Newspaper Page Text
December 22, igog. THE FRESBYTER]
They finally arranged that Marion's time of labor
should be from 7:10 to o:^o in the niorninc. and from
5 :oo to 6:00 in the afternoon.
It was true, just as Mrs. Fenton had foreseen, that
some of the girl's good times had to be given up on
this account, or at least partially cut short.
-iiicic were nui so many iiours wnicn couia oe devoted
to tennis and croquet, but Mrs. Fenton was
very thoughtful of her comfort and gladly let her off
whenever a picnic or an excursion was in order, or if
the day was excessively hot. Marion always conscientiously
made up this time later, so that nothing suffered
in consequence.
Her own garden was likewise tended, though she
enlisted more help from her younger brothers for that
purpose and chiefly superintended their efforts herself.
The boys were glad to do whatever she wished
for all the members of the family appreciated Marion's
unselfishness and knew that she was toiling not for
herself, hut for her Christmas fund.
Mrs. Fenton paid her two dollars a week, or a little
over thirty cents a day, and at the end of the season
Marion had deposited forty dollars in the bank as the
result of her patient effort.
Mrs. Fenton declared that her garden had never
been so beautifully kept. Never had the seeds come
up so well, nor the plants blossomed so abundantly,
nor had weeds been so entirely absent.
Marion had also added greatly to her own knowledge
concerning gardening and flowers, for Mrs. Fenton
had taught her many things and practical experience
is worth more than anv wisdom dprivpd from
books.
Then how tremendously she did enjoy the spending
of her Christmas fund!
It accomplished so much more and went so much
further than anyone could have imagined it would.
Besides the foot-rest for her father, she was able to
buy him a delightfully comfortable Morris chair, and
for her mother, handsome lace curtains for both parlor
and library.
She had something lovely for each member of her
own family and for every friend, rich and poor?about
fifty separate presents in all.
But there were surprises in store also for Marion
herself, as well as the many for others which she had
been so unselfishlv nrenarincr
I X ?*
Her friends had somehow, many of them, heard
about the Christmas fund, and they were all touched
by the generosity of the young girl whose first thought
was always for others.
So, when Marion came to open her own presents on
Christmas morning she was almost overwhelmed by
their number and beauty.
Everybody had remembered her in such delightful
ways and she had all the very things which she most
wanted.
It was a happy Christmas indeed, and at a familv
conclave that evening, Mr. Dexter voiced the sentiments
of all when he said, as he kissed Marion.
"Dear little girl, we do appreciate you, and we feel
that your Christmas fund has made the day very bright
for us!"
V
[AN OF THE SOUTH. n
HOW TEDDY GOT LOST.
By Derr.arest Glentworth Rubins.
When Eunice was six years old, she moved into a
strange city, and at first was very lonesome for the
"children," as she called the playmates whom she had
left. But after awhile she became acquainted with
some little girls who lived near her new home, and
she was lonesome no longer. What fun she would
have when these little girls would come to play with
her, for they all played together so pleasantly.
Frances was the minister's little daughter, and her
bier doll was named "Aria " r -j:??
_ . . uwuuov liiv ici rv 1 u
had given it to her. Elizabeth has a Teddy bear,
which she thought a great deal nicer than any doll.
n-unice s Dig doll was "Baby Sister Ruth," and was
very interesting to all the little girls because it would
cry. Catherine liked to play with the paper dolls,
and could think of the most nice games when they
were together.
When Frances was six years old, Eunice gave a little
party for her, to which Catherine and Elizabeth
were also invited, and the dolls and Teddy came, too.
Eunice had a big, gray cat, which was a great pet.
He liked to roll marbles, or ball, or anything that
would roll, about as well as a boy likes to play ball.
While the little girls were eating their ice cream and
cake, they set their dollies all in a row along the wall,
with Teddy at the end, and he fell over. "What did
kittv do but bf?arin tn rnll *U:~ 1 *L '
j ? t/vg.u w tun nun Lins way ana mat, ana
finally out of the door and across the porch where
Teddy dropped off!
What dismay there was when they discovered Teddy
was gone! Kitty kept rubbing around all the time
the girls were hunting, as if to tell them where to
look,but Teddy might have lain under the rose bush
beside the porch at least all night, if some one hadn't
come up the walk and seen him there. They all had
a hearty laugh when they found what kitty had done,
for the little guests had never seen a cat that had
learned such a trick.?Exchange.
GROWING A NAME.
Little Luke Hays could write his name. He brought
nis slate to show his mother what round, clear letters
he could make.
"Would you like to make your name grow, Luke?"
said his mother.
"I never saw a name grow," said Luke.
Then his mother took him out into the garden. She
gave him a stick with a sharp point and made him
write his name in large letters in the middle of a bed of
black earth; then his mother sowed mignonette seed
along the letters. "Now," said she, "in a few weeks
vnil will cm vnnr ' * " 1 '
j ..... ^uui name ^iuwui^ ian anu sweet.
Luke went away the next day to visit his grandmother,
and when he came home again, three weeks
later, he ran at once to the garden. There was his
name "Luke Hays," in pretty green letters, just as he
had written it. Luke was delighted, and has never
failed to grow his name every year since.?Selected.
The surest proof of being endowed with noble
qualities, is to be free from envy.?La Rochefoucauld.