The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-12-26
cents selling extras to make up

cents selling extras to make up
enough. =
It was out Of Willie's mouth before
any one could stop him.
Now that Willie has been such d
tell-tale, doctor, must say that moth
ing ever made me happier than the re-
suit of this test for the children. 7 re-
minded them just how it stood; there
was this just bill for your care in
Willie's sickness; would they feel better
to put it olive were all sure that you
would be too kind to distress us for it
or should we feel better to pay it and
call it our Christmas thank-oftring for
Wilie's recovery? Rob and Belle said
at once: Let US pay it now; then we
shall have done what we could to show
our gratitude to the kind doctor, and it
would make us happier Christmas than
anything else could. Besides we can
make anice, new start free from debt.
Willie is the only one who will mind
going without Christmas presents, and
we can contriYe 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 faces that it was no cross
at all
Il see, replied the doctor; "you are
the happiest family / have met for
many a day. Instead of plying you, |
envy you. But you did not know my
| custom; / always throw off half the
usual charge, with persons Of limited
means. This bill was made out in full
! through a mistake Of the young man in
my Office. 1t was to return half the
payment that | came down Tonight"
| The widow and Rob and Belle OBJ
jected to taking back any Of the pay
ment, but the doctor was infexible, in
sisting upon it as his invariable custom.
You may be sure we have never
been used to such generosity on the
part Of physicians, said the widow,
with tears in her eyes. 'sThe doctor we
had before had not prepared us for such
consideration as this. 1t was before
Rob and Belle were old enough to earn
more than few pennies now and then,
and Willie was only four years old. This
doctor was a gruff man. He came in
one day and asked me if | could pay
him. The bill was only six dollars, to
be sure; it was only three visits. But I
had been sick for several weeks, and
had only three dollars in the world. i
cant pay you just now,' I said, unless
empty the children's banks I sup
pose you will never pay, says he. oh,
yes, / said, If the children will lend me
their money perhaps | can pay you
now Rob and Belle brought their
banks forward at onae, and, while /
was counting out the money, Willie ran
and got his too. It 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. I
will not ask who he is for fear I 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 a chance
to investigate that beautiful tree. BY
the way, / ran into the pantry before /
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 fell
the exclamation.
THANK Heaven this generation is not
wholly given over to folly, and neither
is that which is coming on!''-Spring-
field (N0sS. J Republican.