Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1883-12-21
WHAT CAME OF 1T.


.And now, goodbye! I'm off for
the turkey, girls! We could not have
one for Christmas, but we soiH have one
for New Years Day." 1t was Theo
CLYDE who spoke, as she tied a faded
blue veil over her straw hat and drew
q shabby fur cape close around her
white throat. She was very pretty
girl, with turquoise-blue eyes, and q
dash of scarlet in her cheeks and lips.
i" IL you get your money, you mean,"
said stately Marian, Theo's elder sister,
who wore her calico wrapper with tho
grace of Princess royal.
40, Miss Briarby is always punctual,
and she will be satisfied with the dress,
/ know
"And be sure you get apples and
raisins for the mince-meat, Theo, +" cried
Madge, tho youngest of all. Lets
have a real Christmas dinner to-mor-
row, if ii. is week late. It's SO long
since we've had nice dinneri"
"But I'm. only to get three dollars
for the dress, you know, Madge. I'll
do the best can with that And,
snatching up n small basket containing
the newly finished dress, Theo tripped
away in gay spirits.
The three girls kept house in the
Widow Spriggins' third-story front
room. Inside, the air was mild and
balmy as summer morning, but out
side it was sharp and keen, and fine,
powdeiy snow was beginning to fall.
The dress gave entire satisfaction, and
Miss Briarby wished Theo happy New
Year.
Theo's purchases were soon made.
Such plump turkey! 1t almost filed
the basket on her arm. Then to the
meat shop for beef and suet; and the
Jolly meat-man threw, in a fresh, crisp
bunch of celery, smitten to the heart, no
doubt, by Theo's bright eyes and ruby
lips. N'cxt, two pounds of raisins, SO
richand sugary it made ones mouth
water to look at them.
Half a dollar remained, and Theo en-
tered a fruit store, tempted by the dis
play of golden-hued oranges and ba-
nanas, Brazilian dates, choice clusters of
Malaga grapes, luscious figs and odor-
Gus pineapples. The gas was brilliantly
lighted inside, for the short December
day was fast drawing to close.
man in ~ slouched. hat and seedy
overeoat lounged in after Theo, and
blcON sSa!llot tAAC CpuuASl.
Now, then, what do You wantp" de-
manded the proprietor, roughly.
Nothing" was the low reply.
''rhen the sooner you get out of here
the better!" clustered the vender of
tropical fruits. ''We don't harbor
tramps!"
I'm not n tramp" answered the
stranger. -lr
Then you're drunk; and get out of
here before l call policeman
For shame! 0for .shame!'' cried
Theo, with blazing eyes. ITO treat n
human being so-on New Years Eve,
tool'
Hes an impostor,' asserted the
hard-hearted dealer.
I've not tasted bread for two days."
said the man, in husky tones.
Here. sir, and Theo followed the
stranger into the street; take this"
And she thrust her basket into his
hand.
mo. no!'' said the poor man
But you must! You will need it.
And take this, too.'' And she forced
II m reluctantly to accept her purse.
also, and then quickly hastened away.
She's coming!" cried Madge, flying
to the open door, as a faint footstep
sounded on the stairs. "The basket
must be heavy, she walks so slowly
Now for the. turkey-why, Theo, you
haven't brought it! Was it too heavy?
Are they going to send its' 80
Thco related her adventure. 6
''And I'm only sorry you and Marian
will be Disappointed she added, re-
gretfully.
You did perfectly right" said Mar
ian, heroicaliy. 1--WE are not starving
yet, thank goodness! and he was, poor
man.
But Theo still shook her head, and
the tears sparklcd in her eyes.
.'l'm glad You gave il to him. cried
Madge, and added, softly, "You know,
Theo, who has said: Inasmuch as ye
have done it unto the least of these, ye
have done it unto Me!''
The white pine floor had been washed
and secured within an inch of its life
the brightly-polished window-panes
shonc and shimmered, as ii daring one
TO look at them and not blink; the round
brass knobs on the old-fashoned wal
nut sideboard beamed good-naturedly
inthe slant rays of the morning sun;
pot Of bright yellow chrysanthemums
stood in one of the white-curtained win
dows, fragrant and full of bloom, ant
handsome tortoise-shell cat took hei
morning nap on a braided rug before
the fire.
The three housekeepers washed ur
their breakfast-seryice, and swept the
room and busted, and put to rights witt
zeal worthy at least of q more extend
cd sphere of action. ~. -..a.
Suddenly heavy, numbering Step
heard on the stairs, and q sounding raj
ON the door caused q momentary paiht
in the little room.
Marian, rallying first, opened thu
door. f-r-
..A box, mum, for Miss Theo Clyde
expenses paid, num-
The girls looked at each other in as
tonishment.
There's no direction on the box,
said Marian, examining il carefully.
"It's a mistakc-it S not for u.s. sait
Theo. ,1tsef 1.ir l.
Lets open IT," cried Madge. II
can't hurt us, anyway, and she pro
duced a hatchet.
They pounded and pried at the lid
bruised their fingers, and finally got thu
box open and exposed to view a plum
turkey.
.'And raisins!'' cried Madge, pullin,
open a paper-bag and filling her moutl
with the contents.
"And beefl And suet! And celery!'
said Marian.
1heo looked up as-if stupefed.
"Why, it's mine!' she exclaimed a
last.
..Of course it's yours! Who said /
wasn'tp' answered Madge. helpin,
herself plentifully to the raisins again
"But it's what bought and gave Il
the mani persisted Theo.
''But you didn't buy oranges AM
lemons and three bip uineanDies dil