Year: 1877

want To, was Jerked out between
the Paroxysms of pain, even more
spitefully than the poor woman was ac-
customed TO speak. There's no use
in my living any longerl If I've got ia
he burden, L" and here she shut her
teeth harder together want to go 20


Lily thought IL was a dreadful thing
to want 10 die, and wondered-she
couldn't help it-what sort of an angel
Aunt Joanna would make.


The days sped on very rapidly and
Lily was so interested in taking care of
Aunt Joanna that she was in danger of
forgetting all about Christmas and Santa
Claus.


It's real stupid of YOU" said one of
her school friends, to shut yourself up
as you do with such cross-grained old
woman"


She is very sick" said Lily, and
there is no one to take care of her"


well, there is no need of your being
a hospital nurse. What are you doing
for the Fair2'


The Fair ~ exclaimed Lily. al had
forgotten all about ii"


Forgotten all about itv was the
astonished reply. "And we calculated
on your furnishing an entire tabler


Lily felt for moment that she had
neglected great duty, and her heart
throbbed painfully for she was very
conscientious, and had never before been
so publicly accused. Then her face
frightened, and she inquired the object
of the fair


CAS- if you didn't knowW said her
friend Laura Perkins. "Let me see, "
she added, thoughtfully; last year we
repaired the church; the year before we
| hN Il 4
and-oh, now l know this was to create
poor fund"


Aunt Joanna would have come in for
a share, which / propose giving her
when she needs it. A day after the
Fair might be too late for her"


$50 much the better" said Laura,
turning on her heel "We'd have that
much more for some one else"


Lily smiled, although she was pro-
yoked at Laura for being so heartless.
II was easy to talk about the poor, and
plan great works of charity, much easier
than it was TO look after sick neighbor
or TO carry food to those who were
hungry.


Mrs. James was very anxious about
Aunt Joanna, and Lily shared her fears.
though in less degree. AS for the
invalid herself, she seemed TO be rapidly
losing those eccentricities that had dis
tinguished her, and growing gentle,
quiet and even tender-hearted At first
she had been really cross, and hard to
manage, as is frequently the case with
sick people, and it seemed TO Lily a
thankless office to be n volunteer nurse.
but after while she softened down, and
then Mrs. James began to be seriously
| alarmed.


Ii was the afternoon before Christmas,
and both Lily and her mother had been
too busy during the day TO call on Aunt
Joanna, who was a triHe better, and
able to wait upon herself if the things
were within arms length. Towards
evening the two home missionaries
went down the road to the little
cottage, that they might be sure the in
valid was made comfortable for the
night.


Lily was so impatient that she almost
ran, for she had surprise for Aunt
Joanna in the shape of warm double
gown, which she had made with her own
hands


"She won't thank me for it" thought
Lily, but I've had the satisfaction of
making it; and what is that mother
quotes 10 often? Ohl-' A good action
is its own reward"


You must sit up tomorrow" said
Mrs. James to the invalid, the tone of
her voice being an assurance of strength.
/" It's Christmas, you know, and we
must all celebrate the day the best we
know how"


/ Aunt Joanna came very near saying
she didn't believe in holidays and such
nonsense, and Lily rather expected
some such retort, but there was no reply.
Lily had begged her mother to set the
lamp low down so that her movements
could not be seen, and then she busted
herself softly, hanging wreaths about
the room, and otherwise adorning il, so
that when Aunt Joanna opened her
eyes on Christmas morning she would
have holiday look in spite of herself.


The surprise was perfect; and when
Lily and her mother went down soon
after breakfast to help Aunt Joanna into
the easy chair and the comfortable
wrapper, they, too, were surprised at
finding her in tears.


Lily stood in dumb amazcment. She
would as soon have expected the clouds
to drop rosesl


You are killing me with kindness -
said Aunt Joanna, extending n trem-
bling hand 10 her benefactOr. just
killing me with kindness II don't de-
serve itW


Never mind, never mind, i" said Mrs.
James, sOothingly. dts all right We
are none Of us worthy"


But I've been so hateful ugly all my
lifei And knew better, tool The
Lord bless your


/ How like a child she seemed Sud
denly, while she rested on the edge Of the
bed, supported ON either side by Lily and
her mother, strange expression passed
over her face, her lips moved and she
whispered, Killed with kindness" then
q sharp spasm, and all was over. The
disease had struck her heart.
And that was how Christmas came 10
Aunt Joanna; with a holy, purifying
influence that made her more ft to enter
heaven. If Lily'sfriends are poorer for
lack Of her customary holiday gifts, she
herself is richer by this experience
which taught her not 10 put off doing
good, and never 10 neglect those who
through sympathy and kindness might
be led into the kingdom.


-s-z-----------s---


A CERTAIN London church organist
always plays his sweetest music when
I IL "a