The Virginia enterprise., 1904-12-23
The 4 ! Christmas ] lFe:l- 81
lowship of Miss Nab
@ ISABEL GORDON Curtis
Weprintsd from Good Housskeepine By
Psrmission.lf -

Little Miss NAB sat staring into the
radiant heart Of q wood fire. 1t
lacked only two days Of Christmas.
She had not yet invited anyone to
share the. hospitality of her small
home. Never since she had been left
alone in the world-and that occurred
whom 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, bit it had
not meant fellowship or sympathy.
~ believe I want a little bit Of
Christmas to myself this year." Miss
Nab whispered to herelf: cts sich
to see the old women an the starved
boys an girls fill themselves up. What
they want, though, is the eatin'. They
don't know nothin' about fellowship
When woman steps over the 40 line
an has been alone all her life, there's
sort of longin' for fellowship-ain't
there. Maltie?'
The gray cat arched his back and
rubbed his plump body against Miss
Mab's dress.
tits fine dinner" observed Miss
Nab in her solitary musing: "it's a
fine enough dinner to deserve fellow
Ship" She rose and walked to the
front window. II might jest as we'll
cut with what is on my mind" ste
said. ~ 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-longer'n Christ
mas. too"
She was watching a six-year-cld
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 a man turned
the corner-a tall, round-shouldered
thin. slckly-1ooking man. AS soon az
she caught sight Of him she darted
like q 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
edly on his shoulder 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..
TITS" fellowship inside there" sh.
whispered; then she sat down to her
lonely little tea table.
At seven o'clock she put Maltie to
his bed down cellar; -afterward she
dressed and started for prayer meat
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 It seemed to rhyme with
the hymn. 1t mingled with the short
discourse and prayer. It had only one
tenor: she was longing to have the
minister settle: monotonous question
for her It 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 1t: 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.
II wanted to speak to you just q
minute, Mr.. Pierce. live alone, yo,
know. an I want to give some other
folks who are kind of lonesome bit
of Christmas comfort an fellowship
an good dinner"
II know nothing more befitting th~
spirit of Christmas" said the clergy
man. cordially; ut is following the
very teachings of our Master
I'D like to tell you, though, who 1t
is" said Miss Nab, eagerly: "it's lit
tie girl who lives across the street in
great. noisy, desolate boarding
house. She'd have to bring her father
terrible devoted to each other. I reck-
on he's a widower-though dom;
know. I've never spoken a word to
either of 'em. thought you'd tell me
whether 'twould be proper or not?"
There can be no question of the
propriety. Miss Nab. he said earnest
ly. I'm your kindness Of heart you
could make no mistake"
Miss NAB took his profIered hard
warmly. THANK you," she said:
"thank you so much!"
Next day she watched for the little
girl. who did not appear till about half
past four. and then she came out TO
hop nimbly up and down the flight of
stone steps. Miss Nab threw a shawl
over her head and crossed the snowy
street She had a gracious way with
children which readily reached their
hearts. The shyness of the child dis
appeared while Miss Nab delivered a
nervous invitation. You'll remem.
ber," she said gently. what I want