Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 December 1902 — NELLIE'S PRESENTS. [ARTICLE]

NELLIE'S PRESENTS.

BY PAUL INGELOW.

NELLIE hik! Lucy Shermnn were cousins, and attended the same boarding school. Their parents had been abroad for a year. As Christinas approached they received letters from their mothers, and were told they might arrange vacation week as they liked—they could go to Warrenville and stay with Uncle and Aunt Dallas, or they could go to Milton and put in the time with Uncle and Aunt Winston. Nellie was silent and thoughtful over the problem. Lucy was all excitement and impetuosity. “That's easy,” she proclaimed. “We’ll go to Warrenville, of course.” Nellie said nothing, uud the voluble little miss rattled on. “Shut up with prosy old Uncle Winston a whole week, and hum-drum Aunt Jane, and sick and ailing Eliza! Why, Nellie, Martin Dallas wrote roe they had a new automobile, and were getting ‘just •well’! Warrenville is so lively, and they have a big house, and servants. We’ll go straight to our room and write them we’re coming.” “I want to think a bit about it first,” demurred Nellie. “As if there was a choice! Oh, surely, Nellie, you are not thinking of spoiling ■ nice holiday by going to those old-fash-ioned, humdrum Winstons? Why, they live like hermits. And they’re poor—they must be, to make no show, and you’ll get no presents—they aren’t that kind.” “I’m not exactly thinking of presents,” announced Nellie. “What’s Christmas for? What are jou thinking of, then?” “Why, I’ll tell you, Lucy; mother has often told me how good Aunt Amanda was to her when she was sick once, and 1/ we both chose Uncle Dallas, they might feel hurt. Besides, poor Eliza is a helpless Invalid—so lonely, so little of gladness, or change in her life. I’ve quite made up my mind.” “You will go to Milton?” "Yes, Lucy.” You big gump!” cried her cousin, and flounced out of the room in high dudgeou. Milton and Warrenville were only ten miles apart. Two days before Christmas Nellie and Lucy boarded the cars. The showy Dallas rig awaited Lucy, and Nellie experienced a slight pang as ahe glanced down the bright business etreet aud thought of the tine Dallas mansion. She could not help but compare the dull little hamlet of Milton and the humble Winston homestead. She found but little change in the Winstons. A rough bob met her at the depot ami blunt old Hiram Winston looked ns homely as ever, but he tucked in real warmth about her with the immense buffalo roix*. When she got to the house Aunt Amanda greeted her with her usual primness, arid her invalid sister, Eliza, only looked paler and thinner than ever. There was no mistaking it—the place was dreary, And the set ways of Its inmates were chilling to youthful spirits. Nellie cried a little as she pictured Lucy in the gny gas lit parlor of the sumptuous Dallus home. Then she bravely resolved to see if she could not brighten her surroundings, instead of Inflicting additional moodiness. With earliest daylight she was down in the kitchen helping Aunt Amanda. She arranged a dainty tray for poor, invalid Eliza. She made them all smile, telling humorous stories about school; she fed the chickens and bustled about, jolly, useful, happy, and bad the satisfaction of hearing her aunt tell Eliza, “that child is a regular sunbeam.” She read to Eliza, she sang for them that evening, and, ns her uncle expressed It, “mude the old cottage organ just hum.” In fact. It was n successful day, and the next one was just like it, and Nellie could see that every hour she was winning more and more love. There were not many preparations for Christmas. Eliza was working on a curious frame of stamped leather, nnd Aunt Amanda was ranking a silk affair, which she said mysteriously “might” be a pincushion. Uncle Hiram went down town Christmas eve, but to Nellie's disappointment brought back no Christmas tree, no inviting parcels, nothing of the suggest)veness of Yule-tide. Nellie’s heart rose, however, as she fciassd them all good night.

“Hang up your stocking, dear,” suggested Aunt Amanda. "And get up in time—ha! ha!” laughed Uncle with puzzling heartiness. “Hope you have a good time—ho! I 10! We'll keep time to some good old tunes tomorrow—ha! ha!” He strangely emphasized “time,” and Aunt Amanda frowned at him as If he were betraying some cherished secret. * * * • • • • A singular thing happened the next morning. Christmas morning it was, of course. Nellie was amazed when she woke up. The old clock down stairs was striking eight! And she had calculated on getting up at six! The house was very still. She glanced at the bedpost where she had hung her stocking. Something was in its toe. Eagerly she investigated, to bring forth the “pincushion” Aunt Amanda had so patiently made. Before •he could inspect it she saw resting on the bureau a portrait, surrounded by Eliza’s leather frame. It was a picture of her mother when a girl. Often Aunt Amanda had showed it to her—treasured fondly by the sister. Nellie shed tears of tender gratefulness. Nothing could have pleased her more,

and the pretty frame enhanced the gift. She dressed hurriedly, and ran down the stairs, tq meet Elizu with a gladsome Christmas greeting, and to learn that early in the morning a sick neighbor had sent for Mr. and Mrs. Winston. Before breakfast there was an Interruption. It was Lucy. The Dallas driver was a nt some miles up country after sogie young people, and Lucy had arrange! to be dropped here, the vehicle to cali for her ou its return. She was bubbling over with holiday small tnlk. She exhibited a Ince -'ollar Aunt Dallas had given her, “all the style,” and a ring her elder cousin, Kate, had presented her. “What did you get, Nellie?” she curiously asked—“nothing, I suppose!” “Oh, yea—something beautiful,” answered Nellie. “Come up to my room and see.” “Humph—only that!” shrugged Lucy, ns she inspected the portrait. “I told you they were mean, and poor!” “Why, Lucy,” snid Nellie, “I prize poor Ellzn’s gift dearly." "Well, I wouldn’t! I like jewelry gifta, and that," nnd Lucy twirled the cheap ring on her finger. “Wlift’s this?” und she pounced on Nellie’s other present. "Only a pincushion.” “Only s ” With a scream of wonder and delight, and then with an envious frown, Lucy chanced to undo "the pinenshion,” Inside, nestled the moat exquisite little gem of a watch she had ever seen. The happy tears rushed to gentle Nellie’s eyes. Her heart was full to overflowing. And just then, from below sounded the hearty, chuckling tones of Uncle Hiram, returned: "Where’s our little sunbeam? It’s time to find out how she’s enjoying her Merry Christmas!” Grateful Nellie was down the stairs In two Jumps, her arms clasped about the dear old fellow’s neck, as she sobbed joyously Into his enr: "Oh! dear, dear Uncle Hiram! I’m the happiest girl in all the world, this Merry, Merry Christmas!”