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Show Merry Open House on Christmas Eve Seamstress Finds a Warm Welcome and Assists at Social Function, By MARTHA BANNING THOMAS B JEACON HILL was ablaze with candles. can-dles. They shone In every window. Kgia They gleamed through the glass jPWr panes of tte door-mm'll door-mm'll 'imfc ways. Tall candles, can-dles, short candles; can-dles; candles of every size and color. For was it not Christmas Eve! And Is It not a custom to make merry at this special time In a very charming way? Groups of carolers stood at street corners and sang. Hundreds of people strolled up and down. There was an atmosphere of good will that pervaded the place as surely as wreaths hung in the windows.- There was one house In particular that glowed with a shining brilliance. Groups of Carolers Stood at Street Corners and Sang. Part of this light was due to a pyramid pyra-mid formation of candles on the wln-dow-slll, and part came from the happy sounds which Issued forth through the open door. This place was keeping "open house" with a vengeance. venge-ance. It looked like a glorified Christmas Christ-mas card. Miss Mbrter never knew exactly how lt happened. She was hurrying home after a hard day's sewing in a dressmaker's shop. She was tired and hungry. Christmas Eve to her merely meant that she was wearier than usual. She stopped for a moment to look in through the door of this happy, shining shin-ing house. And then, almost unaware of what she did, she walked In. Yes, she actually did. And she had no more Idea of who lived there than a maple tree on Boston Common 1 Something Some-thing drew her straight to the fireplace. fire-place. She went as naturally as a bee seeks honey. In that merry, well-dressed throng she looked a bit rusty. Her hat was entirely too old. There was something some-thing wrong In the cut of her coat. Her gloves had seen hard service. And her shoes, well her shoes were the despair of cobblers. Miss Mlxter began talking to a laughing-eyed woman dressed in green. "You look like a daffodil," said Miss Mixter. And this pleased her hostess so much that she burst Into a peal of merriment. From that moment they seemed to have a great deal to say to each other. Then, suddenly looking about her, Miss Mixter saw she was the center of attention. Dozens of Interested people were regarding her with amused eyes. A quick reaction swept over her. She felt lonely and afraid. Why was she here? Who were these people? Why had Bhe come Into this house? She felt a quiet hand on her arm. "Do stay, won't you?" begged the hostess in green," I need someone to help me. Couldn't you spare a moment on Christmas Eve to aid a daffodil In distress I Just keep your eye on these people and tell me who Is served and who Is not. It's so difficult." Miss Mixter looked up keenly Into the smiling face. And she knew she was genuinely wanted. "I'll stay," announced Miss Mixter, "and," she grew spirited, "the first person who needs a cup of coffee is myself." (. 1925. Western Newspaper Union.) |
