Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1880-03-26
a Merry Christmas,

McNll.nD, OF Toledo, tor example. Last week
ho proclaimed to ell his friends that ho felt it
TO be vastly more blcss.d to give than to 70,
ceive. He said that he intended to mako his
wife beautiful Christmas present, and that
tho idea gave him moro pleasure than the re-
ception of gilt of throo dtz,n Scriptural mot.
toes fer tho walls of his parlor could give him.
Ho has now radically changed his opinion. and
uses language in regard to Christmas presents
which is we'll adapted to mako the blood run
cid. The reason for this sudden change Of
opinion is to the last degree illogical aud irrelc'
want, a1d how Mr.. Mcmillan GIN regard him
self as reasonable being it is hard to imagine.
% Tuesday last, after havog worn out all
the jewelers. in Toledo by prolonged exsmips
ton of their stock, MIR. Mcmillan foally
bought beautiful bracelet tor $25, with the
provision that be might return it the next day,
If, on further consideration, ho should decide
that he did not want it. The bracelet was put
up 10 a nice little box, which was wrapped in
white paper, and Mr. McMillsu wrote on the
paper the touching Legend, For my own pre-
cious darling" Putting the box in his over.
coat pocket, he went homo to tea, in smiling
and happy framo of mind, and meeting Mrs.
Mcmillan, kissed her with so much emphasis
that she Immediately suspected that something
was wrong.
While sitting at the tea table, Mr.. Nc MILAN
led the conversation to tho subjec Of Christmas
prsserts, aud Incidentally remarked, with g
twinkle Of the eye that showed that he was
licking, that he rather thought he should not
give his wifo anything Ho said that if he
| really loved woman. he should like to give
| her splendid bracelet. but, of course, he did
tpn for nod 10 -
| thing. Mrs. Mcmillan might perhaps have
taken exception to her husbands remark as a
| specimen of graceful English, but she was so
we'll persuaded that he was joking that she
almost felt the coming bracelet enciroling her
wrist. For tho rest of the meal she WAS ex-
ceedinely affec.iorate, and did not once indulge
| ln her usual criticisms of tho mental and moral
| habits of her husband,
ln the course OF the evening Mrs. Mcmillan
surraptitiously searched MIR. McSliIlan's pockets
| and discovered the bracelet. She was fled With
graltude aud ioy. The affectionate words
written 90 the case al, cscd her almost to tears
! and she mentally resolved that during tho CON
ing year she would abstain from tho uso of
cocrevo measures OF violent ua!uro tx,ept 10
| cX,rrm9 Circumstances aud when her temper
night be uGususlly existed
Ihs next morning Mr.. Mcmillan b.rsI to
think that perhaps bis wifo might o; he par
tlcaarly pleased with bracelet. b sides, $225
really did amount to large SUN. Might it cot
| b. better TO return the bracelet to The ioE6ler
aat to give tlrs. Mcmillan Qor SD 10 money
20 SGT d 81 she might thi5k prpprr? Ilo dc,
! hsj d ttc 1r.sliau all da2. and toward cvca
-: @e%:3,a tia, CD tho aGole, !ic wo1d ;eka
sa,k tic Hrrc lyt and gigA his wlrl a $40 Lii,
i'"ri h. 4: !'sa t.. tah'o, !e :s.5 even hap
/ 4 l.
| rfsripEs cp.3i:% This :ia.r h. had f2alr
! ztt!ict Sc 1u s,i,i O, VIA! 10 eigo hi, wife.
| &c ii. :;:.t :r.c.i"& & III oyus rc5nnny by
| reseitlo.; u els~'sd $ 10 ;ustcsd pi So. hap
t'isr nE,i r'"Io Il oii0nate house hold than that
ot tic Nch]!!tao i.mily ou the bt Of the 24th
| 0t DecluD@E c.ud not have bacu found io all
Tulad0.
! Inc ntXs mifplus, Wrci tic early bells
uahetrd 10 The happy ChIiasmas seasop,
| Mrs. Mcmillan arose aud dressed herself.
| Her husband woke up while this ceremony
IVES III pscgccs., aud, attcr wishing hla wife
4 merry Christ mas, told her to bring him his
irvu:ers sDd he would give her present. The
h9pry via obeycd. ald waited with beating
herr or her bracelet. To her iuexprcssible
disappointment, Mr.. McNiIlsu took cut his
purse, gave her ton dcIiar bill, and s.id,
"Ihorc, MY dear tuy Whatevsrycu wait nlGst
e'se ycu the Dorey irstesd OF jeaery, or
Anything esq, hccsu5e [ want you to have a
Present that will be sono satisfaction to you"
Mrs. MGhliiian maintained painful silence.
She put the moufy 10 her pocket, but nevor
expressed TIC sIlShtcsi gratitude for it. As
she walked toward cllatt aud tack f ON il a
stout rope, Mr.. Mcmillan beeau 10 grow
a!a5meti. acd his alarm bcc1me very lively
Rhen his wife, with amsz;ug swif,resa and
L. IL IL
went down stairs for the broomsick.
Oa her temperance, she esked him in q
cold, sarcastic way if his "precious darling
liked her expensive bracelet You couldn'r
give the vile OF your bosom but ten dollars,
c,u!d you?" remarked Mrs. Mcmillan, itali
cizirg her words with the broomsick "bui
you could lavish thirty dollar bracelets
Oh wicked, good fornolhiog hussy
o I'll let you kpoRl' Aud accordingly she
did ''iet Mr., Mcmillan know" with strength
that be had nev5r before imagined that shc
possessed. 10 vain did the uuhsppy man pro.
test that he had never given no bracelet to
pobody." Tho angry matron was deaf to biz
protesla!ioDa. All day be remained bound ia
bis bed. Ho had neither breakfast nor din
ner, but OF frequent intervals Mrs. Mcmillan
. welt up stairs with the broomstick and, to ust
her language. took fresh hack at him."
1t was after Mr. McMilIan vas released, AMI
his bruises had healed sufficiently to enable hin
to walk without excessive pain. that he pro
claimed his detestation of Christmas and o
: Christmas gifts. Il must be admitted that j,
, this he was grossly illogical. Undoubtedly, BIZ
l wife YES 10 error, and perhaps she expressed
her feelings with too much emphasis, and 10 4
way that was open to criticism. Still, ther,
3 was 20 reason why Mr. Mcmillan should de
nouuce Christmas in broad, indisorimir lin
: way, and it is only too evident that ho is not
: man who can be called an exact aud careful
rcasoner.-NeU York Times.