Arkansas weekly mansion., 1883-08-04
EDITH'S BEST BIRTHDAY PRESENT.

. - "A L
Henry, wish you would give me a
dollar or two," Mrs. Harris said to her
husband. as she stood in the hallway
/ helping him on with his overcoat.
'.What for?' he asked, in a tone
which was not encouraging.
ITO get a doll for Edith. To-day is
her birthday, and L would like to sur
prise her.
"A dollar for doll! What extrava-
gance! besides, Edith is too old for
doll.''
"Why, Henry, she is only ten, and
she is so fond of her old one.'
Cant help it; can't afford it; you re
enough to ruin any man.
Henry the wife said, Indignantly,
'.you could afford it, and great many
other things, if you would let Jones
liquor saloon alone"
The man WINGED. YOU'RE always
harping on that he returned, going
out and shutting the door violently. But
he knew what She said was true.
'.Papa, papa!" a childish voice called,
and Edith flew across the lawn.
'.You naughty papa, going away
without Il kiss for me, and on my BIRTH
dav.''
The frown on his face faded. He
stopped and kissed her.
Here he said. putting his hand
into his pocket and drawing out Il silver
half-dollar. give this to your mother,
tell her it is all the change have. She
NAV get what she likes with it"
..What did he mean?' the child asked
later, as she handed the money to her
mother.
Il wanted to get a wax doll for your
birthday present, but
"Oh, mammal Edith interrupted,
delighted.
Papa can't afford it. He has given
this to buy Il present instead. What
shall we get with it?''
II don't know, mamma. / do want
the dolly so much"
"Ics, dear, but you can not have it
now. | viii tell Santa Claus to bring
You one Christmas"
"Wcl," with 4 sigh, 81 guess I'll
take book"
Fifty cents will not buy much of a
book"
What will it buy?''
"You might get a game, or set of
tin dishes. or a pocket-book. or box OF
candies, or some new hair ribbons, or a
scrap-album.
oh mamma, I'll take the scrap
album
every well, when you return from
school this afternoon, l will go with
YOU, and You may choose ONE
But when Edith returned home from
school. her mother said: Little girl,
Your papa sent ME home more money.
so have bought your birthday present
for YOU.
is it doll, mamma?''
ASK me no questions, and I'll tell
1-,,, no lins - Mrs Harris answered.
laughing.
when will you give it to me?''
"When your father returns"
You can easily guess Edith was inn
patient for the return of her father
While she is waiting shall tell you how
he came to send the extra money home
to his wife?
With his wifc'S reproaches still in his
memory, and his child kisses yet warm
on his lips, be did not enter saloon on
the way to his store, but about ten
o'clock. being thirsty, he went out TO
Jones liquor store, and called for his
usual dram.
While the bartender was preparing it.
the liquor dealers wife came in, and
stepping up to Mr.. Jones, said in a loud
voice: .'Sam, / want twenty dollars to
buy Il doll for Katie"
:.Twcnty dollars'' he answered.
good d-humoredly, isn't that good deal
to give for Il toy2'
"Yes. but the child has set her heart
on one with real hair and kid body,
and | want to get one all dressed. 1t IS
too much trouble to bother dressingit.' y
Without another word, Mr.. Jones
opencd his pocket-boOk, took from it a
roll of bills, counted out the twenty
dollars and handed them to his wife,
saving. carclesSly:
for~ot to orucr the ducks to roast
for dinner; have Jim stop at FLANDERS
and order them, and tell him to be
sure and send nice celery, and some ap-
pies for sauce
..Yes. I will. By-by.' and she
turned and went out to her carriage.
Mr. Harris looked after this richly
dressed woman, not half so sWeet-look-
ing nor so lady-like as his own wife:
She rave some order to the driver and
entered the carriage. and the handsome
vehicle, with its prancing horses and
rold-mountcd harness and llvcrled
coachman. drove out of sight
Then Mr.. Harris came to himself.
He placed his glass of liquor upon tho
counter untasted. laid beside it tho
price which was due for It, ana went
out of the dram-shop saying to himself:
II have tasted my last drop of in
toxicating drink.
Thus the man who had resisted the
tears and PRAYERS of his wife and the
entreaties of his little daughter, came
to himself at sight of the richness ana
luxury which his money was helping
this liquor dealer to enjoy.
Mr.. Jones indulged in carriage rides;
he must walk.
MIR. Jones dined on duck and celery
and apple-sauce; they were glad to get
corned beef and cabbage.
Mr.. Jones wife dressed in silk and
velvet: his wife had to be contented with
the plainest apparel. .,
Mr.. Jones' daughter played with
twentv-dollar dolls; he had refused to
spend one dollar that his darling Edith
might have birthday gift Hence
forth his money should be given to his
wife and children. He went to his
store. and writing n note to his wife,
inclosed in it a five-dollar bill, and call
ing bov, babe him deliver it immedi-
ateIv. And at night, when he returned,
Edith's mother handed her beautiful
wax-doll, with golden hair, and blue
ewes that would open and shut, and all
dressed in white, with pale blue sash.
"Oh, mamma. it's perfectly lovely.
How happy 1 am!' she said, kissing her
mother.