Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1908-12-24
gathered Peggy in her arms, and
pressed her to her aching heart.

It was the day before Christmas,
and the children had sung all but
their last carol which they were to
sing as they marched. to the manger
and laid down their gifts one by one
The door softly opened, and little
brown shadow of girl with a small
pink object hugged to her breast
slipped timidly in. For a moment
Agnes stood dazed, as if she had sud
denly entered fairyland, for the bare
walls of the room were festooned
with heavy ropes of Christmas greens,
the shades at the windows were
drawn, and all the chandeliers bril-
liantly lighted, while above the await.
ing manger shone glorious electric
star Then, ashamed Of being SO late.
she hurriedly tiptoed to her place.
the vacant seat beside Clarice.
Clarice met her with a cold stare,
| but the gaze of Agnes eyes never
reached the unkind little girls face
for it rested in fascinated awe upon
vision of beauty in Clarice's arms
| tt was a doll such as fairies nigh,
dream of. She had dark, clustering
| curls, and magnificent brown eyes
! Her cheeks glowed with color, and
there was the cunningest dimple ii
| her round chin. She was dressed in
claret velvet trimmed in white silk
| and wore a claret velvet poke bonnet
with white silk strings and an ex
/ Quisite white plume gracefully touch
i ing the brown curls on the right side
| And best of all, she had necklace
Of gold beads, and gold bead brace
lets dangling over her hands.
"Oh," murmureG Agnes, won
your little hospital girl be pleased?
my little hospital grill" scorn
fully whispered back Clarice. Yol
don't suppose I'd give my best dol
away! Here's my present" she helt
out box Of jack-straws-.Lad Lu
cile and l simply stopped in" Sh'
airily tossed her head. We're OF
our way to Christmas Eve party"
Form in line, my dears," inter
rupted Miss Maud, briskly. Yes
our class comes last, but you mus
sing all the time we're marching.
! The children s voices caroled JOY
ously as the procession pressed for
ward, but one little singer was mute
She was the last in the line, littl
brown shadow of girl with small
pink object hugged to her breast
Miss Maud stood by the manger. noy
heaped with all sorts Of playthings
and nodded and smiled as each we
member of her class approached
| Puzzled, she watched Agnes pause
look at the manger with frightene
| eyes, and hesitate. Then she sa,
the small pink object lifted to tn
child's lips, and heard the sound 9
smacking kiss Of farewell befor
trembling hands laid doll wit
straggly hair, faded cheeks and
broken nose among the new toys.
why, my dear" cried Miss Maud
putting her arms about Agnes, .wha
is the matter?"
+ A great sob shook the tiny figure
sTeIl me all about it, comforte
Miss Maud
And Agnes brokeniy conflded th
whole story. But as she explaine
how mothers money belonged t
SOACOOOy Vl0O, dAu INV 0AS udu HUI
) ing to give the Christ Child exceI
her only doll, neither of them notice
little listener who drew nearer an
nearer.
No, no." cried Agnes. Il wouldn
take her back. I want the little no:
: pital girl to have her-she'll 'preciai
Peggy's crippled nose, won't she?
Agnes forced smile through he
tears. "Only," she faltered, 9 it wi
, be. 500 lonesome without an
doll-ie."
Something tugged at Miss Maud
t skirts. She turned, and with sta1
: Of. surprise. looked down into Clal
{ ices eager face.
81 @I've lots more at home, 20
) know" she whispered. And, layin
, Lady Lucille in Agnes astonishe
{ arms. Clarice ran after her chun
Anabel.-The Interior.
A1n 00n Fine For. TalrinU Rfsf1ofne