
pink and smooth, the room very tiny and
cold, and the view from the window limit
ed to row of back-yards. Perhaps her
heart was quite as heavy, for tear splash.
ed suddenly on the window sill.
81 don't see any otheEaway," said Mrs.
Clark, looking at it, meditatively. 81 dread
asking her-she is so stiff and silent, and
we've hardly exchanged dozen words.
But my babies shan't be disappointed if
can help it, 30 cheer up, my dear-we'll II
have merry Christmas yet," and she nod.
ded brightly at the tear stained face in the
mirror. Then, running down the long
flights of stairs, she knocked at Miss Hop.
kins' door.
"Come in," called Miss Priscilla, turn.
ing with surprised air, as the door open
"I camel thought that is, / want to
ask great favor, Miss Hopkins" STAN
mered her visitor. Il have promised my
little girls that they shall spend Christmas
with me, and that Santa Claus will visit
them here; bus there is only room for baby
in my single bed; it is too cold for Marjory
| to sleep on the floor and So" Mrs. Clark
faltered, but the elder woman gave her nc
help and she finished abruptly, with little
tremble in her voice.
| Miss Hopkins watched her in puzzled
way, till her near-sighted eyes caught the
| glimmer of teardrop; then shepushed for.
ward a chair, saying, not unkindly.
| "There, tell me about it. didn't know
you had any children"
She heard simple story of the brave lit
tie mothers struggle to make nest for bel
birds; and how. at last, finding a position
in the city, she had placed them in a board
ing school where they would bs well cared
for, and where she could visit them every
Sunday.
1 L. oil k1<
week." the little woman added, with 6
smile, sand when holiday comes we spenc
the whole of it together. And l thought
Miss Hopkins, perhaps you would let Mar
jory sleep with you to night"
Five minutes later Miss Priscilla wai
standing alone before the fire, wrinkling Lee
forehead anxiously; for, somewhat TO he
own surprise, she had consented TO care to
a six year-old child all night. Shell witt
had never held one in her arms, who looked
upon children as bewildering mysteries!
"What shall do if it cries?" she muir
INJURED, "or has the Group. or falls out o
bed, or wants a doll, or-yon're fool
Priscilla Hopkins. ~
But when Mrs. Clark appeared at tn
door that evening, with little. curly-head
ed, white robed figure half hidden in
great shawl, and gazing with big, sleepy
black eyes at herself, Miss Priscilla hal
forgave her folly. And when she had awk
wardly taken the warm, little body in he
arms, and rosy cheek, soft as satin, jus
brushed her own, why, Miss Priscill
thought she was almost wisel But whe
the little girl was tucked in bed, Mrs. Clar
had left the room, timidly, in her quaverin
old voice, Miss Priscilla sang lullaby, ii
the long lashes dropped and the pink lip
parted-and then the rich, lonely old mai
was certain that she had never done so wis
thing in her life!
'Sh!" she said softly, as Marjory's motl
or catered the room, then flushed over sue
weakness and strsightened into her usus
rigid attitude.
"Mav we borrow yonr fire. eplace, tot
Miss Hopkins?" asked Mrs. Clark, wit
growing courage. ITO morrow woul
hardly be Christmas if Santa Claus couldn
come down the chimney, you know, an
there is only register in my room. l wi
| try aud keep the children from being yer
noisy in the morning, if you'll let me han
the little stockings here to night"
With two such pleading eyes shining 8
her over an armful of packages, Miss Pr
ella felt she could hardly refuse.
"H'm, yes. don't know that it woul
do airy harm. All foolisbness, thiuk."
"Do you?" said Mrs. Clark. bright!
'tBut it's such pleasure to watch thel
when they find the stockings in the nlorl
ing! Let me see, here's Noah's ark, tn;
goes in Tots stockings aud the little ell
phant in Marjory's. Then here is a to
watch for each Of them and stick of cand.
pop cern ball and big orange to cap th
climax. Why, it just reaches the topl Ho
fortunate there isn's any thing morel
laughed Mrs. Clark.
But, somehow. Miss Ptiscilla's spectacle
grew quite misty, and she took them off al
nined nham once or twice. The little pac