Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-12-16


DEER MS ADELAIDE ing how lon z
merry cIiEIoNUs. 'twould be before
you'd discover thatr' retorted Miss Vir-
ginta. Her conscience was troubling
her, but she would not yield. She toss
Ell 4 key 70 her sister and then put
the drawer back.
faint i'm my drawer either" said
Mrs. Perkins, II guess it must be IN
that bag. You'd better hurry Miss Ad-
elaide. Shell be home pretty soon"
Miss Adelaide pulled the bag out and
fitted the key. The four old ladies
peered eagerly down at her Suddenly
she drew her hand back again.
Il can't" she said zone of you
must do It.
Mrs. Perkins stopped down and pull
ed open the bag, which seemed full Of
bits of silk and ribbon.
''Where'd she get so manyT' she
asked. 1T looks as If we're on the
track now, don't It? And see hereg
She pulled from under the rags
three little packages carefully tied up
IN bright colOred bits of tissue paper
She distributed them rapidly, passing
one to Miss Adelaide, who made no
effort To take Il, but let It roll under
the bed. Mrs Perkins dived after It
and came up flushed just as Mrs. SlO-
cum gave an exclamation Of diSmay.
What's the matter?" asked Mrs.
Perkins impat1ently. Mrs. Slocum laid
something on the bed. The others
crowded round; only Miss Adelaide
never moved. They saw a red pin
cushion IN the shape of q rude heart,
and on Il In crooked letters the pins
formed the words. Deer Mis- AdIade
Merry Chrismus."
The silence made Miss Adelaide turn,
and she caught up the ugly cushion
with little cry.
That's what It meant" she cried
That's her 'meechin' 1ays! She was
making us Christmas pTesents-us
who'd never done O thing for her, not
a thing to make her lonely life less
a happy time for her, and she feed
ing her poor starved life On the scraps
Of kindness we flung her."
A tear rolled down and splashed on
the red cushion. Miss Virginia snatch
ed the cushion away.
THERE she cried. Make things
better by spotting thisT'
Miss Adelaide left the room, and her
sister did not oppose her. The rest
worked in silence until everything was
In order Then they filed silently out
and shut the door.
That night Miss Adelaide had q sick
headache. Scraps came up at supper
time to bring her some toast. Her
thin little face looked sharply through
the gloom Of the room.
Here's your toast" she said. cts
dark Ia here. Shan't / get you a
ight?'
mo, no." answered Miss Adelaide
quickly 1t seemed to her she could
not meet the chfld's eyes. Scraps stood
q moment full Of sympathy.
I'm sorry you're sick, Miss Ade
laide. she said awkwardly. II guess
you'll feel better IN the morning, won't
your"
''Yes," answered Miss Adelaide, bury
ing her face in the pillow. "Run down
stairs and get your supper, Scraps It
will be all cold"
Scraps obeyed. as she always did. and
Miss Adelaide heard her shutting down
the stairs ID her loose old shoes. When
Miss Virginia came IL she found her
sister sitting up in bed, with a flushed.
excited face.
Virginia" she cried, chow much
money have / in my purseY
Three dollars and FIVE cents" an
swered Miss Virginia.
Il am going to get Scraps a pair Of
shoes for Christmasr Miss Adelaide
was frightened when she had said It
for II was understood between them
that Miss Virginia should say what