Eleanora H. Stooke

“ Great excitement reigned in the village as twilight gathered on the afternoon previous to Christmas Day. And five o'clock found the schoolroom a scene of festivity, full as it was of men, women, and children seated at the long, narrow tables which intersected the room, partaking of a substantial tea. Nearly every one in the parish was there, including the Vicar, a middle-aged bachelor, who, with the family from Haldon Hall, busied himself in waiting on Mr. Coker's guests. ”

“ Her name was Nannie Davey. She lived by herself, and had the unenviable reputation of being the worst-tempered person in the parish. For her there was a small Christmas pudding, and some warm garments which Mrs. Coker had made.
"Are you coming to the entertainment in the schoolroom on Christmas Eve, Nannie?" inquired Mrs. Coker, after Nannie had thanked her with real gratitude for her kindness.
"I'm too old, ma'am," Nannie responded, as she felt the comfortable new clothing she held on her lap. "A poor, helpless body like me is best at home."
"Oh, no!" cried Lilian eagerly. ”

“ I'm looking forward to Saturday. Are there only you two? I mean, are you Mr. Coker's only children?"
"Oh, no! There's Lilian," Rupert answered; "she's eleven years old, but she doesn't go about with Nellie and me much."
"Is she a stuck-up sort of girl, then?" inquired Bob.
"Oh, no, no! You mustn't think that. But she can't do just as we do, because she is blind."
"Blind!"
"Yes, she has been blind all her life, but you'd never think it to see her. She's very clever, plays the piano beautifully, and—"
"But isn't she dreadfully unhappy?" Bob interposed. "I should think she must be." ”

“ Mrs. Coker packed a basket full of good things, and handed it to Lilian. Then the little girl, basket in hand, passed between the crowded tables in the direction of the door. On her way she encountered, in turn, Rupert and Bob, to each of whom she explained where she was going, and asked his escort to Nannie's door, but Rupert said: "Oh, Bob will go with you!" And Bob said: "I wouldn't bother about the old woman, if I were you. I don't want to miss the fun."
"How selfish they are!" she thought. "Never mind, I'll go by myself." ”

“ Mind you're all at the schoolroom in good time for tea on Christmas Eve! Don't forget!"
"No fear of that," remarked the little girl whose mother did charing at the Hall. "As though we should be likely to forget, indeed!"
Then her eyes fell upon Nannie Davey standing in the doorway of her cottage, with a gentler expression upon her face than it usually wore, and she said to her: "Miss Lilian doesn't look blind, does she? And yet they say she will never see as long as she lives!" ”

“ The poor gentleman died a few hours after master reached him."
"Oh, how very sad!" cried Nellie, much shocked. "I have heard father speak of Colonel Wills."
"Yes," chimed in Rupert, "he was a soldier—a splendid fellow! He fought in the South African War, and won the Victoria Cross."
"He died nearly a week ago of pneumonia," Sally explained, "and he was buried yesterday; and this afternoon, master's bringing home his little son—about your age he must be, Master Rupert—to live here at Westhill. The poor child has no mother—she died when he was a baby." ”

“ You know, Rupert, you are always complaining that you've only girls to play with; you'll be as badly off as ever if you keep up a quarrel with Bob."
Rupert recognised the truth of his sister's words, so he threw off his fit of sulks, and graciously requested Bob to come early on the following Saturday.
Bob returned to the farm in high spirits, and enjoyed the sensation he caused there, when, after having given a glowing description of his day's pleasure, he brought his tale to a close by an account of how he had given Rupert Coker a black eye. ”

“ Nellie and Rupert can accompany me to the farm, and you might order the carriage and go for a drive with Miss Long and Lilian."
Mrs. Coker agreed to this. So an hour later saw Mr. Coker start for Westhill with his two younger children, who plied him with questions about the stranger all the way.
"He has come to stay," Mr. Coker told them, "for Farmer Wills is now his guardian. Poor little orphan! You must be very kind to him. He is only eight years old, and he has been at a boarding school for two years." ”

“ I hope it's going to be fine Christmassy weather; I don't mind how cold it is."
"The colder the better, for then the pond in the lower meadow will freeze, and we shall have skating."
"I can't skate, but I can slide."
"There's Nellie calling," said Rupert. "I suppose they're ready to leave. Why, how the light is going! You may as well walk a little way with us—that is, if you don't mind the dusk?"
"Rather not!"
Bob accompanied his friends some distance on their homeward road. And then, having wished the governess a very happy Christmas, he hurried back to the farm to be in readiness for tea. ”

“ Wills this afternoon," said Miss Long to her young charges after the mid-day meal. "I daresay you will all accompany me?"
"Oh, yes!" cried Rupert. "I haven't seen Bob Wills for days."
The governess, with a little girl on either side and Rupert hurrying on ahead, started for the farm about three o'clock. The wind was so keen that they were obliged to walk fast in order to keep themselves warm.
"I wish you were going to spend Christmas with us, Miss Long, but I suppose you would rather be with your own people," Lilian remarked. ”

“ Never was there such a dog as that for sharpness. Many a lost sheep has he found for me before now. He'll find Miss Lilian right enough, if she's anywhere near. If I go by the pathfields, I shall soon reach Westhill, and I shall be back with Wolf in no time."
Mr. Coker and the others continued their search during the farmer's absence. To the anxious father, the minutes dragged away slowly and seemed like hours, but it was actually only little over half-an-hour later when the footsteps of a horse were heard, and Mr. Wills flung himself from the back of his mount in front of the schoolroom door. ”

“ Bob answered. "I don't know what I should have done this last two months without you three!" he cried in a sudden burst of confidence. "You can't imagine how unhappy I was when I first came to Westhill; and I am sure when I saw you, Nellie, and you, Rupert, staring at me that day I arrived, I never guessed we should be friends. Why, here's old Jeffry coming across the yard. How excited he looks! Well, Jeffry," he said, as the old man came up, "what has happened?" ”

“ Nellie declared, for she felt exceedingly proud of her sister. "If I had been in your place, Lilian, I should have been frightened to death. And I wouldn't have gone through the pathfields by myself after dark in a snowstorm for anything, and I don't believe the boys would have either!"
"You see there is one advantage in being blind," said Lilian brightly, "one can get about by night as well as by day."
"You'll come up to our place this afternoon, won't you?" Rupert inquired of Bob ere they parted outside Westhill. "I heard father asking you. Be sure you come." ”

“ Mrs. Coker answered. "You are not to be at the entertainment on Christmas Eve, I understand," she proceeded. "Mrs. Wills told me, when I last saw her, that you had kindly offered to remain at home in order that the rest of the household may be at the schoolroom. You will not be forgotten, however; Mrs. Wills will bring you a present from the Christmas tree."
"Thank you, ma'am," said Jeffry. "Yes, I've promised to keep house during the others' absence," he went on; "the farmer doesn't like to lock up."
"You will have Wolf for company," remarked Lilian. "Is Wolf here?" ”

“ We shall all of us spend a happy Christmas, if we try to make those around us happy for Jesus' sake."
The children knew all about Miss Long's home, for she had often talked to them about it. She had told them it was situated in a thickly populated London suburb; but they understood it was the dearest spot in the world in her sight, for it held a wealth of love within its narrow limits not to be bought with gold.
Arrived at Westhill, Miss Long and the two little girls went into the house to see Mrs. Wills; whilst Rupert, having been informed that Bob was in the yard, joined him there. ”

“ Wills would not let him wear his old things, although he told her how much more comfortable he feels in them. Father says he may come and play with us every Saturday if he likes, and he's coming. I do hope he'll agree with Rupert," she added as an afterthought.
"Why should he not?" Miss Long inquired.
"They got nasty with each other more than once this afternoon," Lilian said, "I noticed that. You know Rupert is rather selfish. He likes hiding better than finding—we all do—and when it came to my turn to hide, he wanted to take my place, and Bob wouldn't hear of it. ”

“ And the speaker, Nellie Coker, jumped from her seat at the schoolroom table as the clock struck twelve, and was making for the door, when her governess called her back.
"Not so fast, my dear. Put away your lesson books, and help to clear the table. Why are you in such a hurry?"
"Mother and cook are making the Christmas puddings, Miss Long; and I don't want to miss my stir."
"You are not in the least likely to do so. We will all go down to the kitchen presently."
It was only a week to Christmas now; and the young people at Haldon Hall were to have a month's holiday from to-day. ”

“ Coker. She was watching the child and the dog with smiling eyes.
"Savage?" cried Lilian. "Why, he's a dear quiet old fellow!"
Jeffry chuckled. "He may be to you, missie—I see he is—but he's not to everyone. He won't allow a stranger in the yard after dusk, and folks about here are mostly in fear of him. He's been keeping guard over my coat all the afternoon, and if any one had dared touch it, he'd have flown at that body in a minute."
Jeffry was a faithful old servant who lived at the farm. Age prevented his doing hard labour now ”

“ Wills?" inquired the little girl, as they approached Westhill.
"No, not this afternoon, my dear. I should like to be home before dark, and the light is fading fast."
So they drove past Westhill, to the disappointment of Lilian, who had looked forward to a chat with Mrs. Wills. But, just beyond, Mrs. Coker pulled up to speak to an aged man, who, accompanied by a large, fierce-looking sheep-dog, was making his way slowly-towards the farm.
"It's Jeffry," she said to Lilian. "How are you, Jeffry?" she inquired. ”

“ For my part, I'd rather be without the grand clothes, and be able to see. She has been blind all her life, as we all know, and always will be—my mother does charing at the Hall, and the servants there told her so. ”

“ Coker returned to the schoolroom, and, beckoning to Mr. Wills and a couple of men to join him outside, he hastily explained the situation to them.
"She cannot be far away," he said, "and I don't wish my wife or anyone to be needlessly alarmed, so we must try to keep the fact that she is missing a secret. Perhaps she has fallen and hurt herself."
Five minutes later a lantern had been procured, and a careful search was made all over the village Green. The falling snow had obliterated the traces of Lilian's footsteps, and no clue to her whereabouts could be discovered. Mr. ”

“ We can easily shut the dogs outside the door. Come along."
The speakers were Nellie and Rupert Coker, children of Mr. Coker, of Haldon Hall. They were returning from the village of Haldon, about a quarter of a mile from, which their home was situated, and were now passing Westhill, a picturesque old farmhouse built close to the high road.
Westhill was the property of Mr. Coker, and was in the occupation of Farmer Wills and his wife, a capable, hard-working, middle-aged couple. ”

“ You can bring back the pony-carriage to Westhill; Miss Nellie and I will wait there till you come."
Mrs. Coker now got out of the pony-carriage, and Jeffry took her place, whilst Rupert jumped into the seat opposite, secretly much relieved at the turn matters were taking. Two minutes later, the pony-carriage had disappeared from sight, with Wolf following behind. ”