The Worthington advance., 1900-12-28

"A
areadful that would be-! What iilAlics
had Ind I stroke? Wouldn't ] Just kiss
her and cry over her and. forgive every.
thing everything? I couldn't hear it.
III write tomorrow morning and tell
her i love her, There! Ifeel better
already. I do love her, and / love every
body I'm glad Uncle Simeon. called
Christmas the forgiving time I'm
glad there was = little Child who
brought peace, and I love Him to-
night" ...,ss~ ....s ,,..f .so>.....@
The sudden happiness >ll,ich .alled
her heart, driving out the pride and
jealousy and bitterness Of three long
months, gave her a sweet sense of COM
panionship and comfort; she went to
sleep like . child who has just found
its mother.
The morning sun was shining, her
uncle and aunt had returned, and
breakfast was nearly ready. when she
dressed and ran downstairs.
did they speak? Is she alive ?" were
her first questions.
Her uncle knew why such interest
was felt in strangers, and hastened to
answer: AT first we didn't know as
she'd recover, but we did the best we
could, and by m by the doctor got
there. But before he came, Abbott
leaned over the bed, and says he very
slow and distinct: 4 paid the butter
money towards the hill pastuir, Clor-
india And she sensed it. She made Z
desperate effort to speak, and says she:
john That was all, but it showed :"
At this point Uncle Simeon turned
to the window and looked out toward
his neighbor's In silence.
''rhe Lord was good to give 'em =
chance to speak together again."
chirped Aunt Agatha, as she placed
the coffee pot on the table.
As: soon as possible after breakfast
Elizabeth sat down at her uhcle's desk
in one corner of the spacious kitchen
and wrote long letter to Alice. It
was such letter as she might have
written from the planet Mars, if she
had been visiting that mysterious orb,
for she felt possessed of another
worlds spirit" It was true girls
letter, full of adjectives and exclama-
tion points,. but had she written it sit
ting beside the manger-cradle, it could
have breathed no less selfish affection.
Zone day more in this year; then,
will 1t be Happy New Year for me?''
she asked herself again and again, as
she devoted herself outwardly to her
friends. Her uncle knew she had writ.
ten. and guessed her anxiety.
"Whatever h9ppens, you've prepared
the way, 'Lizbeth," said he. II don't
believe anybody has a real happy New
Year unless he casts up highway and
gathers out the stones.'"
The answer came on New Years
morning. A youth rode from the vil-
lage on purpose to bring it, for it bore
Especial delivery stamp. He had never
seen one before, ard waited until Eliza
beth tore it off for him. She read the
first words and broke down, laughing
and crying hysterically.
!. swell, well, well!" calculated Uncle
Simeon; "if she's gone back on you"
mo, not" Elizabeth sobbed. "she
nasnt. I'm crying because I'm SO
happy. Read it and you'll see.'
He picked up the letter. It was WRIT
ten vertically" and. he was not &C.
quainted with that style of penman-
ship; but he soon made out: my pre-
cious, precious Elizabeth. Forgive me,
forgive me. I was to blame, and I've
been sounhappy. Ishall tell all the girls
how wicked was to let those words
go uncorrected when I saw they were
being taken in earnest. They were only
spoken in jest at first, but my proud.
stubborn heart wouldn't confess. How
could you write first when you weren't
at fault? Will begin all over again? p
Won't I? For the first time in months
look forward to happy New Year"
"That's the talk" said Uncle Simeon,
pausing to wipe his eyes, "You have
your forgiving time, and now you've
got your happy New Year" - Zion's
Herald.