The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1878-01-03
40 -lTTE '-77T---- y
invited Jack to bring as many more q

NuolAbS NiASh 0AoaS1A AAAAN~
SO he was now the owner of half dol
lar, which was more money than he bad
ever possessed in all his life before.
But when two dolls were bought. and
they weren'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,
aud after looking over the bright-color7
ed toy-books in the showcase he Sc
lected two little primers; one with a
pink cover and one with blue one,
and with big ache in his throat. part
ed with his last ten cents for candy.
How very, very little she was buyirg
after all, and not one thing for hia dear
mother who had sat up till two o'clock
the night before, mending his ragged
clothes for him. ai ''.@f
Jacks heart was very heavy as he
walked out of the gay store with such
a little package, bnt it sank still lower
when his fathers tall orm loomed up
suddenly before him right IN front of
the door.
"What your doing here?' lie asked,
sternly. .ar
"Been bnyin' a few things" said
Jack. .. ,.,-. ....
"Let me see 'em," said his father.
Jack tremblingly OPT ned his pack
age. .-
"Where'd you get the money!"
with quails, said Jack, meekly.
His father fumbled over the things
with his big mittened hand, and said
qaite gently: "For the girls, Is'pose. "
"Yes, Sir" answered Jack, beginning
to feel relieved . F .+",tf
"Well, run along home"
Jack was only too happy to do so.
There wasn't much sympathy between
him and his father, nor, indeed. be-
tween his father and any of the family
that is, there didn't seem to be; but
I guess the stream was frozen over, and
only needed few CLEANS of sunshine
to make it bubble on, laughing and
gurgling as 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 his
mother how sorry he was not to have a
present for her, and that little speech
went 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 honse before that winter.
She cut them out III all manner OF
shapes that feminine ingenuity and a
case knife could compass.
Mr.. Boyd hadsbeen chopping wood
for farmer, and had received his pay;
but instead of going dutifully home
aud consulting with his wife about what
lie should buy, he was sgoing to "look
around and see what Munger had. He
was touched at the sight of Jacks poor
little Fpackage of gifts, but l doubt
if it would have made much impression
on his mind if somebody hadn't walked
in to Munger,s and asked III brisk,
loul voice: Got any Brazil nuts,
Munger?"
The man with the brisk voice bought
don't know how many quarts of Bra
zil nuts, and walnuts, and filberts, and
almonds, with all the lonngers looking
on, very much interested III the specta>
Gle. Then he bought raisins, and
candy, and oranges, Mr.. Munger grow
ing more smiling every minute.
"Going to keep Christmas, I guess,
said he, rubbing his hands together.
THAT | Jam; christmas comes but
once n year, and there are little folks
up at our house who've been looking
for it with all their eyes for fort
night"
Then he bought bushel of apples,
and, filing peck measure with them,
passed them around among the men
who sat or stood about the stove.
"Take 'em home to your little folks
If you don't want EN- he said, wher
any one hesitated.
There were three or fHur apples
apiece, and MIR. Boyd put all III his
pockets, with slight feeling oe Christ
mas warmth beginning to thaw his
heart.
T! There were two or three men around
that stove who hung their heads, ant
Mr.. Boyd was one Of them. He though
about sweet, patients little Janey, aie
quiet Mary, and generous Jack, wh'
had taken so much pains to give plea
sure to his sisters, ana great rush o
shame filed his heart. Now, when MIR
Boyd was once thoroughly aroused, 1t
was alive through the whole of his Ions
frame. He thuumped his knee will
his fist, then arose and walked to th'
counter, where he dealt out rapid or
ders to the astonished grocer for nuts
candies ard oranges; not in such larg'
quantities, to be sure, as the "or
plants" friend had done, but generous
enough for three children. .a And h'
bought calico dress for his wife,
cap for Jack. These purchases, to-
gether with some needful groceries
took all Mr.. Boyd's money, except
few pennies, but Christmas don't
care feeling pervaded his being, and h
borrowed bag, into which he stowe'
his goods, and set ont for home.
When he reached home. he stood tn
bag up in one corner as if it held tur
nips, aud said, "Don't NEEDLE viii
that, childlen." Then he went out ant
| snent the rest of the short dav in chop