The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-12-23
A HOLIDAY LESSON.

It was late of chilly December after
noon. The leaden clouds hung low with |
their promise of a speedy snowstorm.
Even now an occasional frozen drop
struck against the window-pane and
each gust, as it swept through the streets
of busy l., had the breath Of the
storm in it, and drove all pleasure seekers
rapidly toward home.
It even seemed to penetrate into the
houses, for Lois Garfield was busy put
ting the finishing touches to the supper
preparations on the long dining-table,
with frown as lowering as any storm
cloud.
E "It's of no use talking, mother she
was saying to quiet pleasant looking
lady, busy mending by the coal stove.
''What is there to look forward to-
Last year made more than hundred
dollars worth of presents, and now I've
got just five dollars and seventy.fve
cents. Enough, though, suppose, as
long as we're only boarding house
keepers"
'sl'm sure I'm very thankful for the
boarders to keep" said Mrs. Garfield.
30, I'm not complaining as long as
it helps papa, but I'm not any more
thankful to Lucy Waters for saying it."
was the quick reply.
::Let me see,'' said her other, "did
not you give Lucy one Of yoS resents
81 guess did, one of my best-it cost
twelve dollars. shouldn't have been
such silly, but heard her say TIT Jen-
ME Fen always gave her the incest things
of any girl, and was determined to
Guido her for once.'
"You gave Jennie something, too,
didn't you?''
30 yes; I gave her that beautiful scene
of Lake Como
"And Mabel Joyce, what did you give
her-something, believer
eyes. that inkstand modelled after a
group from the antique; and I paid nine
dollars for that Etruscan vase I gave
Aunt Kate, and that was broken before
New Years. What waste?''
"And were the others more neces-
sary2" asked Mrs. Garfield.
''No; I heard Lucy said that only made
the twenty first and second vases that she
owned; and overheard Jennie say her
room was so full of pictures already she
did not know what to do unless she put
some in the attic. It was scant thanks I
gained in any case, and Lois looked up
from the stool she had taken into her
mothers face, with the glimmer of a
smile breaking through the clouds.
Mrs. Garfield smiled also. Well, now,
dear, as you have tried your plan of Civ
ing expensive luxuries and found no
great satisfaction in it, suppose you try
a new one, and use your small store this
time in giving only useful things to those
needing them, and see which gives the
greater satisfaction"
"But mamma. it always seems as
though at Christmas time one was lit
tie justified in spending money extrava-
gantly,' argued Lois.''
Sand uselessly?" queried Mrs. Can
field.
.'But are pretty things useless, then?''
asked the girl.
"By no means, dear, though it is a
question whether one element of true
beauty must not also be utility: but one
will not stop to 60 into metaphysics to.
night, for, after all every uestlon in life
centers in one point: What is my duty
in this matter? Perhaps God saw we
were not faithful stewards, and so took
away our abundance. We know now
what it is to be really in need of things
believe heard some complaints from
you about cold feet before Aunt Maggie's
ten-dollar gift enabled you to purchase
new shoes, did not II
II am afraid you did," answered Lois
slowly. Then. she sat in quiet Thoughts
until the closing of the outer door tolc
her that supper preparations must be
fastened, when she sprang up, and, drop
ping kiss softly on her mothers
forehead that told how the words were
working, went about her duties.
In the days that came close upon this
one there were many hours of guie,
!, thinking on the girls part. She wa.
trying to define the useful things ane
just where they should go for until thes,
last few months Lois acquaintance Will
real needs had not been very great.
.Lois," said her mother, one day, ''dit
you give cousin Agnes any presents last
!, year9"
eNo, mother. I am ashamed to sa,
I didn't; but knew you and papa did,
tsYes,' y said Mrs Garfield, with Lit
tie sigh, ssshe will have to keep that il
mind, for we have decided, papa and
) that so long as we have debt unpai
> it would not be just in us to make an
presents this year, not even to you, Lois.
: Yes, mamma, you needn't mind me,
answered Lois, brayely, tive ha
. enough"
"a day or two after, Lois called in a
: Cousin Agnes's, a small house whel
; means were very limited and childrc
! were not at least below six.
s .sDrlsmas comes next week, tuzen.
shouted little Max, catching hold of b
. dress.
q 81 guess it won t matter much to then
9 poor things said his mamma, in a
= aside, sseyery cent does count 80 tn
& year. An orange apiece will have
q content them
q 81 want a hobby horse said Il
ID youngster.
= Nonsense, you need shoes NOR
= you'll soon be on the ground. III
way they do walk out of their shoes
dreadful to contemplate.
a. 81 want copper-toes, any way" put
n Mary.
ssYot ought to have iron ones. To