The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-12-20
rHE FAMILY JEWELS.

llAlACAitt -
flannel dress: -,
Pm thinking. Nettie. that | will
not make YOU any Christmas pres
en,s this year, but take the money l
should spend for it aud buy Abby
a pair f blankets"
Il should enjoy that" | said,
"more than any gift you could
make me. aud instead of my giving
o a present I'll send a thick
warm rug for | shiver when think
of those dear little children IN that
cold log house"
Ne thought it would be nice to
have this lox reach Abby about
Christmas. and we would put in IT
some TOYS aud books for the little
ones and So the fir-t fine day we
went Is town to make u purchases
we went about a good deal, looking
at blankets and carpets, for we ielt
as If il were Ahhy's money we were
Going a. spend. aud that We must
sneud il To the best advantage. FL
n,lly. we made our purchases salts
factorily, and then we went to our
lunch.
That morning | noticed that many
ladies in the stores and on the streets
woe Those little star shaped spark
ling let earrings that were so much
in vogue a few years ago.
I knew they were inexpensive.
and | thought how becoming a pair
would he for Pen. ] should like to
make her some trihing gift Christ
mas morning, Just to surprise her,
and so | determined to slip off and
get her a pair if | possibly could do
ii.
AS we were eating our lunch j
saw a lady sitting near us who wore
a pair of them.
s.Pen," / said, calling her atten-
ton to the lady. don't you think
those black earrings are very pref
typ"
YES" said Pen, Il have seen
such earrings a number of times
this morning. and they are very
pretty :" and after a little pause she
went on in an absent minded sort
of a wav. ives, they are certainly
very pretty"
had found out that Penn liked
the earrings. That was one point
gained.
As we rose from the table. | re-
marked:
II meant to have bought some
stationery when we were in that
book store: YOU know we are nearly
out of letter paper. and | will 90
back and get some. If YOU Will paw
at the desk and then sit down near
the door and wait for me, I'll be
back shortly"
Pen cheerfully assented, and
presently I wac hurrying down the
street.
| got the stationery first. then
went into the store where saw
some of the sparkling black brooch
es and earrings in a window.
l asked for jet earrings. and a
large tray containing different sizes
and STYLES were placed before me.
How much are these7" I asked.
selecting a pair that | liked very
well.
'One dollar, ma'am," said the
lady who was waiting on me.
Cheaper than | had thought.
Are they strong?" asked.
'Oh, very strong" said the Young
lady touching her own as shespoke,
1 have since thought perhaps to as
certain if they were all there.
Il will take this pair" | said, and
she put them up carefully in A little
box, which | slipped into nv peck
eft. and then | hurried back to the
restaurant. Pen was not there. but
she came in a minute later looking
as if she had been hurrying.
Il thought | would go and look
al some of the holiday goods in the
windows" she said. forestalling any
inquiry on my part. She asked me
some careless question about the
stationery, aud then we went to the
station and took the afternoon train
home, feeling on the whole that we
had had a very satisfactory day, and
l was quite elated thinking of the
pleasant little surprise | had plan
ned for Pen.
1t was a fortnight to Christmas
then. Once or twice, when l knew
that Pen was busy down stairs, |
took out the earrings and slipped
them in nv own ears, Just to see how
they would become Pen. of course f;
for we look very much alike, though
Pen is some years older than |.
One day, just a week before
Christmas, Pen had a sick headache.
We had planned that afternoon to
call on our friend Mrs. Arnold, who
was going to Florida 10 spend the
winter.
'sOh. dear," said Pen "Icaa't lift
nv head from the pillow. You'll
have to go alone and say good-by
for me-"
So. as Pen did not need anything
except perfect quiet, | dressed to go
out. Some imp put it into my head
to wear those earrings. Pen would
not see them. Mrs. Arnold always
had the latest and newest things
hut | knew she had nothing like
them. She would be sure To admire
them. | could give them to Pen all
the same Christmas morning, and
she would never know | had worn
them unless | told her. | took the
box from my own private drawer
and went down stairs. | put the
earrings in my ears before the sitting
room mirror. aud after observing the
effect sufficiently, | went out. Mrs.
Arnold did notice them at once Che
thought them very becoming, and
she expressed her intention of get
ting a pair when she reached the
CITY.
1t was nearly dark as | approach
ed home. | wondered if Pen would
be still on the bed. or if she would
be Down stairs. Possibly the latter;
SO | thought 1t wise TO take the ear
rings out before | let myself ia At
the front door.
/ nut NV hands M. Good heay-