St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1884-12-27

/ do think you are OetTef imam your
weight in gold, even it is almost two
hundred pounds. "
s.But Christmas only comes once
year. father said Bertha, coaxingly.
eeThank Heavenn' exclaimed the
doctor, mentally, and remained obdu-
rate.
The sober faces about him day after
day, however, and the rather ostenta-
tious consultations going on as to how
to make little go so far, shook the
doctors determination to such an ex-
tent that he finally concluded to sur
prise his disappointed family-who
seemed now very distrustful regarding
his future intentionally giving each
exactly what had been suggested; in
that way he might even at that late
date escape the suspicion of being I'M
feeling and niggardly. To do this,
however. he would be obliged to defer
the payment of several bills, instead OF
suuaring up according to his hitherto
inyariable custom on the first of Janu-
ary. But, he reasoned, he could cancel
ali shortcomings in the course OF two
or three months, and as for his failure
to Law UP anything this yea~, that was
not of so much consequence, since his
life was heavily insured. BY the way,
the payment was nearly due upon the
policy again, and the doctor sighed a
number of times, remembering how
tardily payment of his bills had come
in of late. Such was the state of affairs
at DIR. Gray's the day before Christmas,
and there was a very similar state of
affairs in half the elegant mansions in
which fashionable persons were deco
rating their Christmas trees with profuse
and elegant display.
s.Ah,'' thought the doctor, as he noted
the constant array of parcels in the
streets, the whining of express teams,
the gayety of the shop windows, the
glimpses of Christmas trees, +" this Is
one reason folks are so 10th to pay their
doctors bills about this time. "
As he was passing a toy-shop a
CHEEKY Young voice called out: GOOD
afternoon, doctor!' The speaker was a
plainly-dressed boy. He stood on the
steps of the top-shop, and he, too, had
bundle under his arm.
..How are you, Robert, and how is
Willie getting along?" said the doctor,
after pausing moment.
"Oh, he's most as well as ever, and
we're going to have a nice Christmas
for him. I've got some things in this
bundle to put on the tree. "
"a merry Christmas to you all, said
the doctor, passing on.
'.Umphr' the doctor soliloquized.
sIt's Just the same with the poorest OF
them; that friendless widow who seWs
for her living win deny herself and
her family necessary articles, Ipresume,
to get up Christmas tree; and as for
her doctors bill-oh well, that is the
least of the mischief; I've been too
much of fool myself, in giving way to
this modern extravaganza, to say any
thing about others. >
While the family were busy that after
noon over Christmas preparations, and
the doctor as busy as any one, the serV-
ant announced a boy in the office who
wanted to pay bill.
lis it possible!n exclaimed the doc
tor. mo one has offered to pay a bill
before these two weeks
Upon entering the Office he found the
boy whom he had seen that morning on
the steps of the toy-shop. "Here is the
bill and the money, doctor, he said,
s'and mother wishes me to say we thank
you very much, too, and shall always be
grateful, for we think you saved Willie S
life. y
Upon counting the money, the doctor
found it was precisely the sum charged
in the bill.
ssHow could your mother afford to
send me all this at Christmas time, my
boy?" he asked.
christmas didn't make any differ
ence, or else twas the very best time;
cause it put it into our heads that
Willie's being well again was the best
Christmas present we could have. We
call him our Christmas present. But
he's so little, he wouldn't understand,
so we've fixed up tree for him. | cut
it in the woods. Belle and have
trimmed it up quite gay. I wish you
could see it. Willie'll be tickled
enough. /"
'.I'll be around to look at it, early
this evening, Rob-" said the doctor,
grayely. 4 want to see your mother
moment. !"
.'We'll light the candle when you get
there. y
"The candle?''
Eyes; we've got one candle that
mother happened to have, and we've
tied it to the middle of the tree. We've
made some little balloons and things OF
gilt and silver paper and colored tissue
paper that they gave me at the box
shop. I guess when the candle is lit,
it'll show 'em off real pretty.
The doctor made no reply. Rot
thought he was not paying much atten-
ton to what he said; but he was toe
happy, and too anxious to get home to