The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1899-12-09

At mail-time there came with the
weekly paper the anticipated registered
package from sister Harriet.
Harriet packages were always regis
tered even if they only contained, as in
this instance a Christmas card for each
one and the usual little roll wrapped in
white paper and labelled, "A silk hand
kerehief for father
Mrs. Holt took it in her hand and tore
off a bit of the wrapping paper
Bright cardinal this time = she said
The last one was ultramarine blue and
turning to the chimney cupboard she tossed
the little roll into a fsnciful paper box.
The sick man laughed weakly as he
said Harriet has certainly gone daft
in the matter of silk handkerchiefs-bu
what does her note say?
That she is sorry she cannot write
more at length or send something more
acceptable, but they are very busy pre-
pairing for little trip they have planned
for tomorrow, and the boys are wild with
JOY because there is every prospect Of
sleighing
Sometimes | really don't know what
to make OF Harriet, the old man said
family, after while She used always
to seem kind hearted and thoughtful and
she Is now, in certain way.
Harriet was spoiled child = said
Mrs. Holt, land | need not complain
about it. | did as much to spoil her as
any one She was always fond Of a joke
and somewhat given to carrying her fun to
extremes, but | certainly never knew her
to oyerdO anything as she has this silk
handkerchief business.
''Oh well, never mind it, said Mr.
Holt, turning his exquisite fringed card
over and reading To my faithful and
well beloved Brother Albert, in delicate
pencilling on the back. she enjoys ban
tering about those handkerchiefs when
ever We meet told her the other day
that | fed the last one TO M best COW,
and the one before | said spread over
the mortgage on the farm, and thought
| if she kep; on sending them as frequently
| as she had done should have the eneum-
brance quite covered up before great
while ~
II she WASH my own sister | should !
feel ashamed Of her said Mrs Holt,
going away to the kitchen with uumis,ak- |
able tears in her eyes.
She did feel very much grieved and hurt /
at her wealthy widowed sister indifier I
eucc. and after the many daily duties 4
we're all done, the well KEEP, and commo-
dions house in order, the invalid comfor- /
table for the night aud husband and chil- /
dren at last in bed, she crouched over the 1
stove and went all over with it again in
her mind With such perve-weariug effect
that sue came near not getting a wink Of .
sleep on account Of IT,
Her father was restless too He vas
out Of cough medicine. and she wondered
if by tomorrow therc would be ergs enough
On hand - that she could send them to the
little general country store At the corners
ard -, fresh bottle Then she felt
sorry for the children, who had gone 81
leully of To bed without hanging up their
stockings, aud st last she found herself
sobbiug at the thought Of her own hard
life exactly as If il had been the life of
some one else She went over it all in
detail to intensity the bitterness. Shut
out from all society on account Of home
duties and because she had nothing ct 10
wear away from home Neglected by her
only sister Everything crowded down
up0n her Rith an almost unsupportable
weight She tried to pray, bat that box
full Of conceivable shades Of silk hand
kerehiefs seemed to crowd in between her
soul aud any good thought; - al early
cock Growing she arose. replenlshed the
drcs ami at last, all unrefreshei as she Was,
concluded her cares were easier to bear
While 1t work than when lying sleepless
in hsd So she dressed aud went about the
week : ironing.
The dawn was long in coming, but at
last showed itself chill and gray. 4 frozen
mist hung over the pond and crystalized
the bare hmbs Of the naples The snow,
tina, all day long yesterday and half the
long night had filed the air, had now
ceased to fall, the weather had moderated,
aud there was every sign Of drizzling
rain
Christmas should be bright and crisp
and frosty aud sparkling, she thought, as
At last she extinguished the burning lamp
and stepping lightly fetched the one from
the sick man room aud set them both
ready 10 be filed and cleaned-sighing as
she lately had habit Of doing at every
detail Of family work that should be
pleasure to every housekeeper, and Is TO
most, unless as in this ease the time seems
to be 50 unduly filled.
Il will not awaken any ore, she said
to herself They may all sleep as long
as they choose The day will be loug
enough aud dreary enough for them all
without my calling them TO begin it soon
er. and taking her mending basket she
sat down by the east window and pro
ceeded to rayel the leg Of a worn stocking
TO get yarn for darning.
II declare, she said aloud, II have
good mind to patch the holes in the heels
Of the children ; stockings with pieces cut
from the silk handkerchief that came yes
terday. most certainly would if l sup
posed there was any possibility Of Harriet 5
coming to see them doing service, Dear :
me! What Is that? | should think
some one was blowing horn and there
me sleigh-bells Who can be coming to
mill as early as this in the morning? They
are not going to the mill; the team is driv
ing into the door, yard certainly can
not look presentable after such night as
| have had | will not 20 to the door, and /
whoever they may be they will 90 on,
thinking We are not up
merry Christmas : Merry Christ j
mas 7 came in shout from the yard, I
and the horn blew again on the low, broad
piazza -stoop that in summer was an out l
door sitting ROOM but now as unsightly a {
place as could well be imagined, with its t
accumulation of garden tools, baskets and
barrels
Merry Christmas r merry Christ T
mas = came from the kitchen now t
There was jingle of toy bells, music Il
box was playing lively air, there was a S
regular chorus.
'sWhere are they all p some one said. $