Year: 1868

CHRISTIES NEW YEARS PARTY.

 BY s. ANNIE FROST

 I scarcely knew how to spare a dollar Spread out upon the little table before mt was the vast sum of thirty five dollars, ev cry penny of my savings for one long year and the New Year would open in two more days. It seemed so little that I could scarcely make myself believe that I could take out the crisp ten dollar bill had put to one side Nobody knew had intended to give Christie New Years gift, nobody would blame me or feel in the least d1sap pointed if failed to do so. The time ha6 been when I could give presents of ter times that value and never miss the sum now sat looking at the bank note anG wondering if could make my last winters bonnet last till spring, if my boots would look we'll until my next quarterly pa. ments; and if, after all, Christie would en- ljoy the party so very much And then saw again the pretty face with unshed tears in the large brown eyes that perused the dainty invitation. and heard the quiyerina voice saying.

 ':It is no use to think of it, mother; ] have nothing fit to wear.''

 Pretty Christie Burgess was the daugh ter of the widow lady with whom boarded She had passed her seventeenth birthday, and was 9 winsome, bright girl, we'll edu- cated, but without remarkable talents. l gave her lessons on the piano. in singing, in French, in part lnyment for my board and being the only hoarder the small house could accommodate, I was confiden tial friend of'both mother and daughter, and knew that, Ike myself, they had known better days though, unlike me, there was no bitter tragedy in their past to rise up and haunt them. They had lost husbana anu ta.ler ftl ten yeafs..hlafore; and from sharing g hrge salary he earned in bank, they wers forced to earn their own support, their small income just pay ing the rent of tho little house. Some where in California there was an Uncle Charles, MT. Burgess brother, who would keep them, they were sure had he known their circumstances, but whose address they could not tell, and who knew nothing of their having left their former handsome home. We often tested about the rich un- l cle in California, 'iust like novel hero,' , as Christie said; but think they knew but little of him personally, as he had resided in A previous to leaving for California, and our quiet home was in Cleaveland. | Some of Mrs. Burgess former friends visited her, and one of them Mrs. Wharton had sent Christie an invitation to @ New Years party at her house, As soon as it was positively decided that she could not go, because a new evening dress could not be thought of, the spirit of opposition took possession of me, and resolved upon the awful extravagance of presenting the pretty girl with dress for New Years gift. I could make it myself; and packed away in my trunk, were few jewels that I had kept as a relict of the happy days I had known in the past. l thought the glowing carbuncles would suit Christie's brown curls as we'll as my own raven locks, and if there was some pain in the idea of bringing them to light and lending them to another, Christie's pleasure must balance all that pain.

 New Year's day was an anniversary whose name made my heart sick; but per haps, by giving pleasure to this innocent girl, I might lay some of the ghosts of memory that rose up every January to haunt me.

 So, in view of all these things, put the ten dollars into my purse and started to buy Christie's dress. It must be white tarleton. decided for that was cheapest, and could make the skirts full enough to dispense with a silk lining, and have enough for white silk waist under the thin fabric, white gloves, pair of dainty slippers, a cluster of white moss roses for the hair ard bosom. I purchased, but found my ten dollars already exceeded beyond my calculations, and so turned my steps homeward, mentally taking new Crlo cd from my own list of expenditures.

 It was worth it all to see Christie when called her to my room on the ff-ernoon of the eventful day, and introduced her to hefinery spread out upon the bed. had worked late into the night to finish the dress, and had taken out my carbuncles with fierce heart-pang, but when I saw the beaming happiness on Christie's face, I felt repaid for all.

 She was all dressed for the party; I had twined the roses in her hair, and arranged every fold of her dress. before l summoned resolution to take the jewels from the box. Then crushing back my pain with desner ate resolve. opened the case, saying, as carelessly as could:-

 ''I have some jewels here, Chsistie, I am going to lend to you for this evening. ;

 "Oh, how pretty and how odd! she cried; 'I never saw carbuncles set in that pat tern. Were they made to order, Miss Jane?"

 ssYes! They were a New Years gift to me seven years ago, when l was your age, Christie. The giver was something of an artist, and designed the pattern himself. think shall never lay aside mourning, and probably never wear jewels again, and they will glow brilliantly on your white dress" and then, fearing to be questioned, clasped tho necklace round her throat, fastened bracelet and brooch, let the glow ing red drops fall from her little ears, and talked hurriedly of the party and pleasure I hoped she would have, till wrapped her in a nice shawl, and sent her mother down to tell our servant girl to get ready to act as escort.

 She looked at me wistfully when we were alone, her soft brown eyes questioning my face, but she asked no questions, only when she.kissed me good night, she whispered, with an earnest emphasis:-

 s'God grant you happy New Year, dear Miss Jane," and went down to her mother softly and thoughtfully.

 Alone, with the whispered blessing for company, fastened my door, and then