Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-07-20


Christmas dinner this year, / felt
more free and happy in my mind than
L had done Cor long time. Now,
that | owed nothing to Mr.. Holdhard.
L felt better toward him than ever |
had before. When / had given him
the last two shillings he said. 1.-The
money is now paid. Goodnight,
Smith. Goodnight, sir;'' and
away [ went, feeling really-and 1
don't mind confessing livery down
hearted If he had only shown the
slightest sympathy for me / should
have felt SO different toward him,
toward myself, toward all the world.
Well, another week went on. and it
wanted but two days to Christmas
there had been sickness in the family,
and we were much depressed and low
spirited. had been i'll of late, MAX
ing short time, which, You know,
means short wages, short food, short
everything The fact is the work was
too hard for me; the missus knew this.
and did all she could to cheer me I'D.
She would say: Times will mend,"
and then | would say. g Oh yes, per
haps [ shall find another five-pound
note" and then the tears would come
into her eyes, and she would say it
was all her fault for not letting me di-
vide the tiye-pounds with my mate
Well, we were sitting this evening as
usual, both OF us too tired and too low
spirited to talk much when there came
a tremendous knock at the door which
woke up all the children. Before it
could be well opened, a man with
heavy basket ON his shoulders blum
dered in, then he threw it down with
a great noise, sat on it, looked hard at
me, and said:
Its not for me-" | said, angrily.
"It'S not for me-take it away It's
for some other John Smith; there's
plenty of 'em. | don't want to 90 on
paying two shillings a week all my life
take it awayr'
What the matter, John smith,
said a calm, deep voice, and in stepped
Mr.. Holdhard, raising his hat very po-
litely tony missus. ''May come IMP
Certainly, SIR" said my wife, who
didn't know who he was.
"Isn't the money all right, sir?" [
said. Don't say it isn't all right, sir
ooh yes, that's all right I've got
it in my pocket and he spoke that
pleasant [ couldn't have believed it
possible.
Now, john" he said, placing his
hat on the table, and drawing off his
gloves, tshake hands,"
We shook hands.
JOHN said he, ''you' re an honest,
manly fellow, and | respect you
THANK you, sir
"Mrs. Smith, said he, "that
hamper contains few Christmas pres
ents. I hope you'll like them, and en-
joy Them
"Thank y0u kindly, sir.
I've brought you all Johns shillings-
there thev are, the very same ones he
paid to me; you'll like them all the
better for that, I'll be bound; you
women are such silly creatures, shak-
ing his head and smiling all the while
| was drlmbfounded. I could only
stare in stupid and bewildered man
ner. Was this the man of whom had
had such hard thoughts?
John he said, ''you think ME
very hard man.
Yes, sir
He smiled. "Quite right; so am,
in business was business mat
ter. Now, John, I've noticed that
your health has been failing lately. /
have seen your employer. He speaks
well of you; besides, I have Judged you
for myself. Call at my office in the
city some morning next week. Good
night. A merry Christmas.
He was gone. 1t seems like dream.
We could scarcely believe that we had
not been dreaming. However, there
was the package, and the silver, to the
amount of five pounds. The children
had heard the unusual connection, and
there they were in their night-gowns-
bless their little housekeeping to I'M
do the package. While this was being
done their delight, and, indeed, ours,
knew no bounds. There were warm
shaWls, winter blankets, stuffs for
gowns, toys of all sorts, and some
books with beautiful pictures.
I on may be sure we had good dim
ner on Christmas day. This time my
mate was not invited. l did not like
to hurt his feelings by parading my
good fortune, and, besides, his failing
for drink was getting worse every day.
So we had a very happy, quiet time,
and our hearts went up in gratitude
and thankfulness for the good that we
enjoyed