Daily Kennebec journal., 1908-12-26
A Belated Christmas

When Miss Debby Smith spoke her
opinion of 1.-The. servant question: her
voice reminded one of newly -sharpencd d
scissors; clear, decided, without halt or
hesitancy, it made its way through tie
fabric of conversation.
Nov, l never spoil my girls" said
said Miss Debby grimly. From tie
first day they come, l let 'em know
that their time is mine. evenings after
moons and ALL There's my Bertha =
Bertha Erdmann, she never thinks "t
sadding; church is the only place she
goes to-
'Bertha's been with you quite
awhile" remarked Miss Debb>'s ntigh-
Dor. Mrs. Pettibone. She seems t.
lie a nice, capable girl and l nope
rothingll put it into her head to git
married and leave you. / see the
grocer's man give her a big bunch
of holly an ground-pine this morning.
She had it up by her Winder after
wards"
Hes her cousin and has wife,
was Miss Debby's rejoinder. Il
s'pose he give 1t to Bertha for decora;-
ing; those Germans make so much OF
Christmas fiXings.'
Il didn't know Bertha had any
relations here; somebody said ncr
parents died very soon after they
came over from Germany; pneumonia,
wasn't it"
Yes; and they left two children be-
sides Bertha; a little boy and girl;
they're in the orphan asylum VI
Brighton way. I rather guess Bertha
goes to see 'em Sundays. Sometimes
she's late from. church, but | don't
make any fuss about that; she never
asks me to let he1 off on other days
ard I guess she never will!''
But in spite of this confident asser-
ton, Miss Debby was confronted by ar
unprecedented request that very even
ing.
After having removed the tea things
| Bertha fingered q little standing il
awkward attitude and nervously plait
| ing the hem of her apron with her big
| red fingers.
What is it. Bertha? Any more sr"
ceries needed for tomorrow" he
mistress inquired.
| NO. ma'am. Max. he bought thos
celery all right; it was in Won bi.
| bunch tied up in paper so I think /
some of that Dago stuff, vat you cal
hcem--maccaroni" No, maam, WI
dent need no more grocery things al
ready, butt vas thinking, Mis-
Schmidt. here Eerthas checks gre,
| apple-red and her blue eyes shon
like sapphres-'I was thinking afte.
| the dinner was Ofer tomorrow, could
so away for the rest of the afternoo
| and evening? l wants IL ieedle time t
mineselfs.''
A sudden frostiness crept into Mis-
Debby's manner and tone as she re
piled, "Tomorrow-ChrIstm No,
think not. You know what my rule
are! Besides, as we have dinner s
late, by the time the dishes are pu
away and the hens fed, it will be al
most dark any way, and you wouldn
have much time left"
Very veil, ma am"
A sullen depression had crept int
| liiC 6hl tollC anu ilISl III HcI Dtt
eyes; she turned away quietly an
went out into the kitchen, from whic
there came presently a faint clatte
of dishes in the sink, and the sour
of hot water running from the fauce
Somehow Miss Debby missed tt
sweet, mellow voice singing "Tf
Watch on the Rhine''-the usu;
CHEEKY accompaniment of daily disl
washing. Nor did the German maj
sing even the next day. though it Wa
Christmas--a Christmas with clea
I blue sky, dazzling sunshine. spotle!
snow, merry voices and ringing bells
In her patient, plodding way, Be
that did up the work and cooked Il
: dinner--a dinner bountiful in ever!
+ thing save guests.
Sad was it that the years as the
!. came were only bringing more selhsl