The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1881-12-20

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Being tod mkns purchase hNd bee6
made Cor them. nlld shnk he &iria we're
even then en- another room plotting am
prises for their parents and their brother
Paul, he smiled approvingly, and asked
8 Where's Paul 70
Paul hadn't spent the ave dollars you
| gave him foE Christmas and he went out
little while ago, I think, 20 buy some
thing"
9 Let's sed what he viii do With his
money!" said Mr.. George Garwin, with .
pleasant laugh. Paul is shrewd! Paul
Is nobody's fool Well see!'
At the end of another half hour, having
examined some of the presents, particu-
larly those which had been bought in his
name, and talked in . genial, glowing
manner about the great comforts of life
with which they were blessed, they had
no sick child y he again inquired:
Where's PAUL. Hasn't he come In
YETI"
"That must be his step now !" said
Mrs. Garwin, quietly putting out of sight
a skatingcaP she was embroidering.
The halLdoor opened; somebody was
heard shaking snow from an overcoat in
the entry; then rnddy-faced boy of If
teen came and looked into the sitting
room.
"Come in. PaulI" cried Mr.. George
Garwin. Let's look at you! | want
to know if you found use for your
money p
Paul entered hesitatingly, with an en-
barrassed smile.
"What did you buy P'' said his
mother.
For answ er he gave an apologize
shrug, and threw up his empty hands.
aWhat r. nothing p cried his father.
" suppose you'll think I've been very
foolish,'' said Paul, looking rather
ashamed as he took seat with his damp
boots at the register But / believe
you said could do just what l pleased
what that Eve dollars"
Certainly; taking it for granted that
boy of mine" said Mr. Garwin, would
do nothing silly or extravaganza"
"Oh, haven't been extravagant; and
hope you won't think was very silly.
And Pm going to tell you just what I've
done with that money, if | can think how
to begin"
Mr. Garwih looked at his son anxiously,
but with an indulgent expression which
encouraged him to go on.
" The truth is, as was going along the,
street, two men were walking just before
me, and heard one Of them ask the other
to lend him a little money. Tomorrow
being Sunday-and Christmas, too-he
must borrow little, he said, or he
couldn't have the heart to go home to his
wife and children"
81 hope you haven't been giving money
to tramp on the streetw exclaimed Mr..
George Garwin. "How often have / told
you that every tramp is liar, thief in
disguised
81 thought of that" said Paul, STAN
mering little. "But | didn't believe
this man was tramp. He couldn't have
made up such a story-it w:s so straight
forward the boys eyes glistened-
"and SO touching He was laboring
man, of some sort. He had been disap-
pointed in not receiving some money due
him and his children had been sick; and
if he couldn't borrow, or get credit some
where, his family must actually go hum
CRY on Christmas, of all days in the
year."
Mr.. George Garwin knitted bis brows,
not with disapproval of what his son was
telling him, but with stinging recollec-
ton OF his own conduct towards the man
Warson an hour before.
"He, too, spoke of a sick child"
thought he. +" / might have given him
something if it hadn't been for my bust
ness rules, and if he hadn't been insolent
Go on, my son."
hope i didn't act too iiLpulsiyely,"
said Paul, crossing his feet on the regis
ter. But when he said that, couldn't
help thinking how much zoe have of every
thing that is good, and how little my FIVE
dollars would be missed here at home p
swell, well, my boy"
Mr.. George Garwin coughed to clear
his throat, while the mother regarded
Paul with eyes full of pride and affection.
i didn't know just what to do" said
Paul, going on-with more confidence ellis
friend couldn't lend him anything; and
he turned down the next street, saying
he would try to get credit at store
where he had traded sometimes though
he didn't seem to have much hope that
he would succeed. Then | stepped for
ward, and said to his friend: M
| DO you KNOW bnaL man r
"Yes," he said !" know him very
well, and an honest fellow he is; aud it's
shame that he should be in sach con-
dition of Saturday night, and Christmas
Evel"
"How happens it," said, "that an in
dustrious, sober man can't get a living,
so as to be q little more independent P"
My boy,p he said, "yott don't know
anything about the lives of laboring men,
He gets twelve dollars week; but what
is twelve dollars q week for supporting a
family of six children with one or two of
them sick half the time, and the wife
worn out with work and watching ?
How no's he get anything ahead ?"
"Of course, couldn't answer that.
So / just asked the mans name, and
where he lived; | thought | would see
for myself hbU he lived, II ! could.
WelI,n said Paul, ailer moments
pause, " / found the place without much
trouble, and, O father, such place for an
honest family to live inl All crowded
together in one or two rooms the
mother, sick herself, with a sick child in
her arms; one or two of the Others cry
ing / couldn't help thinking, what If we
were obliged TO live in that way"
Elm glad-I'm glad Mr.. Girwin
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