Perth Amboy evening news., 1904-12-24

member?
"I1l remember" answered the little
girl. She spoke gravely, but there wa-s
an eager light in her eyes. I'm sure
we'll come. Papa and me was talk
ing about Christmas last night, and
wishing we we're back in the country,
because there were homes there where
we would have been invited. We don't
know anybody here yet, except board
ing house folks. I've wanted SO to get
acquainted with your kitty, but didn't
dare come over"
you dear little soul" said Miss
Nab, warmly; you shan't have any
more lonesome days, If l can help It.
Miss Nab watched anxiously the
not nestle her head on her fathers
shoulder, as was her custom; she was
talking to him eagerly and pointing
across the street to- the little brick
house set In the midst of a wide gar
den. She did not wave her answer.
| Miss 'Mab's heart began to beat tumul-
tuously, when she saw the tall mau
| come striding across the street through
| the snow. She threw the door open
before he knocked. He bowed courte-
cusly.
MY little girl has told me of your
| goodness" he said. at is kind of You,
| very, very kind. l do not know how to
| thank you. We shall be very happy
to come. I do not mind the loneliness
much for myself. but for Cynthia. left
| alone all day in our bare little o
! the thought of it stays with me con
| stantly while | work" Cynthia hume
| delightedly over her fathers shoulder
/ whispering in blissful friendliness to
the gray cat.
Twas a bold thing to do, invltin'
| strangers this way said Miss Nab
apologetically. The scarlet blushes wer
| chasing each other across her cheer
| full face. II didn't "a 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 DID, said the man.
| slowly; ''she has had to grow up with
| hardly anybody t. 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 wh.s-
! pered the child, stroking the careworn
face.
Land sake!D cried Miss Nab, with
a strange, choking sob; "land sake,
1t is hard lines when the father has
| to do the motherin', tool"
1--WE 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 Nal wiped
her eyes furtively when she sat down
in her big rocking chair. ut 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 he dinner. had been cleared
away Miss Nab summed herself in the
JOYOUS warmth of fellowship. The gra-
cious wood fire wrapped the little group
in its friendly glow and the very spirit
| of Christmas seemed to hallow the
homely. coy living room.
1t was a wild, cold winter, with great
snow storms whirling owe the country
and city streets blocked with huge
drifts. but there were 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
Maltie's welcome was as cordial as that
Of his mistress. Every morning. after
ne had eaten his comfortable breakfast.
he jumped in the living room window to
curl himself up In a gray ball with ex-
pectant half shut eyes fixed on the brick
building across the street He watched
Till the door was opened by a tall man
who carried a lunch box and a little
clinging bundle wrapped in a ieecy
brown shawl He always chose the same
path; he came striding across the street
to the red brick house set in the wide
yard. Then Matte 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 careHorn look seemed to be fad
ing from her fathers face. When V
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. Cynthia's fare
wells were always tempered by the as
surance of her return in the morning.
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