The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-12-17
RN EMPTY PURSE.
A New England Christmas Tale.
sy SARAH oRNE JEwErr.
Copyright, 1875. by Bachelor. johnson ard
Bachelor.


only three, and the weather was bright
and warm for the time OF year.
"rye got 10 step fast 10 carry ont all
INV plans she said TO herself. 1T
seems TO me as il il were goihg TO be
"A beautiful Christmas; II won't be like
any I've spent lately. either.
shouldn't wonder if il turned out for
the best. my losing that money al
WAYS call my Christmas money; any
way I'll do the best | can 20 make up
for IT,"
Miss Debby was sitting by the win
dow sewing as fast as she could. while
the light of the short winter day was
going, inending warm old petticoat
and humming Psalmtune. Suddenly
she heard knock AZ the door; she
lived in two upstairs rooms and could
not see the street
Come in" she said. ch,erfully, and
dropped her lapful of work.
"Why. IL il isn't Mrs. RiNers." she
said. with much pleasure.
The guest was large woman, fash
ionably dressed You would have
thought that very elegant blue-jay
had come 10 make a late afternoon
call upon such brown, chippy-spar-
row as Miss Debby Gaines. Miss Deb
bv felt much honored, and brought her
hest rocking-chair; and Mrs. Rivers
seated herself and began To rock. Her
stiff silk gown creaked as If she were
ship az sea.
What are YOU doing something
pretty for Christmas" she asked
at may be for Christmas, but il isn't
very pretty" answered Miss Debby,
with little laugh and shake OF the
head. "Tcll you the truth, was mend
ing up a nice warm petticont that L
don't have much use for: | thought
I'd give il 20 old Mrs. Bean. at the poor
house. Sizes n complaining. cold, old
creafur', an she's got poor eyesight
an can't sew. and thought this would
make her real comfortable. It's rather
more heavy than I need To wear
I've been downtown all the after
noon. and it's SO tiresome trying To
get nj anything in the stores.' said
Mrs. Rivers. They push you right
away from what you want time To- Iool.
over. | like To consider what | buy. rs
great burden TO me trying to get ready
for Christmas, and | thought
shouldn't do anything this yenr ON ac-
count of my health. I've had large
expenses this autumn. had to hnya
new carpets and new outside gar
reent. i do like to see the pretty things
IN the stores. but they were SO full of
people and SO hot and disagrecable this
afternoon"
Miss Debby had picked up her petit
coat and was holding IL close 10 the
window while she sewed on the button
with firin linen stitches.
II haven't been down the street for
two or three days" she SaiG. You'll
excuse me for goin' on with my work;
it's most dark, and III be done in mo-
ment. and we can sit am talk"
''It does me good 10 come and see YOU
once in awhile" said Mrs. Rivers, plain
lively. II thought I'd stop on my way
home. Last year you had so many
making"
''There aren't any at all this YEAR
answered Miss Debby. bravely. ut
wasn't convenient. so ! thought I'd just
Try having another kind of n merry
Christmas"
'Sometimes | wish had no more re-
sponsibilitics than YOU have. Ny large
house is such a care. Mr.. Rivers is very
particular about everything, and 80 am
i" She gave great sigh and creaked
louder than before but Miss Debby did
lot have the right sort Of consolation
80 offer. aud kept silence. 'lou enjoy
(. having your pretty house, she ventured
20 say after few moments. you
wouldn't like to do with as little as
some" and Mrs. Rivers shook her
bead IN the dusk and went ON rocking.
"l'rescnts aren't nothing unless the
feart goes with thcm." said Miss Debby
boldly. at last. "and think wc can show
goud ieelin' in other waXs than i'm be-
slowing little pincushions. Anyway,
I've got TO find thosc ways this year.
''Tis day when we New England folks
can seem TO speak right cut to each
other, and that does seem good. some
thin gets in the air. ! expect now to
enjoy this Christmas myself, though |
felt dreadful bad last week, sayin to
myself twas the first time couldn't
make my presents. didn't know how
interested was goin' TO get; you see
I've made my little plans"
Then they talked about other things,
and Mrs. Rivers grew more cheerful
and at last went away. She always
found Christmas melancholy season.
She did not like the trouble Of giving
then, or, in fact. az any other time. but
,he had her good points, as Miss Debby
Iaines always insisted.
III.
On Christmas morning early Miss
Debhy walked mp with a feeling az
happy expectation, and could hardly
-,Naif 10 nnkc her Gun OF ten mud cat her