The Newtown bee., 1879-12-24
CHRISTMAS PRESENTS.
A STORY for the HOLIDAYS.

STORY for the HOLIDAYS.
'sDidn't he make you present OF
anything, Maudes" asked Margaret Gran
ger of her cousin Maude Green.
"No, not even strawberry cushion"
spoke up Maude's sister Jane, ssthat he
might have bought for o sixpence. l
think he's right down mean, selfish
fellow, SO / do; and if he doesn't keep
Maude on bread and water when he gets
her, my names not Jane Green"
81 wouldn't have him, said Margaret,
testing, yet half in earnest. "Let
Christmas go by and not make his
sweetheart or sister q present of the
| most trihing valued He must have
penny soul. Why, Harry Lee sent me
the .Leafet of Memory and pair of
the sweetest flower vases you ever saw,
| and he only comes to see me as friend.
| And Cousin William made me pres
emit OF splendid copy of Mrs. Halls
Sketches Besides, received lots OF
things. Why, my table is full of pres
ents."
"You have been quite fortunate"
said Maude, in a quiet voice; "much
more so than Jane and ], if to receive
| a great many Christmas presents is to
/ be considered fortunate"
ssBut don't you think Edward might
have sent you some token of good will
and affection in this holiday season,
when every one is giving or receiving
/ presentsa" asked Margaret.
"Nothing of the kind was needed,
Cousin Maggie, as an expression of his
feelings toward me-" replied Maude.
He knew that understood their true
quality, and felt that any present would
have been useless formality.
stYou can't say the same in regard to
Jane. He might have passed her the
usual compliment of the season."
i Certainly he might" said Jane.
ssMaude needn't try to excuse him after
this lame fashion. OF course, there is
no excuse for the omission but mean
ness-that's my opinion, and l speak ii
out boldly"
SIT isn't right to say that, sister," re-
marked Maude. edward has Other
reasons for emitting the prevalent GUS
tom at this season-and good reasons,
am well assured. As to the charge Of
meanness, I don't think the fact yor
allege sufficient ground for making it. ;
ssWell, do then" said Cousin Mar
garet. sWhy, if I were young mar
! and engaged in marriage to lady, liz
sell my shoes but what I'd give he
) something as Christmas present"
, "Yes-or borrow or beg the money,
, chimed in Jane.
ssEvery one must do as he or sh
, thinks best" replied Maude. Gas TO
] me, I am content to receive no hohda,
gift. being we'll satisfied that meannes
, on the part of Edward has nothing :
do with it.
But notwithstanding Mande said this
| she could not help feeling little dis
appointcd-more, perhaps, on accoun
OF the appearance of the thing tina
from any suspicion that meanness, d
) alleged by Jane, had anything to d
Y with the omission.
"I wish Edward had made Maud
r some kind of present." said Mrs
' Green to her husband day or two afte
! the holiday had passed; eff it had onl
q been for the looks of the thing. Jan
has been teasing her about it ever since
and calls it nothing but meanness /
Edward. And I'm afraid he is littl
! close"
"Better that he should be so than to
= Free" replied Mr.. Green; "though
. must confess that dollar or two, {
even ten dollars, spent at Christmas j
present for his intended bride, coui
. hardly have been set do wn to the sco1
> of prodigality. It does look mean, cel
: tainly."
, .He is doing very we'll"
> ssHe gets salary of eight hundre
;. dollars. and I suppose it doesn't Col
70 him over four hundred dollars to live
g at least it ought not TO do so"
u "He has bought himself snug Ii
, tie house, I am told.
eff he has done that, he has done vel
% we'll" said Mr.. Green; "and can TO
Is give him for not spending his money
e Christmas presents, that are never
q much use, say the best you will OF then
70 I'd rather Edward would have comfor
u able house to put his wife in than 81
2. him loading her down. before marriag
p with presents of one foolish thing
3. another"
81 "True. But it wouldn't have hu
Re him to have given the girl something
81 it had only been book, a purse,
. some such tride.
ss aFor which trifles he would have be-
q as strongly charged with meanness as
u is now. Better let it go as it is. D
~ doubt he has good reasons for his 90
- Duct"
ID Thus Mr.. Green and Maude defend
~ Edward, while the mother and ia
scoled about his meanness to their hear
~ content. At this holiday season, Z
~ ward had intended to make both Mau
ge and her sister handsome present, a
:. he had been thinking for some weeks
~ ~ to what it should be.
W a day or two before Christmas,
~ sat thinking about the matter, VIII
' u: something or other gave new turn
slr his reflections.
,w ssThey don't really need anything
no he said to himself, ssand yet ] propt
ne to my self to spend twenty dollars in p
III sents merely for appearance sake.
III this right?"
on aRight if you choose to do it," he
" piled to himself.
=. ST am not sure of that, The added,
TO- ter pause. And then he sat in quit
musing mood for some minutes.
ny ssThat's BETTER" he at length So
rising up and walking about the fio
"That would be money and good II
~ inQs spent to better purpose"
.o ssBut they'll expect something, "
III argued with himself sstbe family !
,ut think SO strange Of it. Perhaps
~ better spend half the amount in
sIe CANT books for Maude and Jane, and
VI the other go in the way propose.
.o- This suggestion, however, did
~ satisfy him.
s.Better let it all go in the other
NV rection, he said, after thinking q vi
tor Longer: sit will do real good.
/ IN = x,~1...,& oovx 1ws-1e,,.