The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1904-12-22
The Christmas Eel
lowship Of Miss Nab
ISABEL GORDON CURTIS
Reprinted from Good Housekeeping by
Permission.


share the hospitality of her small
home. Nevsr since she had been left
alone in the woodland that occurred
when she was 17-had she known q
lonely Christmas; there were always
some forsaken creatures ready to turn
gratefully to the shelter of her home.
All these festivities had brought GER
tain heart warmth and happiness
which fingered for months, but It had
not meant fellowship or sympathy.
Il believe l wan! little bit OF
Christmas to myself this year." Miss
Nab whispered to herelf; cts SIGH
hard work, all the flxin's! I do love
to see the old women an the starved
boys an girls fill themselves up. What
they want, though, is the eatjn'. They
don't know nothin' about fellowship.
When a woman STEPS over the 40 line
en- has been alone all her life, there s
sort of longin' for fellowship-aint
there, Maltie?''
The gray cat arched his back and
rubbed his plump body against Miss
Mab's dress.
tits a fine dinner" observed Miss
Nab in her solitary musing; cts a
fine enough dinner to deserve fellow
ship" She rose and walled to the
front window 81 might jest as we'll
out with what is on my mind" she
said. 81 know who want to invite as
we'll as can be; all that's troublin' me
is the propriety of It, Now If the
little thing hedn't father, I'd take
her in and keep her-'onger'n Christ
mas, too"
She was watching six-year-olG
girl who lived in the big boarding
house across the street. which was
"thronged and lonesome" as Miss Nab
expressed it, Every afternoon about
five the child fingered on the steps
and watched eagerly till man turned
the corner-a tall, round-shouldered
thin, sickly-looking man. AS soon as
she caught sight Of him she 6arted
like swallow down the street and
fairly threw herself into his arms. He
always slung his lunch box on his
wrist and lifted her to his breast
They did not seem to talk. The head
with its brown curls was laid content
eddy on his shoulde" and occasionally
the father bent to rub his cheek
against the child's pale face. lie
climbed the steps with the little girl in
his arms and shut the door behind
him
Its fellowship inside there" sha
whispered; then she sat down to her
lonely little tea table.
At seven O'Clock she put Matte to
his bed down cellar; afterward she
dressed and started for prayer meet
ing. Two or three friends stopped to
speak to her. They decided she was IN
an absent mood for she did not seem
to know what they were talking about.
Miss Nab had only one thought In her
mind, and 1t seemed to rhyme with
the hymn, 1t mingled with the short
discourse and prayer. 1t had only on :
tenor: she was longing to have the
minister settle monotonous question
for her. 1t seemed as If all the con
gregation fingered to talk with him
after prayer meeting. That night once
or twice he held out a welcoming
hand, but she evaded it; she could not
seek his advice until she was alone.
At last everybody was gone but her
self The young clergyman came for
ward genially.
81 wanted to speak to you Just q
minute, Mr. Pierce. I live alone, You
know, an want to give some other
folks who are kind Of lonesome a bit
of Christmas comfort an fellowship
an a good dinner"
az know nothing more betting tn
spirit of Christmas" said the clergy
man, cordially; "it is following the
very teachings Of our Master"
I'D like to tell you, though, who II
u.s." said Miss Nab, eagerly; cts lit
tle girl who lives across the street in
a great. noisy, desolate boarding
house. She'd have to bring her father.
for he's all she has. They seem to be
terrible devoted to each other. I reck-
on he's a widower-though I DOM
know I've never spoken a word to
either of 'em. | thought you'd tell me
whether 'twou1d be proper or not?'
"There can be no question OF the
propriety, Miss Nab" he said earnest
1y. "In your kindness of heart yorl
could make no mistake"
Miss Nab took his proffered hard
warmly. THANK you," she said;
thank you so much!"
Next day she watched for the little
girl, who did not appear TIL about half
past four, and then she came out &c
hop nimbly up and down the fight OF
stone steps. Miss Nab threw a shaw
over her head and crossed the Snowy
street She had a gracious way witt
children which readily reached thei,
hearts. The shyness of the child dis.
appeared while Miss Nab delivered 3
nervous invitation You'll remem.
her," she said gently, what wan,
you to do. Jest whisper to your
father when he picks you up at tn
street corner that a lonely old woman
who lives across the street wishes Z
bit of Christmas fellowship an IL yor