The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1907-05-20

saiQ Miss Abigail kimball,
addressing her little niece, Il trust that
while / am in the city today you viii
not forget in everything you are my
namesake.'
Nom replied the child, whisper
ing q gcodby, for she had never kissed
her Aunt Abigail, not even a good
night kiss.
Little Abigail, left alone for the FIRST
time all day in the care of the servants.
took her doll, Polly Jane, and sat down
m the Library to think. BY and by
Mary, the maid, came into the room,
with an apronful OF pine cones for the
merry ire that danced and cracked In
the Wide open fireplace. The servants
good natnred face wreathed itself in
smiles. for there sat Abigail stifIy erect
IN q high arm chair, making very
droll picture indeed.
Mary" whispered Abigail, to-day
I've an awful responsibility. Tn a.
namesake-the Aunt Abigail kind. ySu
know; not just pretend, either"
Land sakes! You don't say so! "A
Miss Namesaker' exclaimed the maid.
dramatically dropping her pine cones
IN surprise. Abigail smiled. Somehow
Mary always understood.
Yes continued the little girl. 'I'm
one. I'D Ike TO have missionary
meeting tea party, really truly. Aunt
Abigail was going to have one this
very afternoon IL Mr.. Lawyer hadn't
made her go to the city. I'd like real
little girls at mine too"
But, Miss Namesake. even &c yon
was to have really one. the children
near here be all poor
why, Mary, didn't you know, mis-
sionary meeting tea parties are always
for poor people3 don't think I'd feel
so aloney If could only have 'cm once
in awhile, my kind murmured Abigail.
pathetic little catch in her sweet
voice. Then tender hearted Mary was
suddenly called TO the kitchen.
"oh, well, III just play missionary
after lunch" whispered the wee girl.
She looked wIstfully out the window.
1t was showing. The nodding plumes
of the great fir trees were heavy with
glistening snowdrops.
Dear me, I'd rather be a tree than
namesake," she sighed.
Abigail was an old, seusltlYe girl Of
five years. Her father and mother
both dead, she had lived ever slnce
her third birthday with her aunt. Miss
Riinball. AS Miss Namesake was
odd, she was often very lonely. She
called herself "little All Aloney."
Mary was the only one who seemed
to understand her whimsical, imagina-
tive ways while her Aunt Abigail did
not at all. Maybe her aunt did not I'M
derstand because she had alwaysiiyed
such a sheltered life behind these
great FIR trees. Then, too, It was q
long time since wee girl had played
in the great silent house. And the
lonely woman-for her Aunt Abigail
was lonely, too-seemed to have for
gotten her own childhood days. so bar
rem of childish things. She had known
few children. Taught by goyelness.
brought up according to rule, she knew
Of only this one way for her niece.
Poor little Namesake!
"oh, / feel so grown up" sighed
Abigail. She was taking her Aunt
Abigail's place for the day, so she I'M
derstood. Though the importance Of
her respectfully" had a peculiar
charm, she was still little All Aloney.
There were shadows across her just
pretend land, and naughty elves called
tears tangled themselves In Polly
James curls. It was Lonesome Land
everywhere today. even If she were
namesake.
Then luncheon time came.
MARY" demonstrated Miss Name.
sake, initiating her aunt's manner and
tone of voice, Il do not wish any more
jam. I'm a namesake, you know"
The little girl had suddenly remem-
bered she had never seen her aunt talk.
more than one spoonful of jam. Good
natured Mary had taken advantage Of
her mistress absence and was inci-
dentnlly heaping Abigail's plate with
delicious jam.
Every well, ma'am." sighed Maty.
smiling, though her kind heart ached
to comfort little All Aloney in her
brave attempts to be good namesake.
Polly Jane" whispered Abigail
when she once more sat in the library.
II can't kiss you today, cause I'm
namesake, the Aunt Abigail kind, you
know. So you sit quietly and think.
for wish to read"
She smiled with little grownup air
at her doll. Then Miss Namesakc took
a heavy book from the table and began
to read-that is, just pretend read. for
the book was upside down. There were
lonely tears in a little girls eyes. Be
sides, she wasn't very comfortable. for
the tips Of her small boots did not
touch the floor, and of course she
wouldn't rest her feet ON the rounds OF
Aunt Ablgairs mahogany chairs.
From her high seat she could see me