The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1899-12-21
The Sunday before Christmas. Mrs.

The Sunday before Christmas, Mrs.
Bardwell, a good. motherly woman |
who lived four miles from the town, |
and who was a member of Mr.. Good |
mans church, said to the pastor and |
his wife as they shook hands after ser |
vice, Il want you folks all out to my |
house for one good holiday visit. Can |
you come the day before Christmas?
1t seems a kind O. queer time, may be,
but if you can possibly come, that's
the day I want you"
Mrs Goodman reflected a few mo-
ments, then replied, Why, thank you,
Mrs. Bardwell, l think we could come
that day l could arrange to go, am
sure Couldn't you, Mr.. Goodman?'
Eyes, think So he responded, very
cheerfully. "Of course, there will he
preparations going on for the evening
exercises, but l don't know that l shall
be particularly needed. Thank you
very much for your kind invitation.
Mrs Bardwell. We shall enjoy the
visit, | assure you"
Mrs. Goodman securely locked the
front door on the day appointed, and
dropped the key in her pocket; but
scarcely had the sleigh containing Mr..
Goodman and herself ard the four hi
sr.ous little GoOdmans vanished down
the road, than man with rolls OF pa
per appeared at the parsOna5e, md
was admitted by Hope Arnold, who
had secured duplicate key from her
uncle.
The man with paper and paste was
speedily followed by another bearing
pot of paint, and the transformation
of the study was soon under fill he'd
way.
Late in the afternoon three of the
bor Of bo
possession with a roll of mating, and
when in a short space of time, their
work with that was finished, they were
REINFORCED by several Of the girls, and
the study was soon in readiness for it's
occupant.
Great was the satisfaction of the con-
spiratOrs as they surveyed the re-
juvenated room. The paper on the
walls and ceiling was restful to the
eye, with it's soft tints and unODstrus-
i've pattern. The coloring Of the wood
work harmoniZed with that of the pa
per- In spite of fresh paint, neat mus
| lin curtains had been put up in place
| of the shabby lace ones; and the we'll
worn table cover had given way to an
other just from the store. Over the
| neat mating, before study table and
easy chair, rugs were placed for
warmth and cosiness.
| And as a browning touch beautiful
| etching that was of itself an inspira-
| ton hung on the wall opposite the pas
| tors seat at his study table. This was
| a personal gift from Hope Arnold. Care
had been taken to have everything
! done before it should be time for the
| pastor and his family to arrive at the
church, that they might not be SO soon
| surprised at seeing light in their
house. But toward the close of the
| evenings exercises Fred Johnson slip
| ped over to the parsonage, and when
| Mr.. and Mrs. Goodman stepped out in
to the wintry air they were startled by
| a CLEAN from the study windows.
What can it meant" cried Mr.. Good
man in alarm. Can it be fire."
Home was soon reached and they
hurried upstairs. A lighted lamp was
on the stand before the study door, and
against it leaned placard bearing the
words, Beware of paint" in large let
tiers. Mr.. Goodman carefully opened
the door and entered the room, follow
ed by Mrs. Goodman ushering In her
brood with due Difference to the warn
ing without and the odor within.
The little folks chartered and ex-
claimed, and pointed out to one an
other the various changes, but for
few moments the pastor and his wife
said not word.
Then Mr. Goodman took an envelope
from the table. 1t contained SO bill
| and a card, from which he read aloud
in a rather unsteady voice:
please accept the alterations In your
study as a testimonial of affection and
esteem from the Young Peoples So
ciety of Christian Endeavor, and use
the inclosed for such further improve
ments in the way Of books as it will
make and you may DESIRE"
Mrs. Goodman sat down and cried.
obi" she exclaimed, this study has
worried me so! I've tried and tried to
plan for having it fixed up, but there
didn't seem to be any way to do it.
Finally 1 gave up and just left it with
the Lord, and since then I've been sure
it would be done some day. And it is!
Those blessed young folks! And $40
for books, too"
"Yes," replied Mr.. Goodman, wiping
his own eyes, Il am very thankful for
it all. 1t was Hope Arnold's idea,
am positive. She looked very deter
mined when she left the study that
morning she was here
We'll, it is certainly welcome
Christmas gift, and a great surprise
Then small Johnny Goodman, who
had been regarding his parents in
great perplexity, exclaimed: Il don't
; see what makes papa and mamma cry
about it. I think it looks nicer than
it did befsre!"