The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1904-12-23
The Christmas Eel
lowship of Miss Nab
ISABEL GoRDoS CURTIS
fe.srin.sd from Good Housekeeping ~
iernIssioD.j

home Never since she had been left
s'one in the world land that occurred
when she was i7-had she known a
lonely Christmas: there we're always
eone forsaken creatures ready 10 turn
gratefully 20 the shelter OF her home
All these festivities had brought a crr-
tain heart warmth and happiness
which fingered for months. bTt II had
10, meant fellowship or sympathy
81 believe ! want a little bit OF
Christmas 10 myself this year" Miss
Nab whispered 10 herelf. ats SIGH
hard work. all the fxin's' I DO love
10 See the old women an the starved
hoys an girls MI themselves up. What
,tev want. though. IS the eatin'. The
DON'T know nothin' about fellowship
when a woman steps over the 81 line
an has been alone all her life. there's
sort n lonrin' for fellowship amt
there. Maltie2"
The gray cat arched his back and
rthcd his plump body against Miss
MAIDS dress
TITS a fine dinner" observed Mss
NAB in her solitary musine. SITS 4
fne enough dinner 10 deserve fellow
SHIN" She rose and walked 20 n
= nt window II might jest as we'll
~. with what Is on nv mind" she
san Il know who want 10 invite As
vsi \, can be. all that's froubiin me
IS ne propriety Of il Now II n z
little thing hedn't father. IA take
her in and keep her-longer'n Christ
uas too"
she was watching six-year-cle
r'rl who lived in the big bna-d ne
house across the street. which was
"'hronced and lonesome" as Miss NAB
expressed il Every afternoon about
five the child fingered on the sters
and watched eagerly till a man turned
re corner-a tall. rounc-shOultered-
din sickly-lcokinC man. As soon "a
she caught sight 81 him she dar'ei
Ike swallow down the street ard
sai-.. threw herself into his arms Sc
always slunr his lunch box on bis
wrist ana Yftsd Ter 70 his breast
They ara not seem 10 talk. The heal
vi'h i's brown rrr's was laid content
edIv On hts shorller and occasi onalv
the father bent 20 rub his chceg
AGAINST me chld's rale face iTe
cNmtad TIE sters With he lif'ie I'll T.
his aims and shut the door behind
hin
TITS fellowship inside thCre." sha
Whispered. thon She sat down 20 he-
lonely little ten table
A. seven O'Clock she PIT Matte 70
his red down cellar: afterward she
dressed and started for PRAYER meet
inr Two CT three friends s-nDred 20
speak 20 her. They decided she was IN
an absent mood for she did not seem
n know what they were talking abort,
Miss Nab had only one thought In her
mind. and II seemed 70 rhyme with
he hymn q mingled with the sho-t
discourse and PRAYER II had only one
tenor. she was longing 20 have The
minister settle monotonors question
FOR her II seemed as n all The con
rreraticn fingered 20 talk With him
after PRAYER meeting That night oace
a. twice he held ont a welcoming
sand but she evadei ~. she could not
seek his advice until she was alone
At last everybody was gone but her
self The young clergyman came for
sard genially.
81 wanted 20 speak n You trst =
minute. Mr. Pierce. live alone. ycri
know. an want 20 give some other
'lfs who arc kind Of lonesome bit
n Christmas comfort ar fellowsh.r
an a good dinner"
Y know nothing more befttir~ ~
sririt OF Christmas" said the clergy
nan cordially: 1T is following the
se-v teachings of our Master"
I'D like 70 tell Won. though. who II
e." said Miss Nab. eagerly: its 1T
Ne girl who lives across the street in
great. noisy. dcsoiate boarding
corse she'd have 10 bring her faihe-
frr he's all she has They seem 10 hc
terrible devoted 20 each other reck-
IN he's widower-though I don.
lnow. i've never spoken a word 20
ether Of EN-. thought you'd tell M
whether 'twould be proper or no'7''
There can be no question n tho
rronriety. Miss Nab. he said earnest
ly In your Kindness 81 heart you
could make no mistake"
Miss Nab took his prorered hard
warmly Thank you." she said
thank you so much"
Next day she watched FOR the little
girl who did not appear It'll about half
rast four. and then she came out r
hon nlmbly IN and down the Fight Of
stone steps Miss Nab threw shaw
over her head and crossed the SNOWY
street She had gracious way wi'f
children which readily reached ths'r
hearts The shyness Of the child d
appeared while Miss Nab delivered r
nervous invitation You1l reren-
her" she said genti.. what want
Won 70 do. Jest whisper 70 yorr
father when he picks you M a. ~
street corner that a lonely old woman
who lives across the street w'sh-s =
BIZ 81 Christmas fellowship. an ?. YOU
and he haven't anything else planned
she invites Won TO come and dine with