The Girl's Column.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XVIII, Issue 1699, 26 June 1885, Page 2 (Supplement)

The Girl's Column.

DAISY LOVELL'S CHSISTMA3S¥E. Bx Jn,u K. UiunnuTii is “HiEPex's Torso Pjwpl’-;.” “ Mamma.” said Djisy Lovell, “ may I have the box of watcr-colora? Please don’t ask what I arn going to paint,” she added, quickly. *‘ You may have them, Daisy,” answered her mother, with a smile; “and although I am very curious, I will not ask. a single question.” It was Christmaa-eve. The room Daisy and her mother occupied was long and low, with great oak beams across the ceiling.. Tim windows bad deep sills, and there were cupboards built in the corners. Everything in the room was old and alm.st worn out, but very neat. “Whem are you going, mamma?” asked Daisy, in come surprise, as her mother threw on her clonk.

“ I am going to the village to buy a few things,” replied her mother. “ Mr. and Mrs. King have scare business there to-night, and have offered to take me. I shall ba away a bog time, perhaps two or three hours. You will not be afraid ?”

“ Oh no, I ehtdl not, mamma.” “I wish there were soma children living riser I” said Mrs. Lovell, looking at Daisy thoughtfully. “Sodo I, mamma,” replied Daisy. “ Then I could have a Christmas party, couldn’t I ?” Mrs. Lovell passed her hand over Daisy’s hair gently without speaking. “Oh, mamma,” said Daisy, suddenly, “I saw Mr. Ashleigh’s sleigh go by just before dark. It had four grey horses harnessed to it, and each horse had a plums of red and yellow on a silver thing over its head. How lovely they looked 1 The silver bells around their necks jingled when they tossed their heads, and the plumes waved backward. Tr.e sleigh is large enough to hold ten or twelve people, but there was no one in but old Mr. Ashleigh, bundled up in the big white fur robes. I was crossing the bridge when they came past, and I watched them go up the steep hill on the other side. Where do you think they were going, mamma ?” “ I think he must have been going to Piattsburg to meet the train.” replied her mother; “ for every Chrhtinas-eve Mr. Ashleigh's children come from all directions to spend the holidays with him.” “Why don’t they live at home with their father and mother ?” asked Daisy. “I suppose there are too many of them now,” said Mrs. Lovell, with a smile. “ Did you over have any brothers or sisters, mamma ?” asked Daisy.

“ Yes dear,” replied her mother, moving nearer to the fire, and leaning her head upon her hand sadly.

Daisy moved closer to her mother’s side, end began patting her cheek gently. “ Mamma,” said she, softly, “ what are you thinking about? You look so very, very sorrv.”

“ I was thinking about ray brother Alfred,” replied her mother. 11 lie was fifteen years older than I, but wo loved each other dearly, aud he was my constant companion until one day a friend persuaded him to go to Australia. It was Christmas-eve, twenty years ago, that he left home. The wind blow and howled about the house, exactly as it does to-night. He was sitting in this very chair. I remember how I sobbed and cried, and coaxed him not to go. He cried too, poor fellow, as he took me on his knee and kissed me. “ A year will soon pass, Annie,’ he whispered. “ I will come back on Christmas-eve; watch for me.’ ” “ Well, mamma ? ” asked Daisy, as her mother paused. “ I watched for him, dear, not only the next year, but many more. He never came back.” “ Was that before grandpapa died ? ” asked Daisy, softly. “ Yes, dear,” said Mrs. Lovell. “My father and mother died two years after, and I went with my aunt to England, whore I was married.” “ Then, when papa died, did you come back to your old home because you loved it so ?” said Daisy. “ Yes, dear,” replied her mother. “Did Mr. King and Mr. Ashleigh live here when you were a little girl?” asked Daisy. “Mr. King did,” said her mother; “but Mr. Ashleigh’s house was built only five years ago.” “ Here is the waggon, mamma,” cried Daisy, running to open the door. But the wind tore it from her hand and dashed it against the wall. “ Almost blown away, Daisy ?" said a man’s voice in the darkness. “Is your mother ready, dear ? ” “ Yes,” replied Mrs. Lovell, hurrying to the door; “ but I had no idea we should have such weather as this.” “ It is rather sudden,” replied Mr. King ; “the wind rose after sundown. About an hour ago the big elm at the back of my house was uprooted. We have not had such a gale for years.” “ Good-by, Daisy,” said her mother. The little girl kissed her fondly. Then she returned to the warm room, and stood for several minutes thinking over the story of her mother’s lost brother. Finally, lifting up tho pillow of a lounge, she took out a small box which was concealed there. “This is the first time in my life,” said Daisy to herself. “ that I ever remember being glad to be alone; but now I can finish mamma’s present without hiding it every moment.” She drew her chair up to the table, and opening the box, took from it a small but very neatly made needle-book. It was intended lot a Christmas gift to her mother, end had cost Daisy many hours of hard work before it was completed. “ Now,” said Daisy, examining it carefully, “I have nothing to do but stitch this cover and sew on the ribbon. After that I will print mamma’s name on a card, so that she will know it is for her.” The ribbon was soon arranged to suit her, and now came the most difficult part of her work. Daisy wanted to paint the name in different colors, so as to make it look bright and showy. Card after card she tote up and threw away. The letters would not come straight. She was quite warm and tired with her efforts, when she discovered that the card in her band was tho last. “ This will have to do, then,” said she, with a sigh. “I think mamma can read it, although the letters ore all different sizes.” Daisy was just wondering whether a border of red around the card might not improve it, when she heard a strange sound outside. It was something like the roll of heavy wheels or the distant rumbling of thunder.

" Can that be Mr. King’s waggon already 7” said Daisy, starting up, and hastily thrusting the needle-book into the box. With the card still in her hand, she ran to the door and peeped out. It was very cold, and Daisy shuddered as fho stepped out upon the porch to get a better view of the road, but there was no waggon there. She was about to turn back, when the card she had taken so much pains to paint dropped from her hand, and before she could stoop to pick it up, the wind caught it, whirled it through the air, and she saw it whisked down the rood toward the river. “I must catch it,” thought Daisy, “ before it in blown into the water.” The road was slippery and white with bard wow, and the card slid and hopped over the glassy surface before Daisy as though it were alive, and always just as she thought she had it, the wind lifted it and bore it away from her outstretched hand. “ I suppose I shall have to go home without it, after all, but I will try once more.” The overhanging rocks on each side of the road in this place cast such black shadows that Daisy could not see an inch before her. So she moved cautiously on until her hand touched the post to which the rail of the

bridge was fastened. ‘ Then she gave a frightened scream and clung wildly to the post, for instead of stepping upon the planks of the bridge, as she had expected, her loot went down. There was nothing between her and the madly rushing^river. Par two or three second!' she struggled hard to regain her footing. At last she succeeded in wedging her hec! firmly into the straggling roots of a tree that projected from between the rocks, then with the aid of the post she drew herself once more into safety. S'ichlly bruised and very much frightened, Daisy sat, still for a moment to recover her breath. What had' happened ! she wondered. The bridge was gone,'ana no was the tall maple that need to stand close by it. “ That must have been the noise I heard,” Daisy. “ I suppose the tree fell upon 1 the bridge and broke it. I am so sorry I That was a pretty maple, and used to be the first turn red in autumn. I am glad mamma does cot have to come this way." A i she scrambled upon her feet her hand touched something soft. Picking it up she found it to be along tuft of horse-hair tied at one end.

“I know what it is,” [she said to herself. “It is one of the tassels I saw swinging from the silver rings over the heads of Mr. Ashleigh’a horses. It must have dropped close by n:s when I saw them pass. I will take—" Suddenly Daisy stood perfectly still, and looked back towards the broken bridge. Her heart began to beat very fast, and she turned first hot and then cold; for all at once she remembered that Mr. Ashleigh would certainly return by the road that led over the ruined bridge.

“ What shall I do ? ” thought Daisy. “ Pour horses, too. Even if the man saw the bridge was gone after he began to oome down that hill on the other side, he could never stop them in time. All Mr. Ashleigh’s dear little children will be killed on Chriatmas-eve. Oh 1 oh 1 ’ Daisy began to cry and run as swiftly aa she could toward home, for she felt if her mother had returned she could help her save then).

It was in reality but a short distance to her home, but Daisy felt as if she should never reach it. Sue entered the room breathlessly; it was empty. Looking at the clock, she found that it was half-past nine, and her mother had said the party could not arrive before ten.

“ Only half an hour,’’ thought Daisy. “What shall Ido 7 There is no time to find any one to help me.”

Plan after plan flew through her mind, but none of them vss of any use. At last she concluded to build a fire directly before the broken bridge.

Daisy found her little sled, and placing a large basket upon it, heaped it full of dry chips and small legs of wood. While she was busy she kept wondering anxiously if they would understand what the fire meant, and see it in tame.

As Daisy went back to the room for some matches, her eye fell upon the paints she hud been usiug. " There 1 now I know what I will do 1 ” cried the aloud, snatching up a long thin white curtain that hung by the fire to air. She spread it out upon the smooth oak floor, and fastened it down securely with a number of pins from the big cushion on the table. Then selecting the largest piece of paint, which was a cake of India-ink, she dipped it into a glass of water, and with trembling, hurried fingers printed these words upon the curtain: DANGER I THE BRIDGE IS BROKEN. Daisy drew each letter more than two inches broad, and full as long as her arm, and she made them very black indeed by passing the paint over the letters a great number of times. Looking at the clock, she found it wanted only ten minutes to ten. So she pulled up the curtain, and threw it over her basket of wood that stood near the door; then tugging her sled after her, she ran toward the river. When she reached the broken bridge the wind was lower, but the water roared as loudly as ever. Without wasting a minute, Daisy heaped the chips together on a largo fiat stone close to the bank, and applied a match to them. Presently a slender flame burst out. She then piled on some small logs of wood, and soon a bright firo was leaping and crackling, making everything around as bright as day. The posts which used to support the hand-rail of the bridge were still standing. They were directly before the fire. So Daisy stretched her curtain between them, and pinned it firmly around them with the pins that still clung to it. The fire shining through the thin muslin made it perfectly transparent, and the great crooked black letters stood out with wonderful distinctness. The fire also lit up the foaming water and the jagged rocks alt around, and threw streams of light on the pieces of broken bridge still clinging to the opposite bank and down the road from which the sleigh must come. Daisy stood near the fire, watching that no spark reached her signal, glancing now and then anxiously toward the road. Presently she began to tremble, for she heard above the noise of the rushing water a shout and the clatter of horses’ hoofs. Then far off up the steep road Daisy saw, coming swiftly as the wind, the four grey horses and a loaded sleigh.

The silver bells and the silver-mounted harness flashed in the fire-light. The driver was standing up, tugging at the reins with both hands, and from all sides of the sleigh protruded frightened white faces. “ It is too late 1" cried Daisy, as she saw the leading horses, with their feet planted against the steep slippery ground, slide down toward the broken bridge. She covered her eyes with her hand and sank down near the Are. She knew she eould not bear to see all the dear little children dashed into the blaok water.

But instead of hearing screams of fright and horror, Daisy heard a man’s voice shouting, “ Hallo ! hallo 1 who is that on the other side ?”

Peeping through her fingers, she saw that two gentlemen were holding the horses’ heads, and all the people in the sleigh were standing up, looking toward her. “ Who are you ?” shouted the same voice again.

Daisy sprang to her feet and clapped her hands.

After all, they were safe. But she could see no children; the sleigh was filled with grown people. “ Why, it is a little girl I” cried the other gentleman, in astonishment.

Then he pointed to the letters on the curtain, and shouted, “ Who did that ?" Daisy motioned to herself, and grew very red, tor she felt ashamed of the great uneven words. “ Are you alone ?" cried he.

Daisy nodded, and although she knew her voice could not be heard, said, “ I must go homo now; mamma will be frightened about me.”

As she turned away, the driver called out, 11 Is that Daisy Lovell ? ” Daisy nodded her head again and then ran off, for oil the ladies and gentlemen took up her name, and cried, “ Thank you, Daisy—dear little Daisy Lovell,” and waved their handkerchiefs and hats to her. " Such a fuss 1 ” said Daisy to herself, as she dragged her sled home. “ Anyone could have done what I did.”

As Daisy stepped upon the porch, her mother opened the door, looking very much alarmed.

“ Here I am, mamma ! ” cried Daisy. “ What have you been doing, child ? ” asked her mother.

‘‘l am afraid, mamma, you will think I have been in mischief,” replied Daisy; “ for I have spoiled your clean window-curtain, and left the big basket down by the river.” “ Come in at once and tell me what you mean, Daisy,” said her mother. "Your hands are as cold as ice, and you are trembling all over.”

" That is because I am so tired, mamma,” replied Daisy. Her mother elosed the door, and sitting

down in the rooking-chair before the fire, lifted Daisy upon her lap, and said, “ Now tell me all about it, dear."

Then Daisy related her evening’s adventure. She had scarcely finished when they heard the jingling of sleigh-bolls in the road, and in a moment more a loud knock sounded on the hall door.

Daisy followed her mother as she opened it. Old Mr. Ashleigh stood on the step, and behind him a number of ladies and gentlemen.

“ Has Daisy returned home ?" inquired Mr. Ashleigh. “Yos, she is here,” replied Mrs. Lovell, leading Daisy In a moment she was surrounded by what seemed to her a largo crowd of people, and kissed and caressed by all of them at once.

Daisy looked in vain for the boys and girls, but there was none. Soon she began to understand that these grown-up people were Mr. Aahleigh’s children, and felt very much disappointed. Presently she heard Mr. Ashleigh invite her mother to their Christmas dinner. ”We will try to make it pleasant for Daisy,’, said he, “ although there will be no other little ones. The weather was so severe that my grandchildren remained at home.” While he was speaking, one of the gentlemen, the one that had spoken to Daisy across the river, made his way silently through the group in the hall, and going into the front room, looked around sadly. Then Daisy, who had been watching him, saw him seat himself in her mother’s rocking-chair, and cover his eyes with his hand. She thought be must bo very cold. But she forgot all about him when Mr. Ashleigh and the others began to bid her and her mother good-by. “ Mamma ! mamma 1 ” cried Daisy as the sleigh drove off, “ Mr. Ashleigh has forgotten one of his ohildren." Mrs. Lovell hurried into the room. The gentleman still sat with his eyes fixed upon the fire. “ I am sorry,” said Mrs. Lovell, “ but the sleigh has gone without you.” “It is of no constquenoe," said the gentleman, starting up quickly. “ I will walk. I am not one of Mr. Ashleigh’s family. I met him at the station, and when he understood that I wished to reach Mr. King’s house tonight, he offered mo a seat in his sleigh.” “lam afraid you will have some difficulty in finding Mr. King’s house, it is so very dark ”

“Oh no,” replied the stranger. “ I lived here years ago, and nothing seems changed.” He looked around the room slowly as he spoke, first at the tall clock, and then at the other furniture, until his eyes rested on the chair near the tiro.

Daisy felt her mother’s hand tremble in hers, and looking up into her face, saw that she was very white, and that her eyes were fixed on the stranger’s face. Presently she heard her whisper, “ Alfred 1 Alfred I is it really you 7 ” “ Who called my name 7 ” cried the gentleman, starting, and looking intently at Daisy’s mother.

“ Don't you remember your sister Annie ? ” cried Mrs. Lovell, springing forward. 11 Annie 1 Annie 1 have I found you again?” cried he, clasping his sister in his arras.

Daisy sat down on the floor and cried, she did not know what for; but it was not long before she found herself seated on her newfound uncle’s knee.

“I should never have seen you again, Annie, but for this little darling,” said he, kissing Daisy again. “ You promised mamma that you would come home on Ghrislmas-eve, didn’t you?” said Daisy, looking at her mother’s happy face, aud iMPut her uncle, whom she felt sura she aouidsoon love dearly. “ And I kefit the promise, thanks to you, dear,” replied he. Tney sat together talking until it was almost morning. Aud he told them bow he had fallen ill just as he was about to return from Australia, how he had just recovered when news came that his parents and only sister were dead, and so staid on working hard and trying to forget his sorrow until long years passed and he became a rich man. Then suddenly a great longing to see his old home came over him, so he determined to visit his native land once more.

“ It seems almost too strange to be true,” eaid he. “ 1 oatne hero expecting to find all I loved dead, and first I am saved from a terrible death by my own little niece, and then I find you, Annie, waiting for me in the very room I left you in twenty years ago.” When Daisy went to bed that night she thought over all that had happened in a few hours, and wondered if any one in the world had ever such a strange Christmas-evo.

The next morning Daisy presented her mother with the needle-book, which was very much admired. In the evening, Daisy, her mother, and her uncle went to Mr. Ashleigh’s dinner party, and although she was the only child there, Daisy enjoyed herself greatly. As they wore about to return home everyone presented her with a gift in remembrance of her timely aid.

Now every Christmas-eve Mr. Ashleigh gives a party in remembrance of the rescue at the broken bridge, and Daisy is the most honored guest.

Since the day of hie return Daisy’s newfound uncle has resided in his old home. The house is very little changed, but the grounds have been extended until they take in that part of the river where the bridge fell in, and are now so improved and beautified that they resemble a wonderful park.