St. Helens mist., December 25, 1914, Image 2

About St. Helens mist. (St. Helens, Or.) 1913-1933

Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR

                
oita
T5tj Clarissa 'FTacKte
t 1914 hi v
American Pi
ress Assdcia
m t .gsa. j w !t' m . n.7.v i-v v :.Liw y
& 'fawiu -urn
" SLIT n r I 1- IV Lil ,x '"" .
mil ihr
0 l feAV
ES. DEAC03T POTTS
ped the teacher'a
O smartly with a ruler,
the Humbert who
deS
desks in j frv)
cam.
I II t II'
RV - HI' -V -
r
V sitting at the low
A" friendly gossip
attention, rather,
guiltily. It was
4 week, before
fchristmas, and die ladies' Aid so
ciety - was meeting in the sohool-
''Now that we have settled upon'
the needy ones who most be helped
at Christmas time, it only remains
to appoint some one to go around
and solicit contributions for the
purpose," announced Mrs. Potts.
"Helena Moffat has always done
that," suggested Mrs. Pinney. 1
''Where is the list!" asked Helena
bluntly. She was a little blue eyed,
sandy haired woman who lived
very modestly on a tiny in-
come left by her dead husband.
Helena was always foremost in
good works. cri
Mrs. Potts smiled as shes
gave the list to Helena. ''sV
"If you can ret as many '
contributions as you did last
year, Helena, every home in
Little Eiver will spend a hap
py and bountiful Christmas."
"Except some of the givers,
whispered Helena.
"Why, what do you mean P exclaimed Mrs. Potts.'
Helena smiled mysteriously and, nodding goodby to the other
need my party,- decided Selena, growing enthusiasts as to IS. ! Jt p u &t whllke4 th.
guests increased. "This is to be a party for lonesome folks, and, judging mnt ' " m
by the number here in little Paver it ought to be a large gathering, as The mi(m hAti Unte
aM..""i.rwZ::,m ri.u :7 Z 7k ""f . "Oh. Helena, I shall never forget this oayl" she sighed,
" " , " " --Y adopt these children for my own."
until the words popped right out of my mouth there in Mr. Wayne t , , ' . H
"I want to
. " 1 " " .... ,A better Chriutmas girt, and the twins would be wonderfully blessed.1
what there u, and I can earn some extra money some way or o her n fo n
make up for what victuals they 11 eat And a Christmas tree well, 1 11 AlrM W.M n v.',l. tv,L .
get Ham Tennant to chop down that hemlock in the south lot. It can
go into the parlor, and I can make some little gifts to go on it and wal
nut taffy and hickory nuts and popcorn, and I guess my piece bag will
turn out silk scraps enough to make pin balls and penwipers for every
one. Good land, it is exciting to make a party for poor rich folks!"
mem
bers, went away from the schoolhouse with her list of names. I As she
walked along the village street she studied the list-VjrOv
"Miss Eiddell, rolling in money and lonesome as a home sick f cat," she
commented; "old Mr. Wayne, without chick or child jinduattHng around
that big house like a pea in a barrel; the Widow MeTtonstillfniourning
for her husband dead twenty years and crying her heart out every Christ
mas because all her children are dead and gone; Dr. Langdon, busy as a
bee all the year and not a moment to spare except on Christmas day,
when he has to stay at home with the housekeeper because his only
daughter married a man way out in Honolulu, and Mr. Atkins trying to
keep house all alone since his ma died. I don't believe any town ever
had such a lot of lonesome folks in it Talk about giving to the needy
poor! Well, the needy rich ought to be looked after. .1 wonder who
ought to tackle that job P O '5,3' O
Helena turned the thought over and over in her busy mind as she
went from house to house soliciting contributions for the Christmas giv
ing of the Ladies' Aid society. ;
Old Mr. Wayne, not so very old and still hale and hani&SSjAgave a
generous check and gave it with a smile.
"I'm going to give a Christmas party. Will you com Pask7d Helena!
recklessly.
"Why r thank" you, Mrs. Moffat 1 shall be delighted!" gasped
Mr. Wayne, for he had only a slight acquaintance with the little widow.
"Christmas day at my house in Willow lane I'm going to have a
Christmas tree," promised Helena as she 'went away. "I shall be disap
pointed if yon don't come.",
"I'll be there, although I haven't attended a party in years,1said Mr.
Wayne cordially.
"A Christmas party P "echoed Miss Sarah Eiddell after Helena had
tucked her check away in her black sateen bag. "I don't know, HelenaJ
I haven't been to a merrymaking in years and"-
"All the more reason why you should come to mine,", interrupted
Helena stoutly. "Mr. Wayne's coming and lots of others.". .
"It is delightful cf you to ask me," said Miss Eiddell smilingly." "I
shall look forward to' your, party, Helena." .
After Helena had gone Sarah Eiddell went upstairs into her spare
bedrMffl, and looked through the wardrobes, where hung almost forgotten
gowns uiat Belonged to a gala period of years ago.
They smelledj of cedar and lavender, but then would
.dc presentable enongn to wear to a
J
When the Ladies' Aid society heard that Helena -Moffat was going to "T . . ' C -T M
rive a Christmas party and that few of their members were to be invited B0Clr 'Ul V , . ' , 5
a wave of virtuous indignation swept through the ranks. O; TO
"Seems to me Helena Moffat's aiming to enter society at one jump,
only inviting the rich folks," sneered Mrs. Pinney. "C rV -
"There's some rich folks she hasn't invited," defended Mrs. Potts.
Jlf youll stop to think you'll find she's only asked folks whohavea't
any families to make Christmas for 'era. She's asked those little Soever
twins from the town farm. You know they're the only children atthe
farm, and I expect it is dull for them. Helena's thought all that out"
"I don't suppose she could ask everybody in town," admitted Mrs.
Pinney. "Her house is a tiny place, and I wonder if she'd be offended if
I had Darius send around a gallon of ice cream for the party P Mr.
Pinney was proprietor of the ice cream parlors in Little River.
"That's a kind thought Sarah," said Mrs. Potts quickly. "I am go
ing to send Helena a Christmas cake. She's worked like a major ovet
this contribution business. There won't be a hungry mouth
in Little Eiver this Christmas." ii ji I j I
Helena's party." uTSa.1 ''I '
The days preceding Christmas? flew j
by. For Helena Moffat theyVerejilled,
with happiness, for every moment was
occupied. Her little cottage was clean
ed from attic to cellar, although it was
usually immaculate. For days spicy
odors were wafted through her kitchen
windows upon the frosty air. Cakes
and pies and cookies were baked ; pans
of walnut taffy cooled to hardness in
the attic windows and were twisted
into waxed papers. Stores of hickory
nuts and black walnuts were brought
nMj .1. - i . i 1
out of the barrels stored in the cellar, ill j !
. . . . .. ...it1
nam iennant cnoppea down tne lit
tle hemlock in the pasture and set it in II
a tub in the middle of the parlor. Then
ground pine and bittersweet and green
laurel, and the walls and windows were
decked with the cheerful ere
the red berries.
"I shall have a party every, year,"
rri j v i -- I .
wkm yiuiuiscu ucrscu u me new
from room to room on Christmas
"I do hope Mr. Wayne
knitted slippers. They say
Ton wonderful woman! Have yon had time to think of vonr e
happiness 1" he asked. -
"This is my happiness I" returned Helena, with a wide gesture that
included the house and its occupants.
Mr. Atkins looked up from the stamps he was studying. Dr. langdoj
surprised a strange look on his quiet, reserved face, a look that sent the
Dr. Langdon insisted that Mr. Atkins should carve the dinner turkey
and that quiet bachelor grew quite pink In the operation.
Miss Eiddell did not seem to miss the attentions of her skilled black
servants, and Mr. Wayne grew very jovial and witty and told such fumy
stories I thai he kept the table in a gale of laughter. Helena, sitting at
ad of the table, looked from one happy face to another and wu
happy herself. 1 III 1
j 1 The Seever twins stuffed themselves out-
raireonilv. and IMr I Mrtnn Mot h tl.i.
- ,m J f -I - . www MM , uuii
plates were heaped.)!. Agatha Ames just its
and smiled and
rested.
"I've talked hats
for a year," she ex
plained. "Jmt let
me listen to other
folks talking.. Ist
resting today."
So each one found
happiness in in In.
dividual way. Eicl
one took what h
needed of whst the
Di d7 had to give.
After they hsi
H .VfalJ helped to elesi
v.
n and
CJ
Ji
rheumatism badly, and somehow folks
don't get such things even if they are
rich. It needs a heart to think of com
forts like that I'm so happy. Seems
as if my heart could hold the whole
world tonight" (P-0 o
She went to thevwindow and) looked out at the)rdreflectionof the
sunset slanting alqngth'e snowS ''I'mTglad I decided havVspend
the day' party, after aUAlCristmasJday that's the lonesomestilVQ)
Helena's (Hiristmastteepooked beautiful with ltslsrwVstrings of
popcorn, its little paper wTapp'ed 'gifts tied with red ribbonsjits mysteri
ously stuffed stockings for each 'guest which Helena had made (from pink
tuaoMu iwuim im atuu. 1 lut atuu gave uiucr luings. 100 some for
the he
l i II Mi
nil 'it
m urn mmmmi.
1 mi - tit .am tr . 1 I'-i.-v- 1 1 v w ar nm si 'vu.n
1 Jiii m v m siru . . . m 11 se . -am- m i.j'
. 1 x w v v a w aw r . w
m m ill 1 ri x yi 7 1
I5VX IWrf y VXY O
hnstmas eve. jj Tj
will likehisV ;7
ly he has the ' -.
be one (ha't must
Christmas'cartv.
. f
1 111 '!
ill I !"V-lzr: r i SSS A fS
There was something festive in
the very words, "Christmas party."
"It won't be so lonesome," said
Miss Eiddell wistfully. -
Helena Moffat went her way
from house to house, adding sev
eral checks to those already is her
black sateen bag and placing op
posite other names on her list
promises of potatoes, flour, plum
I puddings, apples, pies,
chickens and other goodies
for the Christmas season.'
Here and there Helena
dropped an invitation to
her Christmas party. These'
invitations were judicious
ly distributed. She' over
looked those who' ,had
large families and those
'.who had any families at
:T3 ;au to neip
them make
merry.
"Theydoa't
the table they veal
ntc the parlor
here the Christ
"mas tree stood IU
en with its gifts.
Dr. Langdon be
came a very Jolly
Santa Clam and
distributed gifts U
ach one.
"I haven't had I
Christmas stocking
since I was a lad,
remarked Mr.
Wayne as he fn
bled with the drawstring of
his tarlatan stocking1'
"There's a queer feeling
about a Christmas stocking.
All those queer little lumps
"suggest wonderful presents, (
and one is never disappointed eve.
if the lumps turn out to be quite
everyday things."
He smiled in a wonderful way tt
Helena, and she. smiled back again,
and Mr. Atkins managed to Inter
cept the smile and take it to him
"selfT Helena felt a strange erne-
ijtion "stirring her heart. What else
S was this wonderful Christmas off
' inr to hert CJS O
When the tree wai onite thv niavedramet and
gotten toys that would gladden the hearts of the Seever twinsvtnd an old to,d tries and sangsongs Mr. Atkins developed asweet' Unor voice
book that Dr. Langdon would rejoice over; some foreign stamps that Mr. ,nd 'd Scotch songs,C while Mr. Wavne accompanied him on the
a.itim nugiii une lor nis coiiecnon. u Zs:SZriS' O viuiin. . Hl-f. ??V-Vj O
. The Seever twins arrived first. Mr. Smithjhad brought them over At ,Mt t was time to go home. The happiness the little house sent
early so that they might enjoy every minute(of the day, he explained ont int0 be winter air lightened the town for many a long day. Beit ol
kindly. They were a rosy, chubby pair, agir! and a boy of five all for Helena, Timothy Atkins had learned what a wonderful womsi
Miss Eiddell came in her shining carriage, driven by old black ,he WM and befor another Christmas came she exchanged the name 0
Nathan, who was eager to be off to spend the day with his family in the Mffat for Atkins. I III I I I 'I I H IIUi. "j-- 1
village. Miss Eiddell's arms were full of mysterious looking white pack- Dr- Langdon and Agatha found
agee, and Helena found that the lonesome lady had had a lovely time se- bappiness on their way home from
lecting gifts for all of Helena's guests, people she had known all her life, Helena's. I ll I I
but somehow had never known intimately. When Mrs. Deacon Potts heard
Before 10 o'clock all the other guests had arrived, each one bearing "on Helena's engagement she
gifts until the little hemlock almost creaked nnder its burden. Pack- nP her hands in dismay. I
ages were heaped around the base of it and in some mysterious way "Helena Moffat, do you know
oranges suddenly appeared on every branch, and bonbons, and a doll and what your Christmas party has re-
a book from the city for the twins. suited in!" she asked excitedly. .
There was much laughter and merriment in the parlor and sitting "Plenty of happiness," smiled
room, where the guests were gathered. Miss Eiddell and the Widow Mer- Helena. ,71 (---ix-
ton insisted on helping Helena prepare dinner, although Agatha Ames, "Yes. Look at the Seever twinsTu
the little milliner, presented her nervous little hands for the task. "d their new mother, and see-?1
auu wj, ug, umu jaiw ciuueu sinewy, "uo inio tne parlor J"-1- vyne ana miss Eiddell, af-T"
and sit down and rest yourself, Agatha, unless you'd rather work. I like ot'ier marriage, sure as you live! W
to work around the house at Christmas when there's any one to do thinei Why Helena Moffat, there aren't
for." any lonesome folks left In t.iml C
"I'd rather rest if you don't mind," said Agatha as she sank into a River!" rS ,LJr
chair in the corner of the parlor. ' "We will have a Christmas oar-
sun juaaeu ivunu umc now ana men o iup inio xne nttlnff room ecry year, then, decided
ana wring a gay tune out or tne unxung old piano, and Mr. Wayne dis- tte'ena
covered Mr. Moffat s violin in a corner and, having tuned it played such
marvelous music that every one came and listened, spellbound. They all
joined in a Christmas carol after that and then Mr. Wayne insisted on
peeling the potatoes just so that he could smell the turkey roasting, and
Mr. Atkins cracked nuts, while the doctor went to the cellar for sweet
cider.""
a ham