The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1907-12-12

about tea, and she felt better after
drinking it. Altogether She was in
quite a cheerful mood when the little
daughter Of her landlord came to wish
her merry Christmas and bring an
invitation from her mother to eat her
Christmas dinner with them. Dinner
would be at half past .. Miss Acker-
mann thanked thein very Eluch and
would dine with them with pleasure
Then she gave the little girl the pres
ent she had ready for her, stylish
young lady doll dressed in the latest
fashion. with coat and hat complete, a
gift which made its recipient radiant,
and sent her Off to exhibit it at once.
The sermon Gods Christmas Gifts"
from the text Wait upon the Lord
and he shall give thee the desire Of
thy heart made her homesick again,
the desire of her heart seemed so ex-
ceedingly far off. Miss Ackermann
was not one Of those who forget, hard
as she had tried not to remember She
found her thought straying back ten
years to the seaside, to her old home
obu JUN. NH I'ttlCulS WeIc uelSu-
bors. Her father and mother lived in
the little fl ling town and took board
ers in the season. His father was the
farmer who supplied them with yege-
tables and fruit. Jack drove the wagon
which brought the daily supply to the
cottages. They would have known
each other in any case, but the morn
M inf irwin Lott
berries, melons and tomatoes brought
them closer together.
Every one approved of their engage
ment, and the day was set, when a
great misfortune happened-her moth
er and Oldest sister were killed in q
buggy which they were driving by q
train at railroad crossing This was
bad enough surely. but TROUBLES hunt
in couples" and the blow seemed to at
feet her fathers mind. He became al
most childish. took to his bed and
would have no one but her wait upon
him. To complete the roll of disaster
her brother suddenly brought home as
his wife a girl whom none of his
friends; would have chosen. and the
old man would not let his daughter-in-
law come near him. To tell the truth.
she had no desire to help Miss Acker-
mann in her duties. She had married
for step up and said plainly that she
did not mean to slave to please any,
body.
You see how 1t Is, Jack" Miss Ack-
ermann said. with streaming eyes. II
cannot leave father. even for you
Bring him to our house with you,"
replied Jack. There is plenty of room,
and father and mother won't mind"
mo, Jack: thanks ever so much. but
that wouldn't do any good. Fathe<
wouldn't be satisfied Besides. he takes
up so much of my time that couldn't
do NY duty by you" And Jack had to
submit with the best grace he could
muster
Unfortunately he consulted the doc.
tor who attended Mr.. Ackermann as
| to the probable duration of the old
mans illness.
The doctor assured. him that the
trouble was chiefly hypochondria and
that he might live for years in the
same state or might possibly recover
as suddenly as he had collapsed. At all
events the patient was in no immedi-
ate danger
The inquiry would have done nc
harm had it not been that the doctor
had 4 talking wife. to whom he told
everything, SO before long the whole
neighborhood was saying that JACK
Ralstcn had been asking how long old
man Ackefmann could live OF course
the story came to Miss Ackermann's
ears, to her intense Indignation and
still greater grief. Jack could not deny
it In toto, and short of positive denial
she would listen to no explanation
There was a quarrel. broken engaxe