Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1908-12-09

6AE&AAS there was no room
In the inn; of the Christmas carol of
peace and good will sung by the an
gels to the shepherds watching their
focks by night.
Clarice's face was rapt:: her eyes
adoring. OF all the teachers In the
Sunday-school, none vas so lovely as
her5own Miss Maud. She was certain
that the Christmas angels had the
same shining yellow hair. Did they
wear those fascinating gold hairpins,
too? One was slipping out from the
soft fluff over Miss Maud's left ear.
II only she dared tell her! But that
morning she had asked the awful
privilege Of holding Miss Maud's mu9
Ia rich sable with beautiful bunch
of -psolets fastened to it-and there
was no courage left for further inti-
mate speech. Suddenly the spell was
broken, and Clarice turned with
angry jerk from the object of her
worship. and fiercely scowled at an
inoffensive little girl seated beside
her..
Excuse me-" meekly apologized
Agnes, the new scholar.
- Ciarice drew her light blue silk
skirts away from the dingy brown
cashmere touching them; held herself
very straight; and, with superb dig
nifty, shifted the violets on the muf.
s. 4And now, my dears," said Miss
Maud, aas you know, Wednesday will
be another birthday of the Christ
Child, and who wants every one here
to give Him a present-just as you
would give q present to your own
little brother on his birthday at
home" She smiled radiantly. do
you wonder how you can do that
when the Christ Child has become a
King in Heaven? I'll tell you. He
left in His place all the poor little
girls and boys IN this big world, and
told US that in giving to them we give
to Him. Not ia! way is a great hos
pital for little children who have
crippled legs and arms, and poor,
crooked backs, sick children who
can't run and play, bat have to hobble
about on crutches or lie in bed all
day. Wouldn't you like to make
their Christmas SO happy that they'd
forget their pain?"
Her smile gathered up their eager
mods Of assent, as golden thread
gathering pearls. Il knew you would.
Well, I'm going to tell you secret. !"
She leaned confidentially near. THE
day before Christmas we're to have
a dear little service down here, and
over there on the platform will be an
empty maIger, and, as We sing our
Christmas carols. we are going to
march up to the mangcr and each
put in a gift for some little Christ
child at the hospital. Won't we have
q jolly time deciding what to bring!.
why. twill be almost as exciting as
.ifsevars gi;l;e OF you wese pla aging;
Santa G!aus!"
Again Clarice's smiling face was
clouded by a scowi, and one rude
elbow poked the new scholars arm.
4Clarice!" exclaimed Miss Maud.
severely.
4She's crowding ma!" defended
sulky voice
Miss Maud looked up at. the little
brown figure shrinking back into a
corner. The child's eyes were lumin
Gus; her face flushed, her lips parted.
Agnes was so intently listening to
me that I'm sure she didn't realize
that she was leaning against anyone.
I'm surprised at you, Clarice!' 4
cheek hid It's shamed crimson In the
soft muff. To have Miss Maud tsur-
prisedn at you was ignominy itself!
Her tears wet the violets. 1t was all
Agnes fault. She would never for
give her-neyer!
And when Sunday-school was over
and Agnes, with a timid smile, asked
IL she might walk up the street with
Clarice, that unlady!ike little girl
slipped her arm through that of her
chum, Anabel, and, whispering and
gigglfng, stalked by Agnes without
word.
The tears came into Agnes eyes,
for mother would not let her play
with the little girls In the new neigh
borhood into which they had moved.
because the children there were rough
and boisterous, and used naughty
words, and she was very lonely. But
she was a brave little soul. and dash
ing away the tears. she was soon