"Why do you think of asking Lillia, my child?"
"Because she has been my enemy, pa, and I want to make her love me, if
I can."
"That's right, Minnie. Christ will love and bless you, if you always
try 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, I
think, Minnie had a dream. And the principal object in that dream was
a Christmas tree, sparkling with lighted wax tapers, and loaded with
choice presents for boys and girls.
The days were short and few between that evening and Christmas. But to
Minnie old Time seemed to walk with leaden feet and slow steps. Yet
they passed away as days always will, and Christmas night arrived at
last.
There were great doings at Minnie Brown's that night. The sun had
hardly set, before a bevy of boys and girls, Minnie's invited guests,
began to arrive. Uncles and aunts, and bright-eyed cousins, from the
neighboring town, had arrived in the afternoon. And now the back parlor
was pretty well filled; and such a good-natured buzzing, laughing,
and chatting as were heard there, it would do your heart good to hear
again; 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 man
who did not think it beneath him to mingle with children on proper
occasions, and to minister to their joy. So it pleased him, on this
pleasant evening, to play the part of "Old Father Christmas."
[Illustration]
Dressed in old-fashioned costume, with a yule log on his shoulders, a
wreath about his head, and a right jovial twinkling in his eyes, he
introduced himself to the company with many smart sayings, which added
not a little to their amusement.
After a time, the folding doors were thrown open, revealing a splendid
Christmas tree in the front parlor. It reached to the ceiling. Lighted
wax tapers burned on almost every branch. Between these tapers hung a
large number of gifts for the various members of the happy company.
This display called forth fresh bursts of pleasure from the young
people. When their cries of "O, dear!" "How beautiful!" "Splendid!"
"What a magnificent tree!" "How grand!" &c., had ceased, "Old Father
Christmas" invited them to step forward and receive the various gifts
of love and friendship the tree contained.
Among all the gifts on that tree, there was none so beautiful as
that which fell to the share of Minnie. It was a rich rosewood box,
containing various articles, such as delicate little scent and cologne
bottles, scissors, &c. Inside of the lid there was a looking-glass; and
on the top of the lid, outside, a pretty little silver plate, on which
was very neatly engraved the name of MINNIE BROWN.
This choice box was handed round among the company with great care. But
it happened that it was a long time getting to that part of the room
where Lillia stood. She was very impatient to look at it. When it came
near 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 struck
the box with her hand, and down it went upon the floor, smashing the
bottles 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-natured
aunt.
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; and
she 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 remembered
the 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 much
herself. So, taking the box, she said, in a cheerful voice,--
"Never mind! The box is not broken; only the bottles and the glass. Pa
will 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, and
whispered in her ear,--
"Don't feel bad, Lillia! You didn't mean to break my bottles, and I
shall love you just the same as ever."
It was by such acts as these that Minnie made herself beloved. Her
character grew more and more beautiful, and she was known, all over the
village, as MINNIE, THE GENTLE GIRL.