The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1878-12-19

You know l caught one quail to-
dayf" whispered Jack.
{" Well" said his mother.
&c Well, Pm going to save 'em all the
week, and Saturday take 'em to the meat
man in the village. I guess he'll buy
'em. l heard that quails were fetching
two cents apiece. And Pm going to get
enough money TO buy the girls some
thing nice, and you must make 'em
hang up their stockings, mother, and
then We'll put the things in after they
get asleep"
His mother smiled quite cheerfully.
WE'LL" said she, do the best you
can"
Their father was away that evening.
He was generally away evenings, be-
cause most of the neighbors had cozier
firesides than his, besides apples, and
and sometimes cider; and so he passed
many a pleasant hour in gossip and
farm-talk, while his own little family
shivered gloomily at home.
By Saturday morning Jack had ten
quails. The four traps had lot been as
fruitful as they ought to have been, per-
haps, but this was doing very well, and
he trudged joyfully to town with his
game hanging on stick over his shoul.
der. The meat man did, indeed, give
two cents apiece for quails, and he in
vited 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 win
dows pointing out the things they most
admired, and wondering what Santa
Claus would bring them. Jack had fif.
teen quails, which brought him thirty
cents; SO he was now the owner of half
a dollar, which was more money than
he had ever possessed in all his life be.
fore. 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;
but after looking over the bright-col-
ored toy-books in the show. case, he Sc
lected two little primers-one with a
pink color, and one with a blue one
and, with a 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 the 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 loomed up
suddenly before him, right in front oi
the door.
"What are you doing here?" he
asked, sternly.
"Been buying a few things" said
Jack.
LET me see 'em," said his father.
Jack tremblingly opened the package.
Where'd you get the money%
"With quails," said Jack, meekly.
His father fumbled over the things
with his big, mittened hand, and said
quite gently:
.l.tt For the girls, L pose I" es
" Yes, SIR" answered Jack, beginning
to feel relieved.
Well, run 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 ]
guess the stream was frozen over, and
only needed a few CLEANS of sunshine tt
make it bubble on, laughing and CUR
Cling as in the best of hearts.
Jack related his adventure to hi
mother, in whispers, and hid the Christ
mas articles in the washing boiler unit
such time as they should be wanted fol
certain small stockings. He told hi
mother how sorry he was not to have ,
present for her, and that little speech
went long way toward making hel
happy. That night she sat up
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 O
shapes that feminine ingenuity and /,
case-knife could compass, not forgetting
bird for Janey, with remarkably
plump bill, and little girl for Mar!
with the toes turned out. She also made
some balls of brown sugar (the Boyd
never thought of such a luxury a
white sugar), to make believe candy, fo
she didn't know that Jack had bough
any candy.
Now l am going to tell what Nj
Boyd did after he met Jack at the to,
store. He had gone to the village t,
have good time" That didn't mean
as il does with some men, to get tipsy
but it meant he was going to Munger
grocery, where he could meet people
and talk and joke, and keep warm.
Mr.. Boyd had been chopping woot
for farmer, and had received his pay
but instead of going dutifully hom
and consulting with his wife about wha
he should buy, he was going to "lool
around" and see what Munger had
He was touched at the sight of Jack
poor little package of gifts, but doub
if it would have made much impression
on his mind if somebody hadn'
walked in to Munger's, and asked, in
brisk, loud voice, "Got any Brazil nuts
Munger?"
The man with brisk voice bought,
don't know know how many quarts O.
Brazil nuts, and walnuts, and filberts
and almonds, with all the loungers look
ing on, very much interested in tht
spectacle. Then he bought raisins, anc
candy, and oranges, Mr.. Munger grow
ing more smiling every minute.
"Going to keep Christmas, I guess,
said he, rubbing his hands together.
"That l am; Christmas comes bu
once year, and there are little folk
up at our house who've been looking
for it with all their eyes, for fort
night"
Then he bought bushel of apples
and, filling peck measure with them
passed them around among the mer
who sat and stood about the stove.
"Take 'em home to your little folks i
you don't want 'em," he said when an,
one hesitated.
There were three or four apples apiece
and Mr.. Boyd put all in his pockets