Rose in Bloom by Louisa May Alcott

uttered the last words.

“I don’t give to people whom I care nothing for. Can’t do it,

especially at Christmas, when goodwill should go into everything

one does. If all these ‘pretties’ are for dear friends, you must have a

great many.?

“I thought they were friends, but I find many of them are not, and

that’s the trouble, sir.?

“Tell me all about it, dear, and let the old glove go,” he said, sitting

down beside her with his most sympathetic air.

But she held the glove fast, saying eagerly, “No, no, I love to do

this! I don’t feel as if I could look at you while I tell what a bad,

suspicious girl I am,” she added, keeping her eyes on her work.

“Very well, I’m ready for confessions of any iniquity and glad to

get them, for sometimes lately I’ve seen a cloud in my girl’s eyes

and caught a worried tone in her voice. Is there a bitter drop in the

cup that promised to be so sweet, Rose??

“Yes, Uncle. I’ve tried to think there was not, but it is there, and I

don’t like it. I’m ashamed to tell, and yet I want to, because you

will show me how to make it sweet or assure me that I shall be the

better for it, as you used to do when I took medicine.?

She paused a minute, sewing swiftly; then out came the trouble all

in one burst of girlish grief and chagrin.

“Uncle, half the people who are so kind to me don’t care a bit for

me, but for what I can give them, and that makes me unhappy,

because I was so glad and proud to be liked. I do wish I hadn’t a

penny in the world, then I should know who my true friends were.?

“Poor little lass! She has found out that all that glitters is not gold,

and the disillusion has begun,” said the doctor to himself, adding

aloud, smiling yet pitiful, “And so all the pleasure is gone out of

the pretty gifts and Christmas is a failure??

“Oh, no not for those whom nothing can make me doubt! It is

sweeter than ever to make these things, because my heart is in

every stitch and I know that, poor as they are, they will be dear to

you, Aunty Plen, Aunt Jessie, Phebe, and the boys.?

She opened a drawer where lay a pile of pretty gifts, wrought with

loving care by her own hands, touching them tenderly as she spoke

and patting the sailor’s knot of blue ribbon on one fat parcel with a

smile that told how unshakable her faith in someone was. “But

these,” she said, pulling open another drawer and tossing over its

gay contents with an air half sad, half scornful, “these I bought and

give because they are expected. These people care only for a rich

gift, not one bit for the giver, whom they will secretly abuse if she

is not as generous as they expect. How can I enjoy that sort of

thing, Uncle??

“You cannot, but perhaps you do some of them injustice, my dear.

Don’t let the envy or selfishness of a few poison your faith in all.

Are you sure that none of these girls care for you?” he asked,

reading a name here and there on the parcels scattered about.

“I’m afraid I am. You see I heard several talking together the other

evening at Annabel’s, only a few words, but it hurt me very much,

for nearly everyone was speculating on what I would give them

and hoping it would be something fine. ‘She’s so rich she ought to

be generous,’ said one. ‘I’ve been perfectly devoted to her for weeks

and hope she won’t forget it,’ said another. ‘If she doesn’t give me

some of her gloves, I shall think she’s very mean, for she has

heaps, and I tried on a pair in fun so she could see they fitted and

take a hint,’ added a third. I did take the hint, you see.” And Rose

opened a handsome box in which lay several pairs of her best

gloves, with buttons enough to satisfy the heart of the most

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