The Ordway new era., 1909-12-24

'''''"''o''s 10 attend socials given by
the young people. all OF which she de-
ciined. from good excuse, that sh.
could not do Justice to her work and
Keep late hours during the school ,Inys
As the young people became better
acquainted with Dorothy she grew tc
be quite favorlte among them. for
her winning ways and beautiful fea-
lures always made her the center of
attraction wherever she beuam,
known. From this on they decided to
make her stay among them more en-
)oyable. so they began at cace to plan
a social to be given In her ,.aaor on
Christmas eve.
In the meantime Dorothy learned
something OF the nature OF their so
cials and began to wonder what she
would do. She realized that 1t WAS n
question to be decided which would
affect all her future life. The early
home training and the parting words
OF her mother kept urging her to nuke
the decision she knew she ought to
make. on the other hand, the desire
to hold the good will OF her new found
friends urged the wrong decision. A
voice within seemed continually whis-
,, pering do not 60" Still she would
argue with herself trying to deadcn
her trained conscience. II don't want
to hurt their feelings" she would say.
for surely they have been kind to me
and besides 1t will help me to pass an
otherwise dull evening" Mother
surely would not blame me and | need
not tell her how | spent the evening
for know 1t won't hurt me at all"
Thus she argued with herself day
after day until II decision one way had
to be made. AT last she said. 81 will
go this time and II feel thnt 1t is
Invitations"
The evening before the social was
to be given she retired early. that she
might be rested and quit herself for
The next evening. But something was
wrong. Dorothy could not sleep.
what would her pastor and compan-
| Ions at home think" what would
mother think II she knew it?" for she
dreaded to wound the heart OF her
sanity mother more than all others.
"It is so foolish OF me to lie here
awake when might be resting" she
would say. but still she couldn't sleep.
Il shall be so lonely II do not go.
and besides I will have an opportunity
to meet other young people who will
help me pass the year more pleasant
iy and make my stay here seem so
much shorter" "I know the Lord will
forgive. and mother ought also" So
the conflict went on until worn out
with tossing she fell asleep during the
early hours OF the morning.
While asleep she dreamed and In her
lream she was carried back to her old
home in New England. 1t was early In
he evening when she arrived In her
home town. Hastily she walked
through the streets Of the city to her
home. There were many things which
would have otherwise attracted her at
tention: the Christmas display In the
store windows: people passing to ana
fro busy with their Christmas shop
Ding. But what were these OF interest
to her for she was homeward boundG A
,ew more blocks and she would be there
As she neared home her footsteps grew
lighter; 1t seemed to her as II she were
dying. She ran as she saw the lights
streaming from every window for II
vas Christmas eve. Before opening the
loor she peeped through the window 10
make sure all were there. AS usual her
mother and father were sitting In their
Did arm chairs. How beautiful she
mid. but mothers face carries an ex-
,ressIon of sadness" In she rushed 10
,be surprise Of all and suddenly the
atmosphere Of home changed for they
were all there once more to enjoy an
,tbsr delightful Christmas eve.
Am / too late to hear mothers usua'
Christmas story?" she asked. Yes, re-
piled John, but just in time to take
vour mart In our Christmas hymns. we
wore inst wondering what we would 90
since our quartet had been broken.
norothy gladly took her accustomed
part and was Singing VII"
ordinary earnestness:
Joy to the woriu the Lord Is come
Let earth receive her King.
Let every heart prepare him roo'h'
And heaven and nature sing.
When suddenly she awoke. "oh! oun
II be that I am really not at ho'ne'
How delightful the evening III my
dream and so different from the "'e
have been planning Motner's iAce 40
saw II in my dream srieves me.
wonder II she has been conscious OF my
...,,.g,eo whv have been 80 tempted
md ready to yield? The very fact that
i, IVA. n question Of doubt was snffic-
Ient To help me decide. OF course
,onnot. will not CO." she said. so she
rose hastily and wrote notes OF regre.
- hsr new friends explaining frankly
,.,,,,, .h. had made the decision.