The Columbus weekly dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 1902-1905, 1904-11-10
The Christmas Eel
lowship Of Miss Nab
ISABEL GORDON CURTIS
Reprinted from Good Housekeeping by
PermIssiOu-)

Little Miss Nab sat staring into the
radiant heart of wood fire II
lacked only two days of Chi4tmas.
She lad not yet invited anydne to
share the hospitality of her Esmall
home. Never since she had been LETT
alone in the world-and that occurred
when she was 17-had she known
-onely Christmas; there were always
some f0rsaken creatures ready to turn
gratefully to the shelter of her home.
All these festivities had brought a Ger
tain heart warmth and happiness
which fingered for months. bit it had
NOT meant fellowship or sympathy
"T believe I want little bit of
Christmas to myself this year."S Miss
Nab whispered to herelf. its SIGH
hard work. all the fxin's, 7 do love
to see the old women an the starved
Toys an girls fill themselves up. Wha1
they want though is the eatin'. FThey
cont know nothin' about fellowship.
When a woman steps over the 40 line
an has been alone al her life, there's
a sort Of longin' for fellowship amt
there. Maltie2"
The gray cat arched his bach aud
rubbed his plump b9dy against Miss
N1ab's dress.
IT'S a fine dinner" observedeMisz
f mao ea IN hs5 s da1e To @@ deserve ov
hip" She rose and walked tx tn
front window Il might jest a5 we'll
ont with what is on my mind,1 sts
said Il know who | want to invite a
well az can be; all that's troubih' me
is the propriety Of It. Now if the
little thing hednt a father Id take
her in and keep her-longer'n CHRIST
mas. too"
GIRL who lived in the big boaHd ng
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. sickly-Iooking man. AS soon "a
she caught sight of him she darted
like a 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 10 talk The head
with its brown curIs 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 aims and shut the door behind
him.
Its fellowship inside there" she
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 20
speak to her They decided she was in
an absent mood for she did not seem
to know what they were talking abo,:-
Miss Nab had only one thought in her
mind. and it seemed to rhyme with
the hymn. it mingled with the short
discourse and prayer. 1t had only one
tenor: she was longing to have the
minister settle a monotonous question
for her It seemed as if all the. con
eTegation fingered to talk with him
after prayer meeting. That nightsonce
or twice he held out a welcoming
hand. but she evaded it: she could not
seek his advice until she was alone
self The young clergyman camel for
ward genially.
II wanted to speak to you 1gst a
minute. Mr.. Pierce. I live alone -rCn
know. an 7 want to give some other
folks who are kind of lonesome a bit
Of Christmas comfort an fellowship
an a good dinner"
Ct know nothing more BETTING IN
spirit Of Christmas" said the clergy
man. cordially; 1T is following the
very teachings of our Master"
I'D like to tell you. though. who 1t
is.'' said Miss Nab, eagerly: its a lit
tie girl who lives across the street in
a great, noisy. desolate boarding
house. She'd have to bring her father,
for he's al she has They seem to be