Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-29
E1ena's Happy New Year
BY NJ. NORMAN.

BY NJ NORMAN
seek and We shall find" Elena was sure
this was what the preacher said that re-
markable Sunday when Granny Miles took
her to the mission, and told her that every
word the preacher said was true.
Mrs. Bates is going to live with her son,
and he says he will not have me. I shall
have to go to the Town Farm
Elena was talking to her clothespin doll.
Now, Euphemy, I don't know what a
town farm Is. 1t must be q dreadful place,
for Granny Miles cried like everything
when they took her there. You don't know
either, do you Euphemy?"
'.Pn tell you what Wen do. I have
thought it all out. We will go and seek,
and we will find nice home somewhere.
Now you needn't cry, I'll find nicer place
Elena wrapped Euphemy In faded pink
cloth, her best wrap, and put on her own
little coat and hood The coat had little II
any color. but the hood granny had made
out of some pieces Of blue cashmere the
rag man had given Mr.. Bates to pay for his
dinner one day.
1t was just after dinner and nobody no.
ticed Elena, for the dishes were washed and
the floor was swept.
II will go and go until see a nice little
house with a nice smiling woman looking
out of the window
So Euphemy snuggled up tightly in
Elena's arm, and Elena sang to her: some
times Little Boy Blue" sometimes Twin
kle, Twinkle Little Star" Granny had
taught her the Soro5.
At last the twiN,ing stars came out and
Elena had not found the nice little house
with the smiling face at the window.
There We're plenty of big houses. Elena
was afraid of these. She had been sent on
an errand to a big house once; a woman
with big red arms and great big eyes had
opened the door and said. "Scat!' and
Elena had run away as fast she could.
When it grew dark Elena was puzzled.
How shall tell the house, Euphemy?"
She looked around and she heard some
one calling, "E-le-na. E-le-na!"
1t seemed to be overhead
Elena could see nothing but the trees and
the telegraph poles.
'It is just ahead said Elena IT can
hear it a little farther down the road" And
she ran on.
While she was running a gentleman met
lady and he said, "A happy New Year
to you. I shall not see You tomorrow. SO 1
WIN give you greeting now. What a fine
A little farther on two young ladies met
and they said, Happy New Year"
Their faces were so bright and their
voices so happy. that Elena began to feel
happy, too. But the voice was always a
little ahead.
While Elena was following the voice
Miss Camden sat by her coy IRE thinking.
Dear me, how lonely am! How 1 wish I
knew OF some one who would be agreeable
and wanted a good home. 1 declare, have
almost a mind to go to the Home tomorrow
and get one OF the orphans. But child
would be such a care. Hark! That sounded
like some one tapping on the window
Maybe 1t is showing. No, 1t Is bright star
light"
It was only Elena who was letting Eu-
phemy look into the pleasant room. and
she had run away when Miss Camden
looked out.
Dear mel" said Miss Camden. with an
other sigh. II suppose ought not to leave
the shades up, but can't help thinking that
on New Year eve If any one should be
roaming about homeless. she would not be
afraid to come to the door. seeing me here
l wouldn't want any one out in the cold
New Year eve.
Dear. kind Miss Camdeni
"Hark! that is certainly some one knock
ing. Such a tiny knock. too. Who Is
there?" asked Miss Camden from her side
of the door.
me, me. and Euphemy." came the reply.
The door opened.
Happy New Year" There stood Elena
her face bright with expectation, framed in
her blue hood. and a pink bundle Rugged
tightly in her arm. She was shivering so
that her teeth chartered. and her hanus
were purple.
DO you want a little girl like me?" she
asked.
Mercy on US, Come in, child" said the
astonished woman.
Elena was well toasted at the coy fire,
where she sat drinking hot milk and eating
bread and butter and sugar cookies
Now. tell me all about it, said Miss
Camden when the last bit Of cooky had dis
appeared and the crumbs had been offered
to Euphemy.
So Elena told her about granny and Mrs.
Bates and her son and the Town Farm
and the Voice.
And an angel called me all the way"
she said.
II think 1t was the telephone wires" said
Miss Camden.
Can 1 be your little girl now?'
Il guess the good Father sent you for
New Year gift" said Miss Camden. II
think I shall have to keep you"
In the morning when Miss Camden came
to the door Of the little room where she
had tucked Elena and Euphemy into nice
white bed, she called. "A happy New Year,
dear"