The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1875-04-24
s VOLUME x.

" ~ ~
for a bo6kf I never spent SO mucl
money in my life before. do hope
when We go out on Christmas eve b
buy it, that We shan't meet any pick
pockets" nj
"You mustn't trust in your pocket
Arthur you must carry it tight in you
hand" said little Susie, with q wist
nod Of her curly head.
"There's . knowing SUSIE" cried Ar
thur. "Now that's just what I'll do, il
you'll walk without holding my hand.
Seven-and-sixpence for . present fol
could get such . sum for such q pur.
pose, and the answer il, that il was the
ffuit Of self denial and affection.
Fathers first teetotal birthday" that
was coming, had been talked of many
times during the pest year, and the
children has resolved that he should
have some little present in remembrance.
So they saved by every halfpenny they
could get, Arthur frequently earning q
few pence by running errands for per-
Isons IN the fneighborhood. And when
Polly fell I'D, and kind friends dropped
in to zee her, she had pence often given
her nth advice to buy eggs, or oranges,
or cakes with them, or tempt her poor
appetite. But not a penny would she
spend on herself. She remembered the
want and misery of the time before her
fathsr had signed the pledge; and she
thought he had been such q dear, good
father ever SINCE last Christmas that
she could not possibly do too much
for him. Besidee, the present they had
aot kh0s 40
expensive for them, that it was urgent
they should save every penny that came
sAt~aat iIsy we're very undecided
about what toget. They frequently sat
down in solemn conclive over the ques-
ton, but could not Como to decision.
Arthur voted that they should get at
least five shillings for the present, and
that was too large q sum to be lightly
spent. Should it be something to
wear, to eat or to use? They decided
that it must not be anything either to
wear or to eat, because they would like
it to be kept for years in remembrance
Of the important occasion. cit should
be something to remind father on every
Christmas to come, what happy day
his first teetotal birthday was" said
Nrs. Comet.
"Oh, mother /" he exclaimed, "I've
seen something that would be exactly
the thing for fathers present. You
know Robinson's old book shop? Well,
I was looking in, and I saw such
grand Bible it isn't new, but it looks
q good a. if it had never been used,
and it has such lovely pictures. 1t is
q family Bible, beauty and went in
to look ct it, and ask the price. Guess
what it was"
eff it was mors than five shillings
it isn't much good to know the price"
sid Mrs.. Cesnstt
Well, it was nine, mother, and
when I heard that could have cried,
fell 20 sorry. I said to Mr.. Robinson
that We would not be able to have it.
q it was too much and he asked me a
lot of questions about who it was for
and all that, and 1t Last he said we
should have it for seven and six pence,
and he would keep it for us until I
brought him q decided answer. Now
you see there is half a-crown of mine,
eighteen pence of Polly's, six pence OF
Willie's, and six pence Of Susie's-fve
shillings. How could we manage to
get the other hAlf-crowni Do you
think you could afford to help
Mrs. Cosnett Thought of Q small sum
of money which she had put by, six
pence at q time, to buy herself q pair
of boots, which she had needed very
much.
"Just think" Arthur went on plead
ing, show nice this book would be;
something to be always using, and yet
something to Last all our lives"
"And something to be real blessing
to us ALL" the mother added. And
while she spoke she resolved to wait for
her boots, and add half-a crow of her
money to the children's precious store.
eyes, you ehall have half-a crown
from me" she said. "There could be
nothing better for fathers teetotal
birthday than that.
So Arthur called next day to tell the
old book. seller that they would come
and buy the book on Christmas eve.
And when the day came Polly prevailed
upon her mother to let her 60 on the
happy errand with the others she was
sure she was we'll enough and she didn't
care how much her mother mu0ed her
mp 30 she might 90 and carry her eight
OF they went and as they neared
the place in the dim light of the fading
afternoon their father overheard the
words, Won't father be glad :" from |
Willie Who'll have to give it him ?"
from Susie; 1--WE shall see when the
time comes," from Arthur and Mind |
you don't lose your sixpenoes, Susie |
and Willie or We shan't be able to buy
it." from Polly.
When the father had heard so much,
. sense of homer forbade him to pry
farther into their glad secret. He
guesses that they were intending and
hoping to give him o surprise, and q
eurprise he resolved it should be. He
would not even look to see whittier they
were going, but turned directly back
towards home.
What . change the sight of them, and
the sound of their words, had wrong ht
in his feelingsi A great weight
seemed to be lifted of his heart. He
thought no moro of Tom Hanvers' pro-
pssal: which Just now appeared quite
arc Thinking Of me-" he said, with
fatherly fondness "and 1 was think
ing Of turning my back upon them to-
night and playing the traitor to home.
May God forgive me, and make me
strong to do the right evermore.
When John reached home, he did not
say anything ct finding his wife alone,
though she supposed he would when he
missed Polly, who had not been ont for
long time. Among othergo things
which John had learned since he became
. total sbstainer, was to have . great re-
gard for truth. Teetotalism does not add
much dignity to . character when the
more excellent virtues OF truthfulness
and perfect honesty are wanting. So
when Mrs. Cosnett said, "You don't
seem surprised 1t not seeing Polly" he
replied, " No, because saw her out
with the other children but they did
not see me. Do you think it is safe for
her to be out p
ct don't think she viii be hurt, John.
They are not gone far. and the air is
clear, though cold. 1 wrapped her mp
right we'll and they promised to walk
fast"
"Yes, they were walking fast" said