Part 25 (1/2)
CHAPTER XXI.
ROSA STEVENSON'S SISTER.
As Christmas drew near Marty found herself very busy, for besides some little presents she was making for her ”own folks,” she and her mother set to work to mend some of her old toys, to dress some new cheap dolls, and to make a few picture-books of bright pretty cards pasted on silesia and yellow muslin, for the little Torrences and other poor children they knew of.
Edith, also, was engaged in the same way, and the little girls often worked together.
Though they had received some money on their birthdays, they concluded to wait until Christmas to give Jennie her Bible, as everybody appeared to think it would be a very suitable Christmas gift for her. They got Mrs. Ashford to go with them to buy it, and with her aid succeeded in getting a very nice one, good size, clear print, and pretty cover, for the money they had set aside for the purpose.
Their mothers gave them permission to run down the afternoon before Christmas to carry the Bible to Jennie, as there would not possibly be time to go Christmas day when there was so much going on. They were to call and ask Cousin Alice to go with them; but when they stopped at her house they found she had already gone over to Landis Court, but had left word for them if they came to follow her.
When they arrived at Mrs. Scott's room they found Miss Alice very busy indeed, hanging up some wreaths of green and otherwise decorating the room. She was hurrying to get it all in order before Mrs. Scott returned from her work, as it was to be a surprise to her. Jennie, sitting in the rocking-chair with the doll in her arms, was watching the operation with the greatest interest, every now and then exclaiming, ”Oh, that's splendid! What'll mother say to that!”
When Marty and Edith appeared something else seemed to occur to her, and turning from the decorations she cried eagerly to them, ”Oh, did you get--!” and then glancing at Miss Alice, covered her mouth with her hand, laughed very much, but would not finish what she had begun to say.
She nearly went wild over the beautiful Bible and could hardly thank the givers enough.
”And I can read it my own self too, 'cepting of course the long words,”
she said. ”How queer it'll be to be sitting up reading a chapter to mother 'stead of her reading to me!”
”You might read to her those Christmas verses in Luke to-morrow that I read to you not long ago,” Miss Alice suggested.
”Oh! I will. Where are they, I wonder?” said Jennie.
Edith found the place, while Marty snipped off a little bit of her blue hair-ribbon for a mark.
Some cakes and fruit Mrs. Howell and Mrs. Ashford sent Jennie were also highly appreciated. They had also sent some small but useful and pretty presents for her mother, which Jennie was to have the pleasure of giving to her. Thus they all tried to bring some Christmas joy into the poor little girl's life.
When Marty and Edith went home they each found a small parcel that Jimmy Torrence had left for them. They contained nicely crocheted bureau-covers for their dolls' houses, and were marked in Miss Alice's handwriting, ”For Marty, from Jennie,” and ”For Edith, from Jennie.”
”Ah! this was the secret she had with Cousin Alice,” exclaimed Marty.
”Just look mamma! isn't it a pretty cover?”
Edith was equally pleased with hers, and Jennie seemed much pleased with their hearty thanks.
”I really believe she enjoyed making and giving those little things more than any other part of Christmas,” said Miss Alice. ”I suppose it made her feel as if she was in the Christmas times.”
Marty never enjoyed any Christmas season so much as this one, when she worked so hard to give happiness to the poor. She had her temptations to overcome, too; for when the stores were filled with beautiful things that she would like to buy for herself or her friends, it was very hard to keep from entrenching on the money she had saved up for a special Christmas missionary offering. But her year's training in missionary giving had not gone for nothing, and she was able to make a missionary offering a part of her Christmas celebration.
The members of the band had not forgotten the talk they had had over Mrs. C----'s letter, when they resolved to try very hard to double their usual amount. The most of them were trying, and the sum was ”rolling up,” the treasurer said. Whether or not they would succeed in what they were aiming at, remained to be seen, but Miss Walsh encouraged them by saying that they would certainly come much nearer success by making continual efforts than by making no effort at all.
One morning when the holidays were over, and the little girls were on their way to school, Edith had a great piece of news to tell.
”What do you think!” she said. ”Rosa Stevenson's grownup sister is going away next month to be a missionary!”
”_Is_ she really?” exclaimed Marty.
”Yes; going to j.a.pan, and Miss Agnes has asked her to come to the meeting next Sat.u.r.day and tell us about it.”