The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1874-01-02
"By THE ADOPTION OF GOD,


Scroggs and Moggs were ncighbors-as
the kennel neighbors the grand house.
Scroggs' life was transacted. in four stories
of stone: Moggs' in two OF wood.
Scroggs' safe Wa built into wall of his
eining-room. ard people whispered about
it, contents under their breath. Mogg>,
wife. and child lived on salary of forty
dollars "A month. and ia holiday times We're
actually all astir with excitement. secrets.
and surprises. and intentions about gifts.
The miserable creatures. whose whole
wears income could not have purchased
Scroggs' watch. We Will say y
ScroggS was in no excitement a he came
down the street. except that he had just
..giyen a piece of hi~ mind 10 a neighb0r
whom he met loaded with holiday bum
dies, and found ii satisfactory.
No. sir" he said. Il do not believe
in holidays. | found myself on Scrooge.
| consider that when Dickens drew that
mar. he had stumbled on a truly strong
and sensible character. and. like many an
other man. did not understand his own
creation. All the talk and sentiment about
charity and the season j. wash; and the
experience of these latter days j. proving
il such. The bread that You put into one
set OF mouths you take out Of another.
The true way i 10 let things alone. Then
those who are lit 10 live viii live. and those
who are not will DO the best possible thing
for them. and de
But. Mr.. Scroggs '-neighbor much
shocked" don't You believe that holidays
mean anything
"Mcan anything" with a sar,lonic
grin. = Certainly: they mean presents to
my wife. children. and servants, that
must give 10 keep the peace. That j. what
they mean for everybody. III there was
anyone whose position entitled me Ia de-
mand il. would remind him Of the exist
encc Of the holidays. and he would under
stand me III once. as another ease of what
you can ret. My dear sir. what i the use
of mincing matters. What you can get
rules the world In one shape or another.
what YOU can get rules the world
"Oh - said the man of bundles; and
then. after an uncomfortable pause.
Good morning." He had spied a turn
ing. and il would take him half mile out
ofhis way; but he made for il with an
evident air of relief
Scroggs looked after him and chuckled.
Il gave him dose he remarked. ap-
provingly. 10 himself: and then chuckled.
approvingly. TO himself; and then the
chuckle ceased rather suddenly. He was
conscious Of such an odd sensation all over
him--a giving out-a faintne~S. He
clutched at "A post-missed n his knees
bent; he fell in a heap just by Moggs's
door.
His next consciousness was Of "A bed on
which he was lying. in a room. rag-car-
peted. and warmed 10y a cooking-~toye-
Moggs's room. But such a jolly fire, And
neat woman was LAYING slices OF ham in
long-handled frying-pan. some women
have am air OF home i'm their very collars
and the set OF their skirts. This was one
of them. and Moggs's wife. 4 man was
mailing some green bOughs over door /:
that was Moggs. a boy held the nails
and watched proceedings. head ON one
side. and nightly Interested: that was
their child. Mrs. Moggs was interested
also. from her post by the stove.
4" II Is like the woods she said. land
seems To make ont that everything j. not
all bought and sold at the corner shop. |
like it,
Moggs put in another nail with the air
Of a man far away in thought, and said, al
most "a il To himself:
Maggie, have you spent that five dol
lars yetg'
His wife laughed.
Il waited for you. Richard. There j.
the dinner to be decided about. Turkey
sounds like holidays, but beef-tastes-
and then"
Well-theny' repeated Moggs. The
look on his face was very grave. quite diff
ferent from the smile that his wife turned
toward him.
"Well. | think pursued Mrs. Moggs.
intent on the ham. and unobSeryant Of her
husband. there j. nothing quite so az
grlvatingas a five-dollar note-sOmetimes.
We are tight-shoe people. and / suppose
We are always TO hobble through life
pinched and smiling: and | ann willing.
when we have so much Happiness thrown
in besides. Only. once in "A while. a. now.
we all want thick shoes and warm under
clothing. And there Is old Miss FELTON,
think OF her sitting all alone. without chick
or child. over bread and ten at this season.
do so want 10 ask her TO dinner. sup
pose il l. natural. too. to want 10 make
Harry prescnt-what child goes with
out. Now how IL one TO do all that on a
fiye-dollar notey fccl sometimes a. il
could tear or pull the miserable bill. and
make il ten times five at the least
Maggie. have you thought" MOggS
icrked his thumb here toward the bed
Thought-about that MANI
Mr.. Moggs was smiling no longer.
"lou heard the doctor. The man has
paralysis. He is incapable even of gc~-
sure. No one knows him. He has no
ptNhtl-Nobh anu lb fsTN-. Il Ut NOftbf
has promised to ascertain something il
possible; but meanwhile We
"Wellg' and there was look far from
pleasant in Mrs. Moggs's eyes as she look
cd up inquiringly.
ale has fallen az our door, pursued
Moggs. I'VE are his brother and sister
now by the adoption OF God. And the
medicines and beef tea and wines that the
doctor orders
1--WE are 10 buy thems | say. MOI in
terrupted Mrs. Moggs. angrily. IF nc
one knows him send him 10 the poor.
house till he j. claimed"
The doctor said that removal would b,
death; you heard him.