Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-21


IT wish you a happy Christmas" she
said. Its me. Mrs. Wallis-Debby Gaines. "
Why Miss Debby!' and there was some
| thing in the tone of this hostess which told
| why, Miss Debby! Come and sit down in
| this chair by me, 1 don't doubt you have
| been trotting about all day" and Mrs. Wal
| lis held out warm. affec tionate hand.
| NO; I've been keepin' house for Mis-
Preller, so she could go an see her moth
err" explained Miss Debby. quite simply.
| Il had nice time with her little girl that's
just getting over cold and couldn't go
| with the others. I was just on my way
| home I thought I'd stop and see if there
was anything 1 could do for YOU"
Nothing, except to stay little Will. while
My granddaughters are usually here, but
| they had a very pleasant plan made for
them, and 1 was very glad to have them go.
| A skating party and dinner at the Ash
| tons country house and dance.
Young folks will be young folks" said
Miss Debby II should like to hear all
about it when they come and tell. Every
| body seemed to be goin' somewhere today;
twas the nice clear weather..
There are all my pretty presents on the
| table" said Mrs. Wallis. Somehow they
| haven't been very good company; this is
the first Christmas in all my life that L
| have happened to spend quite alone"
| Miss Debby might not have done it with
out thinking. by daylight but she drew a
| little nearer and took hold of Mrs. Wallis
hand.
You must have had a great many lovely
things to remember" she said, softly. But
anybody can't help feeling Lonesome; l
know how tits. Everybody misses some
| together once at home, and I'm kind OF
sparrow on the housetops. But I've had a
beautiful day so far. l own l was afraid
you'd have a sight Of company, an L should
have to miss seeing you.
I'm glad somebody wanted to see me,
| said Mrs. Wallis. more cheerfully, and
enc Of the friends I've known longest and
| hey went on with much pleasant talk Of
both the old days and the present time,
| and Mis- Wallis gave Miss Debby cup OF
| tea and they had happy little feast to-
gether there in the library before the num-
! BILE, loving hearted guest went away leav-
| ing peace and good will once more In a
| lonely and troubled heart.
| She stopped here and there at the houses
| of other friends, forgetting in her happi-
| ness that she was emptyhanded on Christ
| mas day. and everywhere she left new
feeling Of friendliness and pleasant kind
| ness At one house she comforted a crying
| child by mending his Christmas top, and
at another she knew Just how to help
pretty girl to dress for herr Christmas
| party, and sat down and took of her big
wooden gloves to alter the refractory dress,
| She was like a good angel as she sat there.
! sewing and smiling and making every
| body's mind at ease.
1t was late in the evening when this was
stopped, with great bravery, and asked to
| see the minister, and told him how thank
| full she was for his serman on Sunday and
wished him happy Christmas The min
! lister had been little discouraged for some
reasons, as ministers often are in spite of
everything and even some great kindnesses
| in the shape of welcome presents from his
| friends did not cheer him half SO much as
/ the sincerity and affection of Miss Debby' 8
visit. And he watched the little figure go
| down the street with tears in his eyes. So
few people could forget themselves to re-
member others as this dear parishloner
could: it was worth living for. If one could
sometimes help and refresh those who are
| the true helpers; and SO he went back to
his work in the study, feeling like better
and buster nan than when he had left it.
So Miss Debby came back to her little
home again. The fire was out and it Mas
all dark, but she went straight TO her small
rocking chair by the window and sat down
to rest, and to thank the Lord for such a
happy day. And, though her purse was
empty, her heart was full and she had
left a little pleasure behind her all along
the way.
Presently she lighted her lamp, and then
she saw on the table a great package and
a note beside it; and the note was from
Mrs. Rivers.
Something you said the other day"
Miss Debby read, made me feel differently
about Christmas from what 1 ever have be-
fore and l am going to try TO make as
many people happy as 1 can. And you
must believe that my heart goes with these
presents that l send to you. They are some
of my own things that 1 liked, and wanted