Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1868-02-07
TIE NEW YEARS GIFT.

beioTe lhe uor3ry ncc, ptm06t ND
den in tho great armchair, Arthur
IIce sat thinking on tho last day of
tho old year, wondering what Now
Years gift ho should purchase for
his father. ell buy a now ,nkstand.
That will be just the present for faith
err" and sprinsiny from his scat, Ar
!hnr put on his cap and overcoat, and
aftor emp,ying his purse upon the
table, so as to be certain that his half
cr'wn had not slipped away from his
purse, he left tho honsc, feeling almost
rich enough to buy ls father any
present hc right desire, and smiling as
he rccnll, cted tho time-not very long
ago eilhcr-whon u six ponce seemed
such an immonse sum TO spend at
nc
1t hal begun to grow dark, and AR
thur hastenod on till u brightly light
cd shop was reached, where he folt
certain tho best inkstands could bo
obtained, and in q few minutes be
stood before 4 case containing tho de-
sired article i" great variety. "This
ono is five shill,ngs, and that three"
said tho shopman. Ar,hur's half
crown, which had appeared such n
large sum, soemod suddenly to have
grown very small, and ho asked ii
they had any lower priced ones; but
whom somo wcro shown him just like
those the boys use at school, he left
the place feeling greatly disappoin-
ted.
Tea was upon the table upon his
return. and he had no opportunity OF
consulting with his sister Us to what
had best be done for several hours
When his father left tho room, the
door had scarcely been closed before
Arthur commenced his story. Bcs-
sic sympathlzed most kindly in hor
brothers disappointment. After
thinking short time, she asked, "Dt
you remember, Arthur, what father
broke few nights ago?"
Arthur thought for moment, anc
then exclaimed, sYou mean the pa
per cutter, and l can buy him nov
one l will run out and buy one nov
before the shops close. 1t will talk
but Il few minutes, sister" Arthur
returned with a paper. cutter, which
did sui, their father exactly, although
it was neither elegantly carved, no
mounted with decr's hoof, like som
Arthur had seen in tho shop. Aftc
having rolled it mp carefully, an
then unrolled it again several time
,, to try how it would cut, and SEQ ho'
it looked, the paper cutter was at Ia:
hidden, so that their f.ther shoul
= not sec it till the next day.
"Tcll me Arthur, why are you g
anxious to give father New Year
gift" said Bessie.
! "What question, sister! 1 a
t sure it would be strange if I shou
= not wish to do 80, after all his kin
ness to mo. want to show love
g somo way, and has he not done mo
d for mo during The Year than a,
n ono eiseY "
"Not more than any one else,
" though father has been very kind
, us during the year, thero 10 ono "
y" deserves more Ct our love than ev
he One has kept rs in health throns
out the year, " hen 80 many have be
laid IN the grave. One who has
ut slowed upon us the choicest Or bies
Iy ings; and to crown. all other gifts,
rd offored US at last q glorious homo
ut heoven. Can my brother, VII
by. thinking of all this, sleep peaceful
ok on the last night of the old year W
n no gift for his Heavenly Father 7"
nc There was silence for nome
90 and then Arthur said, aYes I kn
Gu God has done, more for me, than q
%s ns one else; :bpt what is thero, sis
10 :. that I can give God, when every tn
no - In the world belongs to him pr
Bessie did pot speak, but taking
Bible from the table, found d We
,elf and Arthur bonding over, read, I"
Of son, give me: :thine heart" .-.-.
ps- It wasnot the first time Art
We had seen these words; but never
for they impresse1 him as .when,on
of last night .of the old yee.,. he thou
rge of his happy home,. loving friends,
en- many joys Of the year that had p
do, ed, aud then Of the little hs had d
g M tor God, who had done g much
ll.y:1 him. T.. -. a. - !,
'fpl E2";Atone that night. Artbur = waitee
Watch ths old year pass awdy ,sans
1he. bsEls rang ii shs glad New J
,o,n Z kpeeliog. .hle pfssreds 2 sipfal, q
,.r. hears. toa hiaa Esaveuiy Father,
ss;s1 M saays as inc ohisaTike, faith sanas;
~, ssssA k6oxfng that ~ would be ras1ss
lha savioar's blood ska "a