Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1849-01-25

Lizzy, in quiet voice; much more So
than Jane and l, if to receive great many
Christmas presents is to be considered for
tunate.
But don't you think Edward might have
sent you some token of goodwill and al
lection in the holiday season, when every
one is giving or receiving presents?' ask
ed Margaret.
Nothing Of the kind was needed, Cous-
IN Maggy, as an expression Of his feelings
towards Inc, replied Lizzy. He knew
that | understood their true quality, and
felt that any present would have been a
useless farmality.'
you can't say the same in regard to
Jane. He might have passed her the usu-
al compliment Of the season.
Certainly he might said Jane. Lizzy
needn't try TO excuse him after this lame
fashion. Of course, there is no cause for
the omission but meanness that's my O.
pinion, and | speak it out boldly
1T isn't right TO say that, sister, remark
ed Lizzy. Edward has other reasons for
emitting the prevalent custom at this sea-
son--and good reasons, am well assur-
ed. As to the charge of lneanness don't
think the fact you allege a sufficient ground
for making it,
well, | do, then,' said Cousin Margar-
ct. why, If were young man and ems
gagged to be married to lady, I'd sell nv
shoes but what I'd give her something as
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, l am
content to receive no holiday gift, being
we'll satisfied that meanness on the part Of
Edward has nothing TO do with it,
But Notwithstanding Lizzy said this
she could not help feeling little disap.
pointed; more perhaps on account of The
appearance Of the thing, than from an,
suspicion that meanness, as alleged BY
Jane, had any thing to do with the omis.
sion.
Il wish Edward had made Lizzy some
kind of present. said Mrs Green to he1
husband day or two after the Holida,
had passed; If it had been only for tn,
looks of the thing. Jane has been teaz
ing her about it ever since, and calls j
nothing but meanness in Edward. Ant
| am afraid he is little close
Better that he should be so than to,
Free replied Mr. Green; though l mus
confess that dollar or two, or even te,
dollars, spent at Christmas, in presen
for his intended bride, could hardly hav,
been set down to the score of prodigality
1t does look mean, certainly
He is doing very WE'LL
'He gets salary Of eight hundred dol
lars, and lsuppose it doesn't cost him owe,
four or five hundred dollars TO live--a,
least it ought not to do so.'
! 'He has bought himself snug little
house, am told.'
IF he's done that, he's done very we'll,
said Mr. Green; 'and l can forgive hin,
for not spending his money in Christmas
presents that are never Of much use, to
say the best you will of them. I'd rather
Edward would have comfortable house
to put his wife in than see him loading her
down, before marriage, with presents of
one foolish thing or another. ....
True. But it wouldn't have hurt him
to have given the girl something if it had
only been book, a purse, or some such
triAe.'
For which trifle he would have been
as strongly charged with mcanness as he
is now. Better let il go as ii is. No doubt
he has good reasons for his conduct
Thus Mr. Green and Lizzy defended
Edward, while the mother and Jane scold-
ed about his meanness to their hearts con-
tent.
Edward Mayfeld, the lover of Lizzy
Green, was young man of good princi-
piles, prudent habits and really generous
feelings, but his generosity did not consist
in wasting his earnings in order that he
might be thought liberal and open-hearted,
but in doing real acts of kindness where
he saw that kindness was needed. He
had saved from his salary, in the course
of four or five years, enough to buy him
self very snug house, and had few
hundred dollars in the Savings Bank, with
which to furnish it when the time came
for him to get married. This time was not
very far off when the Christmas, to which
allusion has been made, came round. AT
this holiday season, Edward had intended
to make both Lizzy and her sister holi-
day present, and he had been thinking for
some weeks as to what it should be. Ma
ny articles, both useful and merely orna-
mental, were thought Of, but none ofthem
exactly pleased his fancy.
n day or two before Christmas, he sat
thinking about the matter, when something
or other gave new turn to his reflections.
They don't really need anything he
said TO himself, 'and yet | propose TO my
self TO spend twenty dollars in presents
merely for appearances sake. Is this
righ?'
Right if you choose to 60 it, he replied
to himself.
Il am not so sure Of that he ADDED, az
ter pause. And then he sat in quite
musing mool for some minutes.
That's BETTER lie at length said, rising
up and walking about the floor. That
would be money and good feelings spen,
TO better purpose
But THEY'LL exDecf something he srou