Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1906-12-20
AT Christmas time this yearl
MISS BETTY'S CHRISTMAS GIFT.

is the tenth. inst two weeks from
to- morrow is Christmas !"
Miss Betty Dane, spinster, stood
before calendar which hung on her
sitting-room wall. She was a plump
little woman, upon whose face faded
pink flush still fingered. Her brown
eyes were shy, and the brown hair
rolled back from her brow was thread
ed with silver.
christmas |" she repeated, as she
went back to her rocking chair. Il
suppose Christian woman ought not
to say such thing, but l dread the
day. and Miss Betty wiped her eyes.
Il ought to be ashamed land l am,
she went on, rocking to and fro,
"but it's dreadful never to have
Christmas like folks who have fam
lily. Now I'm not repining because
I'm an old maid, for | never saw the
man I'd think Of, not for years any
way" the dull pink in her cheeks
burned to crimson. II haven't rel
alive in this part Of the country, aud
| am SO shy and bashful that l never
get close to people. Sometimes l
envy people, women, man, who get
the pretty, dainty gifts that love
prompts
She sat few minutes in silence,
then resumed her half articulate MUIR
muir:
IF 1 was poor-I mean needy, for
l am not rich-the church would send
me a basket Christmas morning.
Well, IN thankful that / don't need
that, and | always give something to
help ELL the baskets as well as money
for the Sunday school Christmas tree.
Mrs. Deacon Green will send me a
mince pie. She has done it every
Christmas for ten years, and always
send her plate Of my crullers. |
will send Mrs. Carpenter a chicken
and few other things she will re-
turn an elaborate note of thanks,
every line beginning with capital
letter. There's Niece Title. She
never fails to send me the new baby
picture. On the rare years when there
is no new baby she sends me card.
Such things are ali well enough, but
they dom mean
Miss Betty stopped, rose, and walk
ed aimlessly into the adjoining dining.
room. After few moments she re.
turned to her former position. A
determined look was upon her face.
I'll do it. Why shouldn't :?
The day after tomorrow I'll go to
the city, and I will buy dainty little
things, such presents as a woman
ought to have at Christmas. will
pretend to myself that they mean the
love l am so slow learning to live
without"
On the morning of the second day
following Mics Dane left the village
on the nine o'clock train. She did
not return until four.
AS she walked briskly homeward
from the depot, her arms filed with
packages, she was overtaken by Mrs.
Hall.
"Why, lands sakes, Miss Bsttyl
You don't mean to say as you have
been to the city. do you? l didn't
know as you was calculatin on goin'
"Well, have been there" Miss
Dane answered, a little deGantlY.
"What'd you go for2 You've got
a new hat already, and your cloak
was new last winter"
Il went to do some shopping"
"Land sakes Whst'd you buy p
Mics Betty threw back her head
her brown eyes staring straight ahead
OF her.
II bought Christmas gifts. Good.
bye, Mrs. Hall. and. turning a cor.
ner, the half frightened spinster hur.
ried down street that led directly tc
her own door.
Mrs. Hall looked after the plump
little figure, bafaed curiosity depicted
ON her face.
miss Betty is altogether too close
mouthed. 1t amt cscomin' to wo
man as lives alone.
Miss Dane soon reached her owl
home. 1t was fast growing dark
and as she entered the sittting-roOu
the CLEAN of the coal stove seemed
like welcome.
I'm glad to be back. but / am no
sorry / went" she thought as sh'
carefully laid her PARCELS on the bed
at is going to be cold night. Ii