Show 4 wa 1 trim ty w 4 ak GA nj lip W NANCY NAN C Y A christmas story by CARMEN II HALVERSON ALVERSON age 12 years nancy was an orphan she lived in an orphanage in new york city nancy did not know her last name but s she he was sure the president and miss lee knew kne w st it tile the president 0 of the orphanages name was miss elizabeth squire she was wag an old maid about 43 to 50 years old nancy had always tried to imagine miss aliss squire as a little girl igiel it seemed ridiculous miss squire was harsh and hard hearted she had black hair streaked in grey and her eyes were light blue miss lee was very pretty sh she was wa s about 23 28 years old she had sky blue eyes curly golden hair and she was tall slender and graceful she seemed to think of her as her angel mother there were other orphans besides nancy oh yes nineteen besides herself they ranged from 16 year old lydia to 2 year old dick dickie dearly loved dolls and it if he ever found one around the orphanage he would pick it up and sing it to sleep as gently as a little mother could have done nancy was 10 years old with black curly hair sp sparkling lkling eyes red cheeks and was full ot of mischief she had had more than one scolding from miss squire tor for being once she took a stray dog into the orphanage because it was dirty and gave it a bath in the tub another time lime she rolled down the cellar steps with a stack ot of dishes in her arms she had bad been forbidden tor bidden to touch of all mis chieve ous things she did in one minute one could never account for in a year when men the trustees came to look over the orphanage they would always pat tile the children on the head bead but nancy avowed that when she grew u up p she would never pat the orphans on an the head it was one week before christmas A large christmas tree stood in the living room the children were out ot of school lor for the holidays and every one was on his good ob havior donald was busy every morning and after he had gotten the coal and wood in he helped with the di dishes swept the floor and surprised everyone by keeping keepin his hands clean nancy wanted to give miss lee something tor for christmas christinas but she had not a cent to get it with and she would neer think of giving miss aliss lee a home mode present it was sunday whenever the children went to sunday school they were given a yellow ticket t and when one had 25 1 5 tickets they were presented with seventy five filc cents with which to get anything they ale pleased bed nancy had bad twenty tickets T tuesday da w was as christmas and no money soon sh she e got an idea she waited until until evelyine ever of 0 the orphans and miss squire and miss aliss lee had gone the 1 l she went down into to the cellar five bi big g delicious apples out ot of the be apple basket she then took a shot cut to sunday school in order to fet get there before the guardians came thin then she sto 0 baythe door and every ch child hi that hat went in was given a ticket 1 bythe Y 11 he minister and as soon as the they Y pa ed by him she offered an app apple c in exchange for a ticket this was do dorio gladly by the children for the d delicious el ous apples were expensive in that part of the city soon all fine a annles p s were gone but in their stead were five tickets now she had 25 tic tickets ets and she walked up to the pa parson son and received 75 cents she w was thrilled now she could buy a re really ly store present for miss lee think of it a real present and not a homemade home hoine made one either bought by atty matiey earned by nancy monday morning came and found nancy cautiously dressing then she quietly slipped from the bedroom bed room going down stairs she took from its hiding place her 75 cents and went down town shopping it was lots of fun having the clerks treat you like a j grow crow up chose a bright snuff colored blouse for 50 cents the waist was far from pretty and was old fashioned enough to have belonged to miss lees great grandmother it had long slim sleeves and t ier waist line was very small the neck was high and the color almost made one sneeze but to nancy it was perfectly beautiful when she was on her way home she saw in a window a black box that looked very handsome for 25 cents she went into the store to look at it and to her when the clerk opened the box a frightful paper snake jumped at her she was about to go out when the idea struck her she would buy that box for miss squire how she would scream when that snake jumped out of the box at her when she reached the orphanage the others were just getting up 1 but she managed to get up stair stain unseen un s een and hide her gifts just then i susan swift also an orphan appeared yes all about them apples you took yes sirl sir what will you give me not to teli tell oh suse cried nancy terrified if you wont tell I 1 will vill give you half a million dollars when 1 I get rich so susan satisfied went down stairs smiling after breakfast the orphans marched arched in into the reception room where the christmas christinas tree stood and were given their gifts there was an iron swing for the play ground and gifts for every one of the orphans nancy received a ba ball 11 some candy house slippers and a small doll then she walked up and presented her gifts to miss squire and miss lee miss squires eyes almost popped out of her head but nevertheless sho she was very grateful miss lee opened her gift first and out fell that old fashioned snuff colored blouse miss aliss lees ikes face turned scarlet but she thanked nancy very much then miss squire undid her parcel when she saw the dainty black box she was very courteous oh nancy 1 she said you dear child these words made nancys heart give e a queer little beat Some somehow bov she gj wished bed she had not given that thing to miss aliss squire she Shevi wished shed the ground would swallow her up when miss squire opened the box the snake jumped at her how she screamed all the orphans giggled and nudged one another wont she get it ita whispered dan to fred oh gee gt got some boys pluck in her ill say said billy evans poor nancy was bewildered with all of the orphans talking about her miss aliss squire nearly staring a hole thru her and seeing miss lees astonished face she was almost overcome with fear and fri fright ht nancy you horrible child said miss aliss squire go at once to the office and remain there till tili I 1 come yes mum said nancy meekly toward the door oh eliza beth belli miss aliss lee began ill attend to that said miss squire sternly its christmas christinas day miss lee faltered christmas or no christmas she must be punished said miss squire please mum said susie let me take some of the blame I 1 know all about this and I 1 should have t told old but I 1 like nancy too well mum Miss Squire said bitterly so nancy has bas mixed in this too well ill fix her ralph she continued run down the cellar and bring me my spanking boards quick as a flash susie ran outside and took the board to the swing she put it under her arm and started to climb the vines that went past paR the office window nancy she whispered heres a board use it miss squire is going to spank you ay nancy understood and put the board where she was to be spanked you know where dont you my readers when miss squire entered the office she said nancy that was a very unthinking thing for you to do so I 1 must punish you so miss squire began to spank nancy nancys face was turned toward the window when she saw a freckled face appear against the window pretend to howl said susie then she digap eared cared so nancy cried and howled but now and then a quaint smile would pass over her face now said miss squire you may go but let this be a lesson to you As soon as she left the office nancy hunted her friend oh susie she cried you dear kid how can I 1 ever thank you oh nothing said susie carelessly movin moving her foot back and forth then came a call from a sweet voice oh nancy nancy will you do an errand for me yes miss amiss lee answered nancy willingly listen said miss lee will you take these pickles and apple cake over to mr nichols now mr nichols w was as a very rich man in fact he was a millionaire and he had a liking for miss lee and miss lee kind of liked mr air nichols Nie hoIs so nancy went over to mr nichols home with the pickles and apple eake cake sir mr nichols was kind and very jolly she went up to the front door and when the maid came she invited nancy inside to wait for hira him when nancy saw mr nichols she was surprised at his kindly appearance and shedid not blame miss lee for liking him he was handsome lie ile had bad dark eyes and masses of black hair with rosy cheeks I hello fello little one said he na nancy ncy spoke up and said mr air nichols miss lee sent this over to you doh oh rny my goodness thank you he said his face fairly beaming in smiles wont you stay and eat cat some of these with me for I 1 am so lonesome so nancy gladly said she would ile ho led her into a library where there were many books of all sorts we will wait here until dinner is ready said mr nichols on the table was the picture of a baby it was about 2 years old who is is that asked nancy pointing her finger at it why that is my baby daughter that was he answered how she asked when her mother died lie he began 1 I employed a nurse to watch her and when I 1 was away on business she took my baby and left and she has never been heard of since come I 1 will show you her room so he led her down a long hall and up some stairs opening a door into a little white room there thera was a little bed in one corner comer with the initial P on the head and foot there was a little white table in the middle of the floor and on the backs continued on page two |