The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1899-12-21

What now? asked BESSIE, smiling
over her fancy work.
"Why, nothing" replied Neva, sex
cept that she's taken it into her head
to spend Christmas with that queer,
old-fashioned aunt of hers up in the
country instead of here in town where
there's going to be so much fun. She
is the oldest girl | ever knew. Fancy
spending week in that dull, poky
place, where the neighbors live half a
rule apart and with that Old couple
and their hired girl for company!
But there's no accounting for
tastes. Joyce is lovely in most things,
pretty and stylish and always so pleas
ant, but sometimes when she takes
such queer freaks it makes me almost
believe she does it for effect. And to
think she'll miss the Christmas party
at Jeans! l know she's invited, for
Jean told me So"
The two girls drifted off from the
subject of Joyce into talk of fancy work
for Christmas presents and gay COS
tunes for the approaching party.
Meanwhile in Joyce's pretty home
on the avenue Mrs. Baxter was holding
converse with her dark-eyed daugh
ter. you're a queer little girl she
was saying, ''to prefer spending the
holidays up at Aunt Isabel's when all
the other girls are so excited about
Jeans party. It's to be Il nice affair,
know, because Jeans mother has taken
counsel with me and there are to be
several pretty novelties besides the
regular good time. If | were you, dear,
I'd give up the idea of going to the
Promised Land and stay at home"
But Joyce knew what she wanted,
and presently Mrs. Baxter, with a low
ing little pat on the shoulder, left her to
herself.
81 believe the child intends to go up
into the Promised Land as regular
Christmas fairy" she thought. smil-
ingly, as she descended the stairs. "All
those mysterious little bundles in hey
room mean something"
But later in the day Joyce slipped
her mothers wrap upon that lady's
shoulders, brought her hat and gloves
and made her 60 out with her for lit
tie shopping. And on the way she re-
vealed her plans.
ave made up my mind that there
shall be a Christmas tree in the Prom
Used Land this year" she began. II
wrote to Aunt Isabel some lineage and
asked some questions. She's written
back that the young folks in the Prom
Used Lard have never had Christmas
tree and if | want TO go into it I may
have her big front room and Uncle Ben
will see about the tree. Sc I've been
buying and making these little things,
you know, to put on it and now I'm
after candy to finish eff with
Mrs. Baxter looked affectionately at
her daughter. you're a good girl,
joyce" she said, softly, "ard mothers
proud of you" And then she opened
her own purse and purchased some
choice gifts for Aunt Isabel and Uncle
Ben. You can smuggle them onto the
tree without their knowing a thing
about it." she said 81 declare, Joyce,
l do wish l was going to the Promised
Land, too"
But you can't, you know" laughed
5oyce; there's the Christmas dinner
TO be looked after and papa to take care
of. I'm the only one who can be
spared. But won't it be nice? I'll write
you all about it the very next day"
The Promised Land is the name given
to a narrow valley which runs up
among the hills which form a spur Of
the Allegheny mountains. 1t is an iso-
lated re gion. three miles from no.
where" as some of its inhabitants say.
but fruitful farms and comfortable
homes are scattered along its length on
either side of the struggling road
which forms its only street.
When Uncle Ben met Joyce at the
traia down in the village he was some
what amazed to see that there was a
trunk which he was expected to carry
too. But he asked no questions as be