Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1881-12-17

| can do nothing for you until Monday
Then you shall have your wages"
Its a sorry word you speak for me
and my poor family. And tomorrow
Christmas of all days !' said Warson,
with tremor in his voila "But if you
say it, don't expect it will be unsaid.
/ know you for hard man, Mr.. Gar
win -
eff you know me for hard man,
don't come to me on such errands, said
Mr.. George Garwin, with a singular
change in his look and voice. "But
never expected a workman of mine
would say that y
Warson went away, reluctant and dis
satisfied; and Mr.. George Garwin-
his business-self sadly mixed up with
his domestic-self, to the manifest detri-
ment of both-walked back to his sit
ting room and evening paper.
Then Mrs. George Garwin, who had
overheard the talk in the entry, and had
glimpse Of the snowfaked, grimy
mechanic, said, in a tone of quiet
pathos:
'"The poor man really looked as if he
needed the money. [ am sorry you
couldn't give it to him."
Mr.. George Garwin was feeling q
good deal disturbed by Warson's last
words, and he was glad of an opportu
nifty to defend himself
$50 am sorry. But it won't do to
break over my rule. II l begin to let
nv men come after me here on business
matters, there'd be no end to it. Shop
is one thing, home is another. And l
mean to keep the two distinct"
''Of course, you are right" said Mrs.
George Garwin "but it did seem as if
this was an exceptional case"
''I can't make exceptions. l must
treat all alike. This will teach him to
toe the mark in future. I'll teach him,
too, not to be impudent !"
Mrs. Garwin wanted TO say something
about the mans sick child, but forbore,
seeing how much her husband was an
noyed. And having, by his last remark,
quieted his conscience-if it was that
which had been disturbed-Mr. George
Garwin resumed the reading of his
evening paper.
In about half an hour, Mr.. George
Garwin, his domestic-self now well dis
entangled from the other, looked up
cheerfully, and asked about the chlldreEs
presents. Being told what purchases
had been made for them, and that the
girls were even then in another room
plotting surprises for their parents and
their brother Paul, he smiled ap-
provingly, and asked
Where's Paul ?"
i" Paul hadn't spent the five dollars
You gave him for Christmas /; and he
went out little while ago, think, to
buy something"
"Let's see what he will 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,
particularlyS those which had been
bought in his name, and talked in a
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
yet ?"
"That must be his step now !" said
Mrs. Garwln, quietly putting out OF sight
skating cap she was EN- broiderlng.
The hall door opened; somebody was
heard shaking snow from an overcoat
in the entry then a ruddy- faced boy OF
fifteen came and looked into the sitting
room.
"Come in, Paul !" cried MIR. George
Garwin. "Let's look at you want to
know if you found a use for your
money ?"
Paul entered hesitatingly, with an
embarrassed smile.
"What did you buy?" said his
mother.
For answer he gave an apologetic
shrug, and threw up his empty hands.
"What nothing ?" cried his father,
"I 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 I pleased
with that five dollars. "
Certainly taking it for granted that
boy of mine" said Mr.. Garwin, "would
do nothing silly or extravagant."
"Oh, / haven't been extravagant:
and I hope you won't think l was very
silly. And I'm going to tell you just
L
can think how to begin"
Mr.. Garwin looked at his son anxious
", 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 O little money.
Tomorrow being Sunday-and Christ
mas, 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 a tramp on the street !" ex-
claimed Mr.. George Garwin. How
often have told you that every tramp
is liar, a thief in disguise p
81 thought of that, SAID Paul, stam-
mering little. ''But / didn't believe
this man was a tramp. He couldn't
have made up such story-it was SO
straightforward boys eyes glis-
tened-"and so touching He was @
laboring man, of some sort. He had
been disappointed in not receiving
some money due him; and if he couldn't
borrow, or get credit somewhere, his
family must actually go hungry OF
Christmas, of all days in the year.
Mr.. George Garwin knitted his browi
| not with disapproval of what his sol
was telling him-but with stingins
recollection of his own conduct TOWARD
the man Warson an hour before.