Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-12-24
A THREE STAR CHRISTMAS.
cpy Raymond Duvai)

fny Raymond Duvni.)
N happened a long time ago-at
,eaat II seems "a long time now. though
II might have been only last night.
Some things are peculiar; they stretch
away IN memory as though they had
been happening foreveri yet they bring
you up short Gt times like the shock
Of yesterday.
IL was Christmas evel
Mother and J had been In town
how long was ~
Father died. yes. II was last spring
we laid him away In the country
churchyard. where there are daisies and
All kinds OF things growing; ana there
a modest marble slab tells In n quiet
way OF then good life he lived. a life
q 20 years Of goodness.
Yet when mother ana ! came 10
settle up his affairs they were found
to be IN Vety bad state. There was
title claim which could not be clear
ed up. and mortgage which never
would have been paid on By the work
Of one farmers hands. no matter how
industrious those has is.
And when We had paid II all. the
mortgage ana the debts. we found the
farm gune. leaving Us wlth--I am
ashamed to tell it--Just tiOl
Women are so improvident. a
that a man would never have paid
out cent OF his cash on that farm.
But mother ana ! knew nothing
about manipulating" anu We just paid
out and paid out to everybody that
came until soon the money was all
gone.
4 guess We win have TO 20 10
town Miriam" said mother. after
We had counted over the money In the
old pocketbook.
And l answered. ayes. mother. we
have rot to 20 to town. Hut town IT,
not such n dreadful place, after ALL
/ have read Of plenty Of Girls who won't
60 town and got work and supported
their mothers aud themHcive, and ever
20 many people. and lived mscly. too
when shall Ro7'
Mother smiled and tried 60 look
cheerful. though I noticed how sadly
her eyes wandered around the old farm.
house sitting foom. Tor II was the last
evening In tho old home
= don't know. dear" said she. help.
leesly. for somehow she felt unnorVcd
BY all she had gone through
suppose We 40 Monday" I said.
boldly Monday IL n very good day
to begin. because you have the whole
week 60 look for work. ma then you
can start In the next Monday fresh In
your now situation. Yes. Monday viii
be the best"
Mother agreed. NJ kncwahc would.
and the next day found uH packing up,
for We made arrangements by which
We could stay n day or 80 longer
Things were very bad for W. Indeed.
but worse and worse fortune seemed
90 come. had few valuablca myself.
but Of the few there was one that stood
out more valuable than all the rrst.
That one was diamond pin. Fancy
n farmers daughter with diamond
Pin. There was a tale 10 II. OF course.
II came down from generations. and
belonged originally to certain Lady
stafford. of England, from whom my
grandmother was descended. or at
least. 20 the story went. Ny grnnd.
mother wore Il On her wedding day.
and u had been put away In the coun-
~ hank In the safe vault
once father brought II home for me
TO wear. II was on my birthday. only
a few weeks ago. and had breEcd
him to let u remain In tho houH" "A few
days. whore ! could look at Il. The
pin was not such big one-only n
cluster OF three stars OF clear. white
diamonds. I did not know what IL
was worth. only II was ret In very old !.
fashioned style. and gllttcrcd very
hhAhNANNH
Mother kept the pin locked in her
top bureau drawer. ana when We came
60 open the bureau drawer and take
out the things, We found that tho pin
was gone. We looked well for u In
It's corner and searched through the
leather ease In which II had been care.
fully placed. hut II was not there. The
more We looked, the NOR. We became
perfectly convinced that the three star
diamond pin was gone. n must have
been stolen In the excitement OF the
funeral.
Never mind. mother" said. kiss
Ing mother who was Inclined to cry
AZ this new misfortune. what do I
care for u mere ornament. and besides. -
! added, laughing. n have only worn
II once. ~ that I viii not miss II. and
my new friends In town. win never ask
mo about H."
nut. my dear. its value" said
mother.