The holidays were approaching,
and Mrs. Davis kept me busy in manufacturing
articles of dress for herself and children. She
desired to present Mr. Davis on Christmas with
a handsome dressing-gown. The material was
purchased, and for weeks the work had been
under way. Christmas eve came, and the gown
had been laid aside so often that it was still unfinished.
 I saw that Mrs. D. was anxious to
have it completed, so I volunteered to remain
and work on it. Wearily the hours dragged on,
but there was no rest for my busy fingers. I
persevered in my task, notwithstanding my head
was aching. Mrs. Davis was busy in the adjoining
 room, arranging the Christmas tree for the
children. I looked at the clock, and the hands
pointed to a quarter of twelve. I was arranging
the cords on the gown when the Senator came
in; he looked somewhat careworn, and his step
seemed to be a little nervous. He leaned
against the door, and expressed his admiration of
the Christmas tree, but there was no smile on his
face. Turning round, he saw me sitting in the
adjoining room, and quickly exclaimed :

" That you, Lizzie ! why are you here so late ?
Still at work ; I hope that Mrs. Davis is not too
exacting !"

" No, sir," I answered. " Mrs. Davis was very
anxious to have this gown finished to-night, and
I volunteered to remain and complete it."

" "Well, well, the case must be urgent," and he
came slowly towards me, took the gown in his
hand, and asked the color of the silk, as he said
the gas-light was so deceptive to his old eyes.

" It is a drab changeable silk, Mr. Davis," I
answered ; and might have added that it was rich
and handsome, but did not, well knowing- that he
would make the discovery in the morning.
He smiled curiously, but turned and walked
from the room without another question. He
inferred that the gown was for him, that it was to
be the Christmas present from his wife, and he
did not wish to destroy the pleasure that she
would experience in believing that the gift would
prove a surprise. In this respect, as in many
others, he always appeared to be as a thoughtful,
considerate man in the domestic circle. As the
clock struck twelve I finished the gown, little
dreaming of the future that was before it. It
was worn, I have not the shadow of a doubt, by
Mr. Davis during the stormy years that he was
the President of the Confederate States.

From: "Thirty Years a Slave and Four Years in the White House"
by Elizabeth Keckley
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