Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1908-12-24


in the inn; of the Christmas carol of
peace and good will sung by the an
gels to the shepherds watching their
fccks by night.
Clarice's face was rapt; her eyes
adcring Of all the teachers in the
Sunday school, none was so lovely as
her own 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. |
If only she dared tell her! But that
morning she had asked the awful
privilege Of holding Miss Maud's muf
"a rich sable with a beautiful bunch
Of viclets fastened to it-and there
was no courage left for further init
mate speech. Suddenly the spell was
broken, and Clarice turned with
angry jerk from the object Of her
worship, and fiercely scowled at an
inofensive little girl seated beside
her.
Excuse ne," meekly apologized
Agnes, the new scholar.
Clarice drew her light blue silk
skirts away from the dingy brown
cashmere touching them; held herself
very straight; and, with a superb dig
nifty, shifted the violets on the muff.
And now, my dears." said Miss
Maud, las you know, Wednesday will
De another birthday Of the Christ
Child, and who wants every one here
TO give Him present-just as you
would give 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
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 far ava, is great hos
pital for little children who have
crippled legs and arms, and poor,
crooked backs, sick children who
can't run and play, but 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 a golden thread
gathering pearls. Il knew you would.
Well, I'm going to tell you c secret.
She leaned confidentially near. @The
Gay before Christmas we're to have
dear little service down here, and
ever there on the platform will be an
empty n,anger, and, as we sing our
Christmas carols, we are going to
M 70 nd aah
put in gift for some little Christ
child at the hospital Won't we have
jolly lime deciding what to bring!
Why, IT viii be almost as exciting as
IL every grille Of you were playing
Santa Claus!"
Again Clariee's smiling face was
clouded by a scowl, and one rude
elbow poked the new scholars arm.
@C1ariee!" exclaimed Miss Maud,
severely.
"She's crowdfng mel defended a
su1ky voice.
Miss Maud footed up at the little
brown figure shrinking back into g
corner. The ehfld's eyes we're 1umin.
Agnes was so fntently listening tc
me that I'm sure she didn't realize
that she was leaning against anyone
I'm surprised at you, Clarfca!" A
cheek hid IT'S shamed crimson In the
soft muff. To have Miss Maud ~sur.
Drised" at you was tgnomfny itself!
Her tears wet the vfolets. It was al
Agnes fault. She would neser for
give her.-never!
And when Sunday~seAool was orel
and Agnes with a tfmfd smile. asked
II she might walk up the street with
Clarlca. that unhaaxsfka little SIR