Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1896-01-08
BY SARAH oaNE JEWETT.

any I've spent lately, either. [ shouldn't
wonder if it turned out for the best, my
losing that money [ always call my
Christmas money: anyway, I'd do the
best l can TO make up for it.
Miss Debby was sitting by the window
sewing as fast as she could, while the
light of the short winter day was go
ing, mending a warm old petticoat and
humming Psalm tune. Suddenly she
heard a knock at the door: she lived in
two upstairs rooms, and could not see
the street.
Come inr' she said, cheerfully, and
dropped her lapful of work.
why, if it isn't Mrs. Rivers! she
said, with much pleasure.
The guest was a large woman, fash
iOnably dressed. You would have
thought that q very elegant bluejay had
come to make a late afternoon call upon
such a brown, chippy-spaTow as Miss
Debby Gaines. Miss Debby felt much
honored and brought her best. rocking
chair; and Mrs. Rivers seated herself
and began to rock. Her stiff silk gown
creaked as if she were a ship at sea.
What are you doing something pref
ty for Christnas?' she asked.
1T may be. for Christmas. but it isn't
with a little laugh and shake of the
head. Tell you the truth, I was mend
ing UP q nice warm petticoat that | don't
have much use for; | thought I'd give it
to old Mrs. Bean, at the poorhouse
She's sh complaining, cold old cr,eatur',
sew, and I thought this would make her
real comfortable. It's rather more
heavy than [ need to wear"
I've been downtown all the afternoon
and it's so tiresome trying to get at
anything in the stores" said Mrs. Riy-
how N
what you want to look oyer. l like to
consider what [ buy. It's a great bur-
den to me trying to get ready for Christ
mas, and | thought l shouldn't do any
thing this year on account of my health.
I've had large expenses this autumn.
outside garment. | do like to see the
pretty things in the stores, but they were
so full of people and SO hot and disagree
able this afternoon"
Miss Debby had picked up her petit
coat and was holding it close to the
window while she seWed on the button
with firm linen stitches.
L Ravens been down the street for
two or three days." she said. You'll
excuse me for goin' on with my work
it's most dark, and I'll be done in a mo-
ment, and we can sit an talk.
1T does me good to come and see you
once in a while" said Mrs. Rivers, plain
lively. L thought I'd stop on my way
home. Last year you had SO many max
ing"
There aren't any at all this year."
answered Miss Debby, bravely. 1T
wasn't convenient SO [ thought I'd just
try having another kind of Il merry
Christmas"
sometimes I wish l had no more re-
sponsibility than you have. My large
house is such q care. Mr.. Rivers is very
particular about everything, and so am
10 iUh alyo6
louder than before, but Miss Debby did
not have the right sort of consolation to
offer, and kept silence. "You enjoy hav-
ing your pretty home" she ventured to
say after few moments, you wouldn t
like to do with as little as some" and
Mrs. Rivers shook her head in the dusk
and went on rocking.
Presents aren't nothing unless the
heart goes with them" said Miss Debby
boldly, at last, ''and l think we can show
slowing little pincushions. Anyway,
I've got to find those ways this year.
TITS a day when we New England folks
can seem to speak right out 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. l 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 a melancholy season.
She did not like the trouble of giving
then. or, in fact at any other time; but
she had her good points, as Miss Debby
Gaines always insisted.
On Christmas morning early Miss
Debbv walked up with a feeling Of hann amy
expectation, and could hardly wait to
make her cup Of tea and eat her little
breakfast on the corner of the table
before she got out her best bonnet and
Sunday cloak to begin her Christmas err
rands. It was misty and dark, but the
sunlight came at last, pale and radiant,