The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-12-25

i '.How- is it that you have been s,
economical with your tree, and yet pa,
!. every cent of my bill?n asked the doc
tor.
1--WE had the money to pay for that
but not cent for Christmas presents,
suited with the children about it; for
to tell the truth, when there is anything
extra to pay out, have to consult witt
them, generally Belle earns some
thing by sewing with me. Rob carrie,
papers and works Saturdays, which
brings him i'm little more than enough
to pay for his clothes as a genera
thing"
..Such as they are" said Rob, mcr
rily, looking down upon his pretty well
worn suit. ..But shall do better, som,
1 day."
sAnd may ask if you had much lief
after paying this bill?" inquired th'
doctor.
'No, doctor, to tell the truth, W,
hadn't. But we never spent money il
q more satisfactory manner than this
and we shall go on now feeling verl
happy and free from debt, if our healtl
is spared"
"How much did you have left, Robp'
asked the doctor. ~.
Rob only laughed.
"He hadn't a penny" said Willie
"and mother hadn't neither, nor Belle
and Rob went off and earned twent,
cents selling extras to make W
enough"
1t was out of Willie's mouth befor,
any one could stop him.
"Now that Willie has been such 6
tell-tale, doctor, must say that moth
ing ever made me happier than the re.
suit of this test for the children. ] re-
minded them Just how it stood theri
was this just bill for your care ir
Willie's sickness; would they feel better
to put it OLIVE were all sure that you
would be too kind to distress us orit--
or should we feel better to pay it an6
call it our Christmas thank-offering fol
Willie's recovery? Rob and Belle sale
at once: Let US pay it now; then we
shall have done what we could to show
our gratitude to the kind doctor, and il
would make us happier Christmas thar
anything else could. Besides, We IAN
make q nice, new start free from debt.
Willie is the only one who will mind
going without Christmas presents. and
we can contrive something to please
him.. So You see, doctor, we have
made ourselves happy by putting our
money to this purpose; you can tell by
| the children's faces that it was no cross
at all
81 see," replied the doctor; lyon are
the happiest family l have met fol
many day. Instead of plying you,
envy you. But you did not know my
custom; l always throw off half the
usual charge, with persons of limited
means. This bill was made out in full
through mistake of the young man in
my office. 1t was to return half the
payment that l came down tonight"
The widow and Rob and Belle OBJ
jected to taking back any OF the pay
ment, but the doctor was infleXible, in
sisting upon ii as his invariable custom.
You may be sure we have never
been used to such generosity Or the
part Of physicians" said the widow,
with tears in her eyes. 1.-The doctor we
had before had not prepared us for such
consideration rs this. 1t was before
Rob and Belle were old enough to earn
more than a few pennies now and them
and Willie was only four years old. This
doctor WAS grnff man. He came in
one day and asked me if l could pay
him. The bill was only six dollars, to-
be sure; it was only three visits. But [
had been sick for several weeks, and
had only three dollars in the world. Il
can't pay you just now,' said, unless
l empty the ehildren's banks i sup
pose You will never pay says he. oh,
yes, l said, If the children will lend me
the money perhaps i can pay you
now Rob and Belle brought their
banks forward at once, and. while l
was counting out the money, Willie ran
and got his too. 1t took all but ten
cents of the little fellows money to help
make up the six dollars"
And did the scamp take it?" asked
the doctor.
Indeed he did" replied Rob, "and
he seemed very glad to get it, too"
HE is disgrace to the profession. l
will not ask who he is for fear should
be tempted to give him piece of my
mind. But | must not stay any longer;
my family are expecting me, and Willie
has waited very patiently for chance
to investigate that beautiful tree. BY
the way, ran into the pantry before l
came from home, and tumbled together
what Christmas fare / could lay my
hands on in hurry. That is for you
too, Willie, and you can pass it round to
the rest
The doctor darted out and in the door,
and brought with him the basket, whose
contents he hastily piled upon the table
beside the surplus money he had depos.
tied there. Willie's eyes glistened
again at sight of the nuts, oranges, figs.
bon bons, white and purple grapes and
bananas.
The doctor gave no time for thanks;
but, waving the empty basket, vanished
into the clear, bright night.
Upon the clear, bright night alone feb
the exclamation.
Thank Heaven this generation is not
wholly given over to folly, and neither
is that which is coming onn'-Spring-
field CtaSs.) Republican.
DISAPPOINTMENT.
How Horrid Captain Quibley Cruelty Dis
appointed His wife.