The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1902-12-18

ELLIE and Lucy Sherman wer,
N cousins. and attended the same
NJ boarding school. Their parent.
had been abroad for n year. As
AChrstmas approached they re
ceived letters from their mothers. and
were told they might arrange vacation
week as they liked--they could 30 to
Warrenville and stay with Uncle and
Aunt Dallas, or they could go to Mill
ton and put in the time with Uncle and
Aunt Winston. Nellie was silent and
thoughtful over the problem. Lucy was
all excitement and impetuosity.
''That's easy" she proclaimed. We'll
go to Warrenville, of course"
Nellie said nothing, and the voluble
little miss ratified on.
shut up with prosy old Uncle Win
ston whole week, and hum-drum -Aun:
Jane. and sick and ailing Eliza! Why,
Nellie. Martin Dallas wrote me they had
n new automobile. and were getting just
swell! Warrenville is SO lively, and they
have a big house. and servants. Vel
go straight to our room and write them
we're coming"
Il want to think bit about il first,
demurred Nellie.
.'.As if there was choice. oh. surely.
Nellie, you are not thinking of spoilin,
nice holiday by going to those old-fash.
ioncd. humdrnm Winstons? Why, they
live like hermits And they're poor-they
must he. to make no show. and yon'll get
no presents-they aren't that kind
I'm not exactly thinking of presents. -
announced Nellie.
Whats Christmas for? What are
you thinking of. them
why. I'll tell you. Lucy: mother has
often told me how good Aunt Amanda
was TO her when she was sick once. and
if we both chose Uncle Dallas, they might
feel hurt. Besides, poor Eliza is help
less invalid-so lonely. so little of glad
ness, or change in her life. I've quite
made up my mind"
You will go to Miltou:'
"Yes. Lucy"
"You-bis gump-' cried her cousin.
and nounced out of the room in hiyh
dudgeon.
Milton and Warrenville were only ten
miles apart. Two days before Cbrist.
mas Nellie and Lucy boarded the cars
The snowy Dallas rig awaited Lucv
and Nellie experienced slight pany as
she glanced down the bright business
street and thought of the fine Dallas
mansion. She could not help but com.
pare the dull little hamlet of AIi,tnp
and the humble Winston homestead. She
found but little change in the Wiastons
A rough bob met her at the depot and
blunt old Hiram Winston looked as nome
ly as ever. but he tucked in real warmth
about her with the immense buffalo
robes. When she got to the house Aunt
Amanda greeted her with her usual prim-
ness, and her invalid sister, Eliza. only
looked paler and thinner than ever.
There was no mistaking 1.-THE nlace
was dreary. and the set ways of its in
mates were chilling TO youthful spirits
Nellie cried little as she pictured Lucy
in the gay sas-lit parlor of the sump.u-
GUS Dallas home. Then she bravely re-
solved to see if she could not brighten
her surroundings, instead of inflictiny od-
ditional moodiness. With earliest day-
light she was down in the kitchen help;ny
Aunt Amanda. She arranged a dainty
tIay for poor. invalid Eliza. She made
them all smile, telling humorous stories
about school, she fed the chickens and
hustled about. jolly, useful, happy, and
had the satisfaction of hearing her aunt
tell Eliza, that child is regular sun
BEAM"
She read to Eliza, she sang for them
that evening. and. as her uncle expressed
it, "made the old cottage organ Just
hum" In fact. it was a successful day.
and the next one was Just like it. and
Nellie could see that every hour she was
winning more and more love.
yrharx 60
Christmas. Eliza was working on n
Aunt Amanda was making a silk affair.
which she said mysteriOusly might" be n
pincushion. Uncle Hiram went down
town Christmas eve, but to Nellie's disap-
pointment brought back no Christmas
tree, no inviting parcels. nothing of the
suggestiveness of iYule-tide.
Nellie's heart rose. however. as she
kissed them all good night.
Hang up your stocking. dear" sng-
gested Aunt Amanda.
And get up in time-ha! har' laughed
Uncle Hiram, with puzzling heartiness
Hope You have a good time-ho! no.
Well keep time to some good old tunes to-
morrow-ha! har'
He strangely emphasized ''time." and
Aunt AmInua ITOWHeu Ut nlIn as IL lie
were betraying some cherished secret.
4 singular thing happened the next
morning. Christmas morning it was, of
course. Nellie was amazed when she
woke up The old clock down stairs was
striking eight. And she had calculated
on getting up at six. The house was ,ery
still. She glanced at the bedpOst where
she had hung her stocking. Something :
was in its toe. Eagerly she investigated.
to bring forth the ''pincushion" Aunt
Amanda had so patiently made. Before
she could inspect it she saw resting on
the bureau n portrait, surrounded
Eliza's leather frame.
1t was picture of her mother when n
girl Often Aunt Amanda had showed
it to her-treasured fondly by the sister.
Nellie shed tears of tender gratefulncss.
Nothing could have pleased her more.
and the pretty frame enhanced the gift.
She dressed hurriedly, and ran down
the stairs. to meet Eliza with II gladstone
Christmas greeting, and to learn that
early i'm the morning a sick neigh Dor had
sent for Mr.. and Mrs. Winston Before
breakfast there was an interruption. 1t