The Farmington times. [volume] (Farmington, Mo.) 1874-1902, 1899-12-21

S~~S> w WINS not reading,
.l.-as::-,.s 81 looking ont upon
the usually quiet avenue, uow thruuErd
with packnge-ladeu pedestrians and de-
livery wagons hogped high with good
things for the morrow. The expression
Of her cuuntcnancC as she regarded the
hurry ing thronR was mixture Of pain
and pcrplcNity She had considered
her own plans for tomorrow settled
some weeks ago, but something she had
just read had Jared her out 81 har-
mony with them and il seemed too late
10 make new ones, II was not the arti-
Gle or Christmas Giving that had
done the mischief, but the timc-woru
quotation with which n ended:
who gives himself with his aims feeds
three
Himself, his huHEcrlrE nclghbar and Mc .
Not that the words were new 10 hrr
oh, mol They had been her Christ
mas. motto every year since. when o.
girl uf IS, she had first read the Vision
Of Sir Lauufal. II wac this That gave
the words such power over her. for on
this particular Christmas she had de.
cided for the first tim, in II wears 10
set aside her rule and give her alms
without giving herself. She had sent
turkeys and other good things 10 nu.
merous needy families. bestowed lar.
Fcsse upon sundry orphan Hsylums.
homes and hospitals, and otherwise used
without stint the money Of which abe
had abundance; but Tor hersrlf-hcr
house WIS 10 bc closed, her servants
given an entire holiday nud she. iu the
solitude ~ her own chamber. shut ava,
from all sight and sound 81 merry
making, would Indulge the bittrrnrs.
Of her grief for the husband she had
loved and Loot Last Christmas had
been her wedding day. and the husband
90 whom she had cuuhJcd her Christ.
mas motto had said, with eyes shining
with joy and tenderness:
And this year the g,ft il mine
literally yourself my priceless Christ.
mas gift"
They had enjoyed three months Of
earthly paradise and thru-thprc was
a railway accident. ard horrible
bruised mass. upon which she was not
allowed 10 look. but from which they
extracted the ring she had given him
and the watch on whose dial was her
own picture-this had been brought
home at an hour when she expected her
husband. and all the light Of the world
had for her gone suddenly out.
They had wanted her at home this
CHRISTMAS. but how could she 20 whore
everything would remind her Of that
Joyous wedding day. No, solitude was
beat for her, and so her day had been
planned.
But ~ she lat now IN the deepening
twilight with the words of her dis
cardcd motto cchoinr In her mind. this
quaint saying lodged there from some
long past reading awoke to keep them
company.
She gave quick little gasp and
hot whsc-was II shame, rcmorse. or
pure amazcucDt?-Nw swept over her. A.
coward? Certainly not! But hero
what was hero? 4 hero thought only
Of oiherE-to save. tn succor, to uplii,
others. For this he sacrificed comfort.
honors. life even, that IL, he gave him
self. SO II all came back To that after
all: and II she carried out her plans
for the morrow. would she be a cov.
ard? But II was so late To make new
plans. Twilight died slowly away aud
the electric lights flashed out over the
busy avenue and still Mrs. saxton
thought At length she turned from
the window, closed her magazine. drew
down the shades aud turned on the
light In her cory sit,ing-room and.
touching bell, summoned the house.
maid.
You Will be taking dinner with your
tister-in-isw Tomorrow, Nellie"
"fes, Mrs. saxten," responded Nellie.
with the tone and manner of weIl-bred
lady.
DO you think II world put her ont
nuch---ihat Is, TO you think she would
enjoy having me dine with her aiso?"
The girl's facc lighted with surprise
and pleasure.
do you really mean il, Mrs. saxton? |
Would you? Amy would be so glad. |
She speaks Of you so often. She feels |
So
The girl hesitated.
"fcs, ! know, Nellie. Ny friends are |
all very kiRd--kIuder rhnn deserve. |
Well. then. II you think I shan be wei |
cume would you run over tonight and |
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