The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1900-12-22
A Resurrected Christmas.
Concluded from Page ID.

its brass andlrons and nigh old mante1 shell
was the heart and core of the room.
Estella laid the fine thin old cloth care
fully on the round, polished table, garnish
ing it by pinning little sprigs of holly on its
satiny surface.
She placed Urania's chicken by the warm
hearthstone, and on a stool near by laid a
basket of rosy apples and pile of bread
with the great toast-fork on guard. With
much pride of manner she turned out glass
of crab-apple jelly into an old glass dish.
and fanked it by another dish of branded
peaches.
Chat will surprise the girls" she said,
and laughed little as she showered Pencil
ope's lavish supply of candies in every con-
ceivable little receptacle she could find.
Estella looked queenly. Her black satin
gown was old, but she had drawn over the
patched waist fchu of soft yellow lace,
and fastened in its folds bunch of pretty
old velvet wall flowers. Her hair had a
trick of curling itself into proper places,
and CLINT of its old auburn tint was in
its white sheen. Her eyes were bright and
her cheeks rosy with expectancy.
Toward five o'clock the shadows grew
heavier. Day was almost gone. Estella
went to the window, looked out a moment
on the sea. even the great deep is quiet
to-day" she said, "and there is no poor
Honesty Estella this Christmas"
She drew the curtains, put fresh log on
the blazing FIRE and hurried to answer q
timid little knock that came on her door.
As the gust Of air rushed in she looked up
to see Penelope and Urania with hoods of
and hands extended, whilst they sang in
nasal tones the old street waits: 81 pray
you, merry gentlemen" Estella laughingly
whirled them into the room, saying: ri am
dismayed."
With many loving kisses, wishes fol
"merry Christmas" and soft little words
they were Invested of wraps and furs and
finally nestled down into easy chairs with
the restful spirit of the hour floating lightly
on their tired senses.
Penelope began knitting some soft, fluffy
white thing that grew and grew in ampli
tdde; and Urania, after examining the prep
arations for supper with pleased. anxiety
busted herself with toast-fork and apples
Estella wandered about the room idly fol
awhile, saying a few words, and now and
again touching the cheek or hair of hel
OlQ IrlenQs WIN Ine Ups OF ner BllRQt m
gers. Then, finding her seat at the piano
she drifted off into the land of music ant
ecstasy, a golden-haired child, softly beck
oning the way.
Penelope and Urania kept quiet accom-
paniment with needles and fork, and up Ia
chimney tiny fame spirits danced, Will,
the CHEEKY logs sang tune all their own
As the last notes of "ChOpin's Lament
fell on the air, . great tear sp9ashed dowr
UraniE's soft cheek and fell int the snow.
heart Of the last roasted apple.
"Nmel" cried Penelope, though her ewl
ego were moist, and she drove her knittinl
needle straight through the unsuBpectinI
apple.
Estella spPang up and came laughing I.
the 6Feside. Then up jumped che ot8ers
and, singing The Excel Row" danced nbouI
the tabls as in their school days. :
The flames shot & pink lifht on the Cd.
posits wall, and made the dancing figure.
look like little girls. The old portrait /: =
the wall ok on . disappearing air, y ho'
little fal pie7i1 ejeered; but the rStan
sang q q Iimea and the AZ
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