Beschrijving

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER II. The day after the events of the preceding chapter found our heroine in all the bustle and excitement attendant on the duties of a Lady- Bountiful. As early as nine o’clock, the poor of her village assembled to receive the Christinas and New Year’s gifts, which rejoiced many of their hearts, and cheered and brightened many of the lowly little homes. Cloaks for the old women, coats and hats for the men, shoes for the children, and an ample supply of groceries and delicacies beyond the cottage funds to provide. Over the distribution of these welcome gifts Ethel herself presided, adding to each a kindand gentle word, one of enquiry perhaps for the absent, or good wishes and encouragement for the coming year. In the large housekeeper’s room were these gatherings held, all dressed up as it was for the festive season. A splendid fire roaring in the grate, and the sun, as it was to-day, pouring its light into every nook and corner. Mrs. Jennings, the old housekeeper, selecting the gifts, on which each name was carefully pinned, and handing them one by one to her young mistress, who herself presented them to the happy recipients; this over, the whole party, with the exception of the very old, who remained seated round the \