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

But before she could open her lips tC
say a word her sisters arms were mos
lovingly about her and she said in hel
charming, half saucy way that captivated
every one
''You dear old sis You are not very
glad to see us, are you? Very well, we
do not mind if you are not; we are here
and we shall spend the day and night, and
you cannot help yourself r
II dom t believe she wants to help her
self, said Mr.. Holt, in hasty toilet ap-
pearing from the bedroom. "You have
stolen a march on us this time Have
you been tramping all night? don
know when | was ever caught in bed be-
fore by the daylight, but it was worth
while for the sake of seeing a smiling face
We are growing to be very sombre fam
! ily, am afraid -
Il don't see why you need to be, am
sure, spoke up Harriet quickly and cheer
fully; you all have excellent health, and
| don t see why you should not have every
thing to make you happy. think cheer
ful company would do father more good
than all the drugs that were ever COM
pounded. You had all better begin this
morning and turn over a new leaf
Just ike Harriet r sobbed Mrs Holt
in the seclusion of the pantry, whittier she
had fed; but sue wiped away the tears
/ and had to smile little to see the children
come struggling downstairs in their night
/ gowns, surprised that there could be SO
much noise in their quiet home, and not
knowing what to make of it to see their
cousins dancing about, and their Aunt
| Harriet, who had taken off her warm cloth
cloak and sensible hood, and was now pro-
ceeding to stew oysters taken from good
sized tin can the boys had brought in from
the sleigh
Il thought we might as well bring our
breakfast With US, she explained, ''for
we were sure to be famished after our IF
teen-miles' drive across the country
1t was a jolly breakfast, after all. Grand
pa took his at the same time that the
others did, in bed, of course, but Aunt
Harriet had first covered up his head with
a warm shawl and thoroughly aired his
room and then set the door wide open,
where the invalid could look at the bright
faced group about the table and listen to
their cheerful talk.
I'VE viii have you up to dinner, said
Aant Harriet, and Mrs. Holt thought bit
terly
Just ike Harriet | suppose she
thinks can look after him this way every
morning, and get him up to dinner, with
all nv work r.
you must let me help you all that
can while | am here, sister, the sweet
voice broke iE upon her unpleasant medi-
tations Isn't there any one you can get
right along to help you, julie ? 1t seems
to me some capable woman would be glad
to come for good wages, and | don t un-
ders,and why you do not have some one.
There Is no reason in your wearing youseli
out in such a way Now let US have de-
votions in father room,
And while Mr. Holt read the Scriptures,
and he and Harriet and the invalid all
prayed the mistress Of the house sat with
her elbow on her knee and her head in
hand, saying to herself
Some one glad to come for good wages
Does the woman think that because
she is made Of money every one else is
1t seems to me can't stand this much
longer; and Christmas day, too, when, ii
ever the spirit Of peace on earth, goodwill
toward men should prevail in every heart
But all this want Of consideration is Just
like Harriet, and ought not to mind it
know
She went into the dairy TO skim the milk
aud to try to solve the dinner problem, and
after crying little more and carefully dry
ing her eyes on a corner of her blue check
apron, she went back to the kitchen to find
her sister putting huge turkey all ready
stuffed and ready for baking into the stove
oven. A large piece Of beef and a spare
rib with plenty of vegetables ready for the
kettle, with cans of fruit and preserves,
loaded the kitchen table.
Mrs. Holt dad not say 'sJust like Har-
riet at this sight, and that pleasant and
helpful woman went on to explain
Il thought we should enjoy eating our
Christmas dinner together; so we got every
thing in readiness last night, and this
morning had only to load the sleigh and
drive along Ii took us out of bed earlier
than usual, TO be sure; but we all enjoyed
the novelty of surprising you at sunrise.
''lt was very kind in you, | am sure,
aud YOU always do enjoy everything and
well you may, you have everything to en-
joy,
1T does seem to me that you might en-
joy more than you do, replied the sister,
with her usual cheerfulness, as Mrs Holt,
having seen the dinner question well set
tied, bethought herself to put on clean
dress and collar and kindle FIRE in the
parlor.
Not until then did the boy visitors, fol-
lowed closely by their young cousins, come
from the evergreen hillside back of the
mill with fresh little spruee-tree, that
they proceeded to set up in tub, ballasted
with stones, in the middle of the big square
parlor, as if the making of Christmas trees
to grow and to bear fruit was the most
agreeable business of their lives.
Mrs Holt, bustling about, was presently
saluted by three little maidens in entire
new suits, with hair hanging down their
backs and tied back with bright ribbons.
"Well well well r she exclaimed,
fairly surprised out of herself for once.
Can these three be my little girls l
hardly knew you, ard l certainly had no
idea you was so pretty. And she failed
again to say Just like Harriet +
II think Aunt Harriet is like fairy
god mother, said the little Hattie, 'for
just see how everything fits-and she had
to guess at stockings and shoes and all. "
''You are each just the age and very
nearly the size of your cousins, said the
good auntie, 'and fitted your garments
to them
''And it was such fun, said Bers;
''but mamma concluded at last she would |
rather have us boys after all, so we brought
the new dresses to you and you do all look
nicely enough to pay mamma for all her
and us for all our trying on. -
"Now just do up those old clothes and
send them to some needy family" said