The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1893-12-27

medicines; so cents.
an opportunity to talk "pollyticks,"
as little Jim said.
Never, in that family, was known
such a busy time as the two weeks
before Christmas!
The children were "out of the
way" so much, that cook declared
the kitchen was lonesome like"
There were visits to the attic in
which the boys and girls were almost
as quiet as mice there. Gracle's
fingers and Nell's did never before
sach nimble work with their needles,
under mothers direction. And the
wondrous array ofgames and toys,
which had been discarded for new
ones, grew daily smaller and smaller,
as the plans grew larger; and when
something most as good as new"
wasfound, what rejoicing there was!
Best of all, were the happy, inter
ested faces, which gathered about
the table, when each day was over,
and if some young fingers were un-
usually busy under the gas-light,
nobody asked troublesome ques:
tions.
Swiftly the day passed; and 'mer-
Try Christmas came-for the first
time in their young lives quickly
enough for these boys and girls. All!
what difference it makes when We
have something to do for other peo.
pc! There is no tedious waiting
time, then! Many secrets escaped
before the day was over; because,
every now and then, Katy would
put her face in from the kitchen to
say, "Some ones here to thank the
dear young ladies and gintlemen for
the beautiful thingsp or "The poor
widows after thankin' the young
people for the presents!" and each
time she was chased away so quickly
by the boys and girls that, had it
not been Christmas dsy-when no
one could be vexed-her dignity
would certainly have been offended.
But when the merry day was over,
and the candles upon the tree were
burning out, grandpa said, Nov,
my children, which of the G's do
Won lika host23
There was nota hesitating voice.
why, big G is the best, to be sure,
grandpa!''
&c for giving!-why it's ever so
much better than g for getting! l
never knew before how nice it is to
give!'
Little by little grandpa heard it
all, as mother helped the bashful
young folks tell what they had done
| with "big G" as their letter. guide. A
good many Of their own warm
clothes were mended and fixed over,
apd some new ones made for poor
little ones whom mother knew to
| be in great need. Oracle bad coaxed
Katy to add some doughnuts and
other good things to these. And at
least half a dozen dolls, which she
and Nell had laid aside, had been
newly dressed, and made to look
very pretty for poor little girls,
whose eyes had sparkied at the
sight. Aliens genius for making
and mending had worked wonders
among the toys, go that many a
poor child, who expected nothing.
was made GLAD that Christmas morn.
ing.
Neither grandpa nor grandma,
nor any Of the home dear ones, had
been forgotten; yet all these had
been added by earnest efforts and
good will.
How pleasant it was to hear moth
er tell Of it ali! It was the kind of
enjoyment which lasted! That was
just what grandpa bad told them.
And he said. You have done well,
my: children! Now, I will tell you
what makes the big G such a beauti-
ful and wonderful letter. 1t stands
for the gift-that best of all gifts
which was given to US on the first
Christmas day long ago-God gave
His only begotten Son to us, to be
on. Saviour; that Gift made this
day such glad day to rs, and that
is Why giving should be our great
Christ mas pleasure Giving, with
true love in our hearts, makes us
like God. Now, my dears, keep the
big G. in its right place all through
your lives, and God Himself will
see to it that the little g is not
crowded out"
Then the children kissed grand
pa and thanked him for his lesson;
and they went to bed, feeling sure
that it was the happiest Christmas
they had ever spent.-Nea0 YORK.
Observer.