The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1878-12-28

fruitful as they ought to have been,
perhaps, but this was doing very well,
and he trudged joyfully to town with
his game hanging on stick over his
shoulder. The meat man did indeed
give two cents apiece for quails, and he
invited Jack to bring as many more as
he could get.
The next Saturday was only two days
before Christmas, and how beautiful
were all the stores on the village street!
Even the groceries had Christmas toys
and Christmas trees. A good many
boys and girls stood around the store
windows pointing out the things they
most admired, and wondered what Santa
Claus would bring them. Jack had
fifteen quails, which brought him thirty
cents; so he was now the owner of half
dollar, which was more money than
he had ever possessed in all his life be-
fore. But when two dolls were bought
and they wern't very fine dolls either,
there were only twenty cents left. Jack
did mean to buy something for his
mother too, but he had to give that up,
and after looking over the bright colored
toy books in the showcase, he selected
two little primers, one with pink cover
and one with a blue one, and with big
ache in his throat, parted with his last
ten cents for candy. How very, very
little he was buying after all, and not
one thing for his dear mother who had
sat up till two o'clock the night before,
mending his ragged clothes for him.
Jacks heart was very heavy as he
walked out of the gay store with such a
little package, but it sank still lower
when his fathers tall form doomed up
suddenly before him right in front of
the door.
What are you doing here?" he
asked sternly.
Been buying few things" said
Jack.
g Let me see en-" said his father.
Jack tremblingly opened his package.
Where did you get the money!
With quails," said Jack meekly,
His father fumbled over the things
with his big, mittened hsnd, and said
quite gently: For the girls, | s'pose"
eyes, sir" answered Jack, beginning
to feel relieved.
Well, run along home"
"Jack was only too happy to do so.
There wasn't much sympathy between
him and his father, nor indeed, between
his father and any one Of the family
that is, there didn't seem to be; but /
guess the stream was frozen over, and
only needed few CLEANS of sunshine to
make it bubble on, laughing and gurg-
ling az in the best of hearts.
Jack related his adventures to his
mother in whispers, and hid the Christ
mas articles in the wash-boiler until
such time as they should be wanted
for certain small stockings. He told
bis mother how sorry he was not to have
present for her, and that little speech
went 4 long way toward making her
happy. That night she sat up-I
wouldn't dare tell you how late-mak-
ing cookies-something that hadn't
been in the house before that winter.
She cut them out in all manner OF shapes
that feminine ingenuity and a case-knife
could compass, not forgetting a bird for
Janey, with a remarkable plump bill,
and little girl tor Mary, with the toes
turned out. She also made some balls
of brown sugar (the Boyds never thought
of such a luxury az white sugar., TO
make believe candy, for she didn' t
know Jack had bought any candy.
Now | am going to tell what Mr.. Boyd
did after he met Jack by the toy-store
He had gone to the village to have a
good time" That didn't mean, as it
does with some men, to get tipsy; but it
meant he was going TO Munger sgrocery,
where he could meet people, and talk
and joke, and keep warm.
Mr.. Boyd had been chopping wood
for farmer, and had received his pay
but instead of going dutifully home and
consulting with his wife about what he
should buy, he was going TO look
around" and see what Munger had.
He was touched at the sight of Jack 5
poor little package of gifts; but doubt
if it would have made much impression
on his mind if somebody hadn't walked
into Munger's and asked, in brisk,
loud voice: "Got any Brazil nuts,
Munger?"
The man with brisk voice bought, |
don't know how many quarts of Brazil
nuts, and walnuts, and tilberts, and al
monds, with all the loungers looking on,
very much interested in the spectacle.
Then he bought raisins, and candy, and
oranges, Mr., Munger growing more
smiling every minute.
"Going to keep Christmas, l guess"
said he rubbing his hands together.
THAT L am; Christmas comes but
once year. and there are little folks
up at our house who've been looking
for it with all their eyes for a fortnight"
Then he bought bushel of apples,
and, filling peck measure with them,
passed them around among the men
who sat and stood about the stove.
Take 'em home to your little folks if
you don't want EN-" he said, when any
one hesitated.
There were three or four apples apiece,
and Mr.. Boyd put all his in his pockets,
with a slight feeling of Christmas
warmth beginning to thaw his heart.
After this CHEEKY purchaser had gone
some one asked: Who is that chapw
" He's the new superintendent of the
Orphan Asylum" answered Mr.. Munger
rubbing his hands again; and a mighty
nice man he il, too, Pays for all them
things out of his own pocket. Very
fond of children. Always likes to see
'em happy"
There were two or three men around
that stove who hung their heads, and
Mr. Boyd was one of them. He hung
his the lowest, perhaps because he had
the longest neck. l don't know what
the other men did-something good and
pleasant, | hope-but Mr.. Boyd thought.
First he thought how the orphans
were going to have brighter and mer-
rier Christmas than his own children,
who had both father and mother. Then