26 A Story for the Holidays. [Jan., 



to eo. Poor Mrs. Elliott, who knows how much she may have suf- 

 fered ?' 



' Yes, Jane, go with Lizzy ; I want you to go.' 



Jane did not like to refuse positively, so she got ready and went, 

 though with a good deal of reluctance. Like a great many others, 

 she had no taste for scenes of distress. If she could relieve a want 

 by putting her hand behind her without seeing the object of penury, 

 she had no objection to doing so ; but to look suifering in the. face 

 was too revolting to her sensitive feelings. 



When Lizzy and Jane entered the humble home of the widow, 

 they found everything comfortable, neat and clean. A small stove 

 was upon the hearth, which, though the day was very cold, diffused a 

 genial warmth throughout the room. Mrs. Elliott sat knitting; she 

 appeared extremely glad to see the girls. Lizzy inquired how her 

 wrist was, how she was getting along, and if she stood in need of 

 anything. To the last question she replied : 



' I should have wanted almost everything to make me comfortable, 

 had not Mr. Mayfield, one of the gentlemen I washed for before I 

 hurt my wrist, remembered me at Christmas. He sent me this nice 

 little stove and a load of coal, a half barrel of flour, meal, potatoes, 

 tea, sugar, and I can 't now tell you what all — besides a chicken for 

 our Christmas dinner, and five dollars in money. I 'm sure he 

 could n't have spent less than twenty dollars. Heaven knows I shall 

 never forget him ! He came on Christmas eve, and inquired so 

 kindly how I was getting along ; and then told me that he would 

 send me a little present, instead of to those who did n't really need 

 anything, and who might well forgive him for omitting the usual 

 compliments of the season. Soon after he was gone, a man brought 

 us a car-load of things, and on Christmas day the stove and the coal 

 came.' 



Jane looked at Lizzy, upon whose face was a warm glow, and in 

 whose eyes was bright a light. 



' Forgive me, sister, for my light words about Edward,' said Jane, 

 the moment she and Lizzy left the widow's house. ' He is generous 

 and noble hearted ; I would rather he had done this, than made me 

 a present of the most costly remembrancer he could find, for it 

 stamps his character. Lizzy, you may well be proud of him.' 



Lizzy did not trust herself to reply, for she could think of no 

 words adequate to the expression of her feelings. When Jane told 

 her father about the widow — Lizzy was modestly silent on the sub- 

 ject — Mr. Green said : 



