The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1882-12-22

Jack did mean to buy something for his
mother, too, but he had to give that up, and
after looking over the bright. coored toy
| books in the showcase, he selected two little
| primers, one with pink cover and one with
| blue one, and with big ache in his throat,
parted with his last ten cents for candy. How
very, very little he was buying after all, and
not one thing for his dear mother, who sat
up till two o'clock the night before, mending
his ragged clothes for him.
Jacks heart was very heavy as he walked
out ofthe gay store with such little pack
age, but it sank still lower when his fathers
tall form doomed up suddenly before him
| right in front of the door,
"What are you doing here?" he asked,
| stcrnly.
Been buying n few things" said Jack.
"Let me see 'em," said his father.
Jack tremblingly opened his package.
"Where'd you get the money!"
"With quails," said Jack meekly.
His father fumbled over the things with
his big, mittened hand and said quite gently,
"For the girls, spose?'
eyes, sir" answered Jack, beginning to
| feel relieved.
"Well, run along home"
Jack was only too happy to do SO. There
wasn't much sympathy between him and his
luIntl, nOT lnuccu, DctWccH HIS dtler anu
| any of the famiy-that is, there didn't seem
| to be; but guess the stream was frozen over,
| and only needed few CLEANS of sunshine to
make it bubble on, laughing and gurging as
| in the best of hearts.
Jack related his adventures to his mother
in Whispers and hid the Christmas articles
| in the washboiler until such time as they
should be wanted for certain small stockings
| He told his mother how sorry he was not
| to have present for her. and that little
speech went a long way towards making her
| happy. That night she sat up-I wouldn't
dare tell you how Matchmaking cookies
| something that hadn't been in the house be-
fore that winter. She cut them out in all
manner of shapes that feminine ingenuity
and caseknife could compass, not forgetting
| bird for Janey, with remarkably plump
bill, and little girl for Mary, with the toes
| turned out. She also made some balls of
brownsugar 0he Boyds never thought ofsuch
q luxury as white sugar. to make believe
| candy, for she didn't know Jack had bought
any candy.
Now, | am going to tell what Mr. Boyd
did after he met Jack by the toy store. He
had gone to the village to have good time.
| That didn't mean, as it does with some men,
to get tipsy, but it meant he was going to
Munger's grocery, where he could meet peo-
pie, and talk and joke, and keep warm.
Mr.. Boyd had been chopping wood for q
| farmer, and had received his pay but instead
| of going dutifully home and consulting with
his wife about what he should buy, he was
| going to look around and see what Munger
had. He was touched at the sight of Jacks
poor little package of gifts; but doubt if it
| would have made much impression on his
mind if somebody hadn't walked into Mum
gers and asked, in brisk, loud voice, "Got
| any Brazil nuts, Munger?"
The man with the brisk voice bought |
| don't know how many quarts of Brazil nuts,
and walnuts, and filberts, and almonds, with
all the loungers looking on, very much inter-
ested in the spectacle. Then he bought raj
| sins, and candy, and oranges, Mr.. Munger
| growing more smiling every minute.
Going to keep Christmas, l guess" said
| he, rubbing his hands together.
| "That lam; Christmas comes but snce q
year. and there are little folks up at our
house who've been looking for it with all
their eyes for fortnight"
| Then lie bought bushe of apples, and
filling peck measure with them, passed them
around among the men who sat and stood
about the stove.
| "Take 'em home to your little folks if you
don't want EN-" he said, when anyone hest
tated.
They were three or four apples apiece, and
Mr.. Boyd put all of his in his pockets, with q
slight feeling of Christmas warmth begin.
ming to thaw his heart.
After this CHEEKY purchaserhad gone, some
one asked: "who is that chap?"
"He's the new superintendent of the Or
phan Asylum" answered Mr.. Munger, rub
bling his hands again, "and mighty nice
man he is, too. Pays for all them things out
of his own pocket Very fond of children
Always likes to see em happy"
There were two or three men around thai
stove who hung their heads, and Mr. Boyt
was one of them. He hung his head the low
est, perhaps, because he had the longest neck
l don't know what the other men did-some
thing good and pleasant, / hope-but Mr.
Boyd thought and thought. First he thought
how the orphans" were going to have
brighter and merrier Christmas than his owr
children, who had both father and mother
Then he thought about sweet, patient little
Janey, and quiet Mary, and generous Jack
who had taken so much pains to give plea
sure to his sisters, and great rush of shame
filled his heart.
Now, when Mr.. BOYD was once thorough
ly aroused, he was alive through the whole
of his frame. He thumped his knee will
his fist, then arose and walked to the
counter, where he dealt rapid orders to thu
astonished grocer for nuts, candies ant
oranges; not in such large quantities, to bt
sure, as the orphans" friend had done, bu
generous enough for three children. And hi
bought calico dress for his wife, a pair o
shoes for each of the little girls, and cap fo
Jack. The store contained everything from
grindstoHes to slate pencils, and from whale
oil to peppermint drops
These purchases, together with some need
ed groceries, took all Mr.. Boyd's money, ex
cept few pennies, but Christmas don't
care feeling pervaded his whole being ant
he borrowed bag into which he slowed his
goods, and set out for home.
1t was pretty heavy bagful, but its heavi
ness only made Mr.. Boyd's heart the lighter
When he reached home, he stood the bag uI
in one corner, as if it held turnips, and said
"Don't NEEDLE with that children" Their
he went out and spent the rest of the shor
day in chopping wood, which was very cheer
ing to his wife. So many Sundays had dawn
ed with just wood enough to cook breakfast
that Mrs. Boyd began to dread that day par
ticularly, for her husband was almost sure t.
go right away after breakfast and spend thu
whole day at the neighbours house, while hi
own family shivered around halfempty
stove.
Mr.. Boyd said never q word about the bag
and the unsuspecting household thought i
contained corn or some other uninterestine
vegetable, and paid little attention to it. Il
also stood there all the next day, and thu
children grew quite used to the sight of it,
Sunday went by quietly, and, to the surprise
of all, Mr.. Boyd stayed at home, making il