StNicholas [serial] . ke a word of cheer from God Himself onher weary climb upward, giving her hope andstrength and encouragement for the whole yearto come. Jane kept the village post-office. She was aptto be sharp and cross, because she was old, andhad a secret ailment which at times tortured when she took up her work on the very firstday that she was able to do so, it suddenly oc-curred to her: Why not pretend that this is Christmas Day,and keep it, though nobody but God and me willknow? She opened the window, and as she gave out 132 THE CHRISTMAS YEAR 133 the letters had a cordial w
StNicholas [serial] . ke a word of cheer from God Himself onher weary climb upward, giving her hope andstrength and encouragement for the whole yearto come. Jane kept the village post-office. She was aptto be sharp and cross, because she was old, andhad a secret ailment which at times tortured when she took up her work on the very firstday that she was able to do so, it suddenly oc-curred to her: Why not pretend that this is Christmas Day,and keep it, though nobody but God and me willknow? She opened the window, and as she gave out 132 THE CHRISTMAS YEAR 133 the letters had a cordial word for every one ofthe neighbors outside—children and hard-workedwomen and feeble old men. They went awaylaughing and surprised, but strangely the office was closed, she bethought herself She was very tired when she had finished herdays work. She thanked Him when she kneltdown at night that He had put it in her mindto keep His day, in this secret fashion. But she could not sleep for thinking of other. THE LITTLE GIFTS HELD OUT FOR SOME TIME AS SHE CARRIED THEM FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE of gifts, and baked some of her famous crullersand carried them to folk so poor that they neverhad any crullers, and to the old paupers in thealmshouse. She astonished each of them, too, with the giftof a dollar. I can do with my old cloak another year,she thought, and they will feel rich for days!In His name, she said to herself as she gaveeach of her poor presents. The little gifts held out for a long time as shecarried them from house to house, her face grow-ing kinder as she went and her voice softer. Itseemed to her that never before had there beenso many sick, unhappy folk in the town. Surelyit was right to make them glad that He had comeamong us—even if it were not Christmas Day? poor neighbors to whom she might have givensome little comfort or pleasure. Why not make them happier that He hascome, to-morrow, as well as to-day? she thought,with a shock of delight in her discove
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Keywords: ., bookauthordodgemar, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, bookyear1873
