Gloucester County Democrat., 1909-01-07

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Abigail ran swiftly down the walk,
her aunts white shawl wrapped closely
about her little shoulders. She had for
gotten she was namesake. This was
really truly fun. The boisterous north
wind was tossing her curls She smiled
gratefully at the nodding fir trees, who
always told her such pretty stories.
Well, the poor children were delight
ed with an invitation to a missionary
meeting tea party@at the ''big house."
as they admiringly called Miss Kim
balls home Their names were Macks,
and there were four in all. just what
the party was to be like they didn't
know. But their hostess was so conf
dent and happy that the uncertainty
was more alluring. while Miss Name
sake, who had attended only one mis-
sionary meeting tea party, and that the
Aunt Abigail kind, was tremendously
happy.
Mary never suspected a thing Of it.
Imagine her surprise. then when she
walked into the library later in the
afternoon to see If Miss Abigail was
still namesaking and found three rag
ged little girls, one small boy and
Miss Namesake gathered cozily around
the great open fireplace.
"Bless my eyesv' exclaimed Mary,
pausing in the open doorway.
"Oh, come in, Mary graciously call
ed Abigail, her blue eyes dancing with
merriment at the expression on the
servants face I'm having mission
| ary meeting tea party in Aunt Abigairs
place. My missionaries are the Misses
Brewsters, Miss Ruggles and-Mr.
Randolph Prince. Just play, you
know, Mary" The little hostess had
named each of her odd guests after
| friends of her aunt.
The children grinned. The dancing
flames intensified the happiness on the
| just pretend missionaries faces, while
Abigail smiled through tears of true
delight.
"Tea served in the dining room,
ma amp finally questioned Mary, as
suming an heir of hauteur that would
have pleased princess.
you may serve it in here, please"
replied Miss Namesake, smiling ap-
proval at the maids grandeur She
was indeed Mary's princess. The serv-
ant left the room.
"I'd like to be a real missionary,
wouldn't you, Miss Ruggles?' asked
Abigail of the Oldest Mack girl, who
was caressing Polly James curls.
"My, yes, if they're like you!"
$50 would To-
| "And so would.I."
"NIe, too" piped in Billy Mack, alias
Mr. Prince.
| After most delicious lunch, which
Mary served with Aunt Abigail's "best-
est things" the children suddenly for
got they were "just pretends' and
became little people. They romped
and played. Poor Mary had to cry
when she heard the echo of their hap
py voices in the lonely house. Then it
grew dark, and the children went home
at was the beautifulest time / ever
hadi' exclaimed Miss Namesake when
| later Mary tucked the tired but
strangely happy little girl in her great
| feather bed. If they both thought of
what Aunt Abigail might say, they ig-
nored the fact and enjoyed to their
hearts content the rehearsal of the aft
ernoon's odd pleasure. 'Td never be
little All Aloney, Mary, if I could have
my kind of missionary meeting tea
| parties"
| 1t was long, long after 10 before
/ Aunt Abigail reached home. Mary
said not a word concerning the after
Moons festivities. She knew the honor
of certain little girls heart.
"Aunt Abigail" called Miss Name
sake in very sweet bedtime voice.
EYES, answered Miss Kimball, paus-
| ing at the threshold Of her niece's room.
II didn't member all the day long 1
| was your namesake and had an awful
respectability."
"Why, Abigail Kimball what have
| you been doing"
81 had a missionary meeting tea par
| ty,' replied the little girl, sitting up
right in bed. "I had one my kind
had the little Macks to it,
'sThe Macksr' exclaimed Miss Kim
ball, very much Mortified.
"They're poor, Aunt Abigail, and
missionary meeting tea parties are for
poor people. I'm awful sorry l played
after meeting. though it was lot of
fun The child's voice sank to a
lonely little whisper.
Miss Kimball, drawn by some
strange feeling. walked to her little
niece's bedside. She bent over her
and asked her in low, faltering voice:
"Abigail, why did you do it,"
Miss Namesake paused Her eyes
opened wider and wider, and in their
starry depths were all the stories of
little All Aloney in Lonesome Land
"'Cause was just lonely. just had
to be missionary"
II am sorry, dear"
"Oh, Aunt Abigail let's both be mis-
sionaries"