by Roy J. Snell
pretty red lips, as she vainlytried to solve it. Her father, after watching her for some time, saidto her,--
"Minnie!"
"Yes, pa!"
"I intend to let you have a Christmas tree this year."
"O, a Christmas tree! Dear, good pa, how I do love you!" said Minnie,as she threw down her pencil upon the slate; and, clapping her hands,she danced round the room for joy.
As Christmas was nigh, it was proper to talk over the proposed treeand the party who should be invited. "You may select as many of yourschoolmates as you may choose," said her father, in reply to herquestion about the number of the party.
"O, thank you, pa. I will ask Fanny, and Rhoda, and Jeannie, andLillia, and Ettie, and----"
Here her father interrupted her, by asking,--
"Why do you think of asking Lillia, my child?"
"Because she has been my enemy, pa, and I want to make her love me, ifI can."
"That's right, Minnie. Christ will love and bless you, if you alwaystry to return enmity with kindness."
The list was now completed by the addition of several other names.Arthur Ellerslie was among the boys to be invited. And that night, Ithink, Minnie had a dream. And the principal object in that dream wasa Christmas tree, sparkling with lighted wax tapers, and loaded withchoice presents for boys and girls.
The days were short and few between that evening and Christmas. But toMinnie old Time seemed to walk with leaden feet and slow steps. Yetthey passed away as days always will, and Christmas night arrived atlast.
There were great doings at Minnie Brown's that night. The sun hadhardly set, before a bevy of boys and girls, Minnie's invited guests,began to arrive. Uncles and aunts, and bright-eyed cousins, from theneighboring town, had arrived in the afternoon. And now the back parlorwas pretty well filled; and such a good-natured buzzing, laughing,and chatting as were heard there, it would do your heart good to hearagain; for the voices sounded like music--the music of happy hearts.
Mr. Brown was something of a wag, in his way. He was, withal, a manwho did not think it beneath him to mingle with children on properoccasions, and to minister to their joy. So it pleased him, on thispleasant evening, to play the part of "Old Father Christmas."
Dressed in old-fashioned costume, with a yule log on his shoulders, awreath about his head, and a right jovial twinkling in his eyes, heintroduced himself to the company with many smart sayings, which addednot a little to their amusement.
After a time, the folding doors were thrown open, revealing a splendidChristmas tree in the front parlor. It reached to the ceiling. Lightedwax tapers burned on almost every branch. Between these tapers hung alarge number of gifts for the various members of the happy company.
This display called forth fresh bursts of pleasure from the youngpeople. When their cries of "O, dear!" "How beautiful!" "Splendid!""What a magnificent tree!" "How grand!" &c., had ceased, "Old FatherChristmas" invited them to step forward and receive the various giftsof love and friendship the tree contained.
Among all the gifts on that tree, there was none so beautiful asthat which fell to the share of Minnie. It was a rich rosewood box,containing various articles, such as delicate little scent and colognebottles, scissors, &c. Inside of the lid there was a looking-glass; andon the top of the lid, outside, a pretty little silver plate, on whichwas very neatly engraved the name of MINNIE BROWN.
This choice box was handed round among the company with great care. Butit happened that it was a long time getting to that part of the roomwhere Lillia stood. She was very impatient to look at it. When it camenear to her, she tried to snatch it out of the hand of a little girl,who was passing it to Fanny. Her effort was a rough one. She struckthe box with her hand, and down it went upon the floor, smashing thebottles and breaking the looking glass in its fall.
"O Lillia, see what you've done!" exclaimed Fanny.
"How could you do so, Lillia?" said several voices at once.
"Poor Minnie! I'm sorry her box is broken," observed a good-naturedaunt.
These and similar remarks passed from lip to lip after this accident.As for Lillia, she was ashamed and frightened at what she had done; andshe stood gazing on the wreck of Minnie's box, pale and tearful.
Minnie was grieved. A tear swam in her eye at first; but she rememberedthe little tree, and restrained herself. She saw how bad Lillia felt,and thought she would not add to her grief by seeming to feel too muchherself. So, taking the box, she said, in a cheerful voice,--
"Never mind! The box is not broken; only the bottles and the glass. Pawill get some new ones to fit it, and it will be as good as before.Never mind! Lillia did not mean to do it."
That night, when the party broke up, Minnie kissed Lillia, andwhispered in her ear,--
"Don't feel bad, Lillia! You didn't mean to break my bottles, and Ishall love you just the same as ever."
It was by such acts as these that Minnie made herself beloved. Hercharacter grew more and more beautiful, and she was known, all over thevillage, as MINNIE, THE GENTLE GIRL.
