The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-12-26

ty he could not have told whether his
brother was a bachelor or q Benedict,
so long had been the feud between
them. And then Mr.. Caleb Chirrup's
humble abode was many, many blocks
removed from the ~aristocratic precincts
of West End" where his brother re-
sided.
The elder Chirrup-for Mr.. Roths-
child was the elder-seemed at last to
have completed his purchase of edibles,
and paused in front of o fower,stall,
where he selected a pot of Jrisnson and
white crysanthemums.
"The very pot" thought MI. Caleb,
glumly, that 1 picked ont overa month
ago, as a Christmas present for poor
Patty"
"Poor Patty" was Mr.. Calob's wife.
Mr.. Rothschild, however, deposited
his purchase in the basket, and trudged
away, in blissful ignorance of the shah
billy dressed brother, glowering at him
from the window across the street!
.
"What-what's this?'
Mr.. Caleb Chirrup had assembled to
the two second-story rooms he called
home, had kissed his wife and babies,
shook hands with his sister-in-law, and
had hung up his hat and overcoat,
preparatory to eating his supper.
There was no signs of guinness here,
for Mrs. Patty and her sister, Miss
Melissa, looked cheerful and smiling
and wore their faded print dresses as il
they had come from the richest silk.
looms of the East.
And the young Chirrups had clean
faces and pinafores, and looked as hap.
pv as if Santa Claus" was not intend.
ing to give their stockingst the "good-by'
on that particular Christmas Eve.
But Mr.. Chirrnp still felt a little
glum, as he thought OF the empty stock.
ings and other vexations, and he turned
to the tea-table in some impotence,
But-"What's this?" he demanded,
starting back as if a snake had bit.
ten him. And no wonder he started, TO,
on the table lay a mammoth turkey
plump and yellow-breasted, squads Of
vegetables, punches of celery, dozens OF
ripe bananas golden -rinded oranges and
lemons, piles OF candies and confection-
cries, and fragrant nd blooming, a pot
of crimson and white crysanthemums;
q familiar-looking market basket also
stood on a chair by the table,
MIR Chirrup was about to pinch him
self, to see if he was awake, when "Mer-
ry Christmas, brother Caleb" sounded
in his ear, and forth from some mysteri.
GUS corner came Mr.. Rothschild CHR.
rup himself sleek and well-kept look
lng-nobbv hat, gold-headed cane ant
all! "Merry Christmas, brother Ca
leb, he repeated, extending a well-kept
hand. I've been waiting all these
years for you to make some advance to.
wards the truce. But since you still re-
main adamant, I concluded to make them
myself. So let by-gones be ~by-gones,
ifyou are willing, and let us be friends
hereafter, as we'll as brothers."
Then turning to the table, he held up
the fat turkey, turning it round and
round, just as he had done on the mar
ket.
"a fine fellow. isn't he? I got the
biggest 1 could find in the market, on
purpose for you," he added. "And the
pot of flowers is a peace offering to nv
sister-in-law, if she will accept it," lie
added, while Caleb still looked on, half
dazed.
And the children's stockings were not
destined to hang empty at all, that
Christmas Eve.
And a better Christmas dinner, or a
%jollier party to eat it, was not found
anywhere that Christmas day. For Mr..
Rothschild Chirrup proved to he an old
bachelor and so very willingly accepted
M invitation to dine at his brothers,
And Mr.. C%hirrup's sister, Miss Melissa,
being an old maid, she and Mr. Roths-
child very Economically fell in love with
each other, and when another Christ
mas Day came around Mr.. Rothschild
was no longer a bachelor, and Miss
Melissa no longer an old maid.
And when Lawyer Ledgerly grew
we'll enough ITO be seen" again, he was
obliged to provide himself with another
clerk, as MI. Caleb had gone into part
nersl'ip with his brother in the mercan-
tile business.
.-.