Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1848-12-23
both useful and merely ornamental, were
thought OF, but none Of them exactly pleased

thought Of, but none Of them exactly pleased
his fancy.
A day or two before Christmas, he sat
thinking about the matter, when something
or other gave new turn to his reflections.
sThey don't really need anything, he
said to himself, 'and yet I propose to my.
self to spend twenty dollars in presents
merely for appearances sake. Is this
right' ..4
Right if you choose to do it, he replied
to himself .... ...........
q am not SO sure of that,' he added, after
pause. And then he sat in quite mu-
sing mood for some minutes.
That's better,' he at length said, rising
up and walking about the floor. THAT
would be money and good feelings spent
to better purpose
"But they'll expect something,' he argu-
ed with himself; 'the family will think so
strange of it. Perhaps I'd better spend half
the amount in elegant books for Lizzy and
Jane, and let the other go in the way l
PROMISE"
This suggestion, however, did not satisfy
him.
Better let it all go in the other direc-
tion,' he said after thinking awhile longer
'it will do a real good. The time will
come when l can explain the whole mat
ter if necessary, and do away with any
little false impression that may have been
formed"
TO the conclusion at which Edward arri-
we'd, he remained firm. No present of anv
kind was made to his betrothed or her sis
ter, and the reader has seen in what light
the omission was viewed.
Christmas eve proved to be one of unu-
sual inclemency. The snow had been fall
ing all day, driven into every nook and
corner, cleft and Granny, by a piercing
northeaster; and now, although the wind
had ceased to roar among the chimneys and
to whirl the snow with bliuding violence
into the face of any one who ventured
abroad, the broad flakes were falling slowly
but more heavily than since morning, thoug III
the ground was covered already to the depth
of many inches. |: was nj ght to make
the poor feel sober as they gatheren more
closely around their small fires, and thought
OF the few sticks of wood or pecks of coal
that yet remained Of their limited store.
On this dreary night, small boy, who
had been at work in a printing-ofice all
day, stood near the desk of his employer,
waiting to receive his weeks wages and 60
home to his mother, poor widow, whose
slender income scarcely suficed to give
food to her little household.
'You needn't come tomorrow, Johr,' said
the printer, as he handed the lad the two
dollars that were due him for the weeks
work tomorrow is Christmas
The boy took the money, and after ling
ering moment, turned away and walked
towards the door. He evidently expected
something, and seemed disappointed. The
printer noticed this, and at once compre-
hended its meaning.
'John,' he said kindly.
The boy stopped and turned around: as
he did so, the printer took up half dollar
from the desk, and holding it between his
fingers, said
you've been a very good boy, John,
think you deserve Christmas gift. Here's
half a dollar for you.'
Johns countenance was lit up in an in
slant. As he came back to get the money,
the printers eyes rested upon his feet,
which were not covered with very COM
Portable pair of shoes, and he said
(which would you rather have, John,
this half dollar or pair of new shoesp'
Pd rather have the new Shoes" replied
John, without hesitation.
'Very well Tll write you an order on
shoemaker, and you can 90 and fit your
self and the printer turned to his desk and
wrote the order.
As he handed to John the piece of paper
on which the order was written, the lad
looked earnestly into hisface, and then said,
with strongly marked hesitation
Il think, sir, that my shoes will do very
well if mended they only want mending.
Won't you please write shoes for my moth
er instead ofme! p
The boys voice trembled, and his face
was suffused. He felt that he had ventur-
ed too -,ucn. The printer looked at him
for a moment or two, and then said
'Does your mother want shoes badlyp
'Oh, yes, sir. She doesn't earn much
by washing and ironing when she can do
it, but she sprained her wrist three weeks
ago, and hasn't been able to do anything
but work a little about the house since.'
Sand are your wages all she has 10 live
uponp
'They are now.'
you have a little sister. Il believer
'Yes, sir.'
'Does she want shoes, alsop
'She has had nothing but old rags on heI
feet for month";
Indeedn
The printer turned to his desk, and sal
and mused for half minute, while Johr
stood with his heart beating SO loud that ht
could hear its pulsations.
J sGive me the order,' the man at length
said to the boy, who handed him the sliI
of paper. He tore 1t up, and then took hi
pen and wrote new order.
, Take this,' he said, presenting it t.
| John. q have told the shoemaker to Civ,
; you pair for your mother, yourself ant
7 your little sister; and here is the half dol