The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1900-12-21

dren'> wa1d in the cid hospital, and was 50
funny and lovely that the pale little crea-
lures stretched out their hands to her, and
aug he'd h,,lc With their hoarse pain
laden voices She I'.,d emptied her pockets
pt pennies to the bc@gars that beset her
boulevard path. and 1T three clock in the
attcrE""n Mad busted every article in the
NuA'ul room 10 ., tlr' polish.
Two great broad windows overlooked a
SIopng nix and tn" ,of> of many houses
Beyond lay the great gray ocean. A side
W!n>;"W was >hr'v.N from top TO sill. and
filled with po,ted = a,,t> that h't,omed pro-
tu>c'\ and "rc'r"n the uo> ID clay that
inr'"~rd them.
Across one corner stood the piano It
was lie only really new thing at hand, and
It's r,.,1~hed surfaces took ~! >lah'ws of the
anr:cH! grandeur al.u' it. ~ il in apology
for it's pr, ace l't'" Opposite he flower
wIndrN N"~ another 1*ct~~ filled with book
shelves. " lI,i.. GOOD -! . WIS to be had
he two /, >h' ii ~ \ .'>.,~ OF many an old
ll(A>>lr
\ few easy chairs and tables lay cozily
about; and he. c1ta' brick freplace with
its brass andIron> "ud high I'D mantel shelf
was he heart and core of he room
E>>e.|a laid the fine thin old cloth care
fully on the lolInd. polished table, garnish
ing it Ivy pinuly 'itt!- ~p1ics of holly on its
>aliny surface
She placed Crania' : chicken by the warm
healthstone. and on stool near by laid
basket of rosy apples and u pile Of bread
with the great toastio1k on guard. With
much pride of manner she turned out a glass
OF crab.app'e jelly into an old glass dish
and hanked it by another dish of branded
peaches
"That will surprise The girls,' she said,
and laughed little as She Showered Pencil
opc's lavish supply Of candies in every con
cc;vahe little receptacle she could find.
Eotc'la looked quecn'v Her black satin
gown was DID, but she had drawn over the
patched waist tIchu IT soft yellow lace,
and fastened in its folds bunch of pretty
old velvet wall flowers. Her hair had
trick Of curling itself into proper places.
and a 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. Estel}a
went to the window, looked out 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
timid little knock that came on her door.
As the gust OF air rushed in she looked IN
to see Penelope and l'rania with hoods of
and hands extended whilst they sang in
nasal tones the old street waits: Il pray
YOU, merry gentlemen EsteIla laughinyly
whirled them into the room, saving: 81 am
dismayed "
With many loving kisses, wishes for
"merry Christmas" and soft little words,
they We're Invested of wraps and furs and
finally nestled down into easy chairs with
the restfu| spirit OF he hour floating lightly
on their tired senses
Penelope began knitting some soft. huffv
white thing that grew and grew in ampli
tude; and ('rana. after examining the prep
arat'ons for supper with pleased anxiety,
busted herself with toast fork and aDp]es
Estel|a wandered about the room idIv for
awhile. saying few words, and now and
again touching the cheek or hair of her
old friends with the tips of her slight fin
gers Then, finding her seat at the piano
she driI'tI off into the land of mus lie and
ecstasy. a golden haired child. softly beck
oning the way.
Penelope and Urania kept quiet accom-.
panmcnl with needles and fork, and up the
chimney tiny flame spirits danced. while
the eheery logs sang tune all their own
As the last notes of "Chopin's Lament"
fell on the air, great tear splashed down
Urania soft cheek and fell into the snowy
heart OF the last roasted apple
"Tlme'' cried Penelope, though her own
eyes were moist, and she drove her knjttinp
needle straight through he unsuspectins
apple.
Estella sprang up and came laughing to
the hres'de Then up jumped the others,
and singing he Keel Row ;" danced about
the table as IN their school days
The flames shot pink light on the op-.
posite wall, and made the dancing figures
look like little girls. The old portraits on
the wall took on a disappearing air, and the
little tame spirits jeered; but the great logs
sang soft sweet song, and the dear Christ
Child nestled c.ose to the old hearts. that
had found Him, and caressed the wrinkled
faces into images of love and naaca