The Greenville times., 1904-12-10

rne gr-~ -
-lwas a bold thing to do. invitin'
strangers this way" said Miss MAD
apologetically. The scarlet blrshe9 were
chasing each other across her cheer
ful face. T didn't say anything
about the little girls mother, because
I didn't Just know" She stopped hes
itatingly
"Cynthia's mother died when she
was three days old" said the man,
slowly; "she has had to grow up with
hardly anybody to care for her but her
father He isn't quite as good as a
mother would be, is he dearest?"
Hes pretty nearly as good" whis-
pered the child, stroking the careworn
face.
Land sake!" cried Miss Nab, with
a strange. choking sob; land sake.
It is hard lines when the father has
to do the motherin'. too!"
eve are very happy together, aren't
we, Cynthia?" The child nodded en-
phatically.
"The worst is her loneliness, only
she will be going to school pretty
soon; and our Christmas Is assured.
I cannot thank you cordially enough,
madam. both for Cynthia and myself.
We will be delighted to come" The
child waved a goodnight as they
crossed the street and Miss Nab wiped
her eyes furtively when she sat down
in her big rocking chair. "lt is more
blessed to give than to receive, she
said to herself somehow, it seems to
bring such warm comfort into your
own life"
After the dinner had been cleared
away Miss Nab summed herself In the
Joyous warmth of fellowship. The gra-
eious wood fire wrapped the little group
In Its friendly glow and the very spirit
of Christmas seemed to hallow the
homely. cozy living room.
1t was a wild, cold winter, with great
snow storms whirling over the country
and city streets blocked with huge
drifts. but there we're no more lonely
days for Cynthia. The room in the DESC
late boarding house was almost deserted
between morning and night The
radiance of gracious friendliness and
blissful warmth constantly awaited the
child in the house across the street.
Maltles welcome was as cordial as that
of his mistress. Every morning, after
he had eaten his comfortable breakfast.
he jumped in the living room window to
curl himself up in gray ball with ex-
pectant half shut eyes fixed on the brick
building across the street He watched
till the door was opened by tall man,
who carried lunch box and a little
clinging bundle wrapped In a fieecy
brown shawl He always chose the same
path; he came strlding across the street
to the red brick house set in the wide
yard. Then Maltie with a sudden eager
leap went to find his mistress, and fol-
lowed her, purring loudly, to the front
door. He could scarcely wait for the
little visitor to be unwrapped. Miss
Mab's hunger for fellowship was no less
ardent than that Of the gray cat. Then
what days followed. 1t seemed like a
sudden burst of sunshine come into
Cynthia's lonely life.
The careworn look seemed to be fad
ing from her fathers face. When eve
ming came and he stopped at Miss Mab's
door to gather the little girl back in his
arms, there was time for few moments
cheerful conversation. Cynthias fare
wells were always tempered by the as
surance Of her return In the morning
One night the child, tucked In a
laid her cheek against her
when their bedtime talk was
nearly finished. She whispered: Don't
you love Miss Nab, father?" "T do."he
said in low voice.
Shes Just as good as fairy god
..aAhAr- isn't she?" uuaationeA ~.