Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1848-12-20

sroHy FOR THE HOLIDAYS


s0oke uD Lazy . StsseI jaw "." "
might have bought for sixpence. 'nlnk
,e;s right do~n mcnn. stin9y. selfish
fellow. SO do; and it he doesnt Keep
Lizzv ON breed and water when nc gets
her. INV names not Jane Green
j wooldnt have him. said Margaret,
testing, vet half in earnest. Let Christ
mas go by. and not 'nake his sister
present OF the most trifing value. lie
must have penny soul. Why, Harry
Lea sent me the Leaflets Of Memory and
pair Of tho sweetest flower vases you
ever saw, and he only comes TO see me
Is . friend. And cousin William made
me present Of splendid copy OF Mrs.
Halls Sketches the most interesting
book I ever read. Besides ! received lots
Of things. Why. my table is full OF pres
e7ts.'
.Yon have been quite Fortunate said
LiZzy, in que, voice; 'nuch more SO
than Jane and l, if TO receive great ma
nv Cbristmas presents is to be consider
cd tortunate.
but don't you think Edward might
have sent you some token OF good will
and affection in this holiday season, when
every one is giving or receiving presents!
asked Margaret.
in Maggy, us an expression Of his feelings
to me- replied Lizzy. lie knew that |
understood their true quality, and felt
less formaliiy.'
You cant say the same in regard TO
Jane. lie might have passed her the u
.susal compliment Of the season.
Certainly he might said Jane. Liz
zynccdn't try to excuse him after this
lame fashion. Of course there is no
cause for the omission but meanness-
that's my opinion and speak out bold
ly.'
1T isn't right 10 say that sister, re-
marked Lizzy. Edward has other rea-
sons. I am well assured. As to the
charge Of meanness. don't think the
charge you allcgc a sufficient ground for
making il.
We'll, do them said cousin Margaret.
.Why, ifI were young man and en-
gagged in marriage to lady. I'D sell my
shoes but what I'd give her something as
q Christmas present
Yes. or borrow or beg the money
chimed in Jane.
Every one must do as he or she thinks
best replied LiZzy. AS for me, am
content 10 receive no holiday gin, being
veil satisfied that mcsnness or the part OF
Edward had nothing to do with it,
But Notwithstanding IVY said this. she
could not help feeling little disappoint-
cd--morc perhaps. on account OF the ap-
pcarance of the thing than from n suspi-
cion that mcanness. as alleged by Jane.
had anything 10 do with the omission.
Il wish Edward had made Lizzy some
kind of a present. said Mrs. Green to her
husband a day or two after the holidays
had passed; il it had only been for the
looks ofihe thing. Jane has been teasing
her about il ever since. and calls it moth
ing but meanncss in Edward. I'm afraid
lie is little too close
Better that he should be so than too
frcc,' replied Mr.. Green; though | MUST
confess that dollar or two. or even ten
dollars, spent at Christmas in present
Tor his intended bride, could hardly have
been set down 10 the score Of prodigaliiy.
II does look mean. certainly
lie is doing very WELL
'lIc gets a salary of eight hundred dol
lars. and suppose it doesn't cost him
over four or five hundred TO live-at least
il ought not to do So
'lle has bought himself snug little
house. am told
If he's done that. he's done very we'll.
said Mr.. Green. and ! can forgive him
for not spending his money for Christmas
presents. that are never of much use. say
the hes, you will Of them. Id rather Ed
ward would have a comfortable house to
put his wife in than see him loading her
down. before marriage. with presents OF
one foolish thing or anothcr.'
True Blu, il wouldn't have hurt him
to have given something. if it had only
been q book. purse. or some such trifie.
For such tritlcs he would have been as
strongly charged with meanness as he is
now. Better let il 60 as i, is. No doubt
t,c has good reasons for his conduct
Thus MIR. Green and Lizzy defended
Edward. while the mother and Jane scol-
died about his mcanncss to their hearts
content.
Edward Mayfield. the lover Of Lizzy
Green, was a young man Of good princi-
pies, prudent habits, and really generous
feelings; bat his generosity did not CON
sist in wasting his earnings in order thai
he might be tho't liberal and open heart.
cd, but in doing acts Of real kindness
where he saw that kindness was needed
He saved from his salary in the course oil
four or five years, enough to buy himself
very snug house. and had few hun.
dred dollars in the Savings Bank with
which to furnish it when the time came
for him to get married. This time wa.
not very far of when the Christmas, &c
which allusion has been made. came
round. Al this holiday season, Edward
had intended to make both Lizzy and he
sister handsome present,-and he hat
been thinking FOR Some weeks as 10 wha
II should be. Many articles, both usefu
and merely ornamental were thought of
but none Of them exactly pleased hi.
fancy.
III A day or two before Christmas, he sa
thinking shout the matter, when some.
thing or other gave new turn 10 his re-.
hections.