Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1886-12-18

49, ASAN - 80 -
lay a sheet of paper and an ink
which had also been found want.
ing, on the floor at his side. Bob was
writing n letter, n very unusual pro.
ceeding for him, if might judge by
the time il took and the pains it cost
him. When at last it was finished he
read it aloud, with several "asides,"
and it and the "asides' ran as follows:
NEW YORK. December -, lSSS.
"Nr s. A., Prince hes the youngest ana
looks the ~genorouseSt hes des he's a prince,
and il seems X nder right for princes to be
good ChTiStmasl.
DEAR SIR; Tine the boy what works here
Robert Todd. You've seen me but never
spoke to me CCept he told me to Z out of
the way onSt. like your looks very mulch.
look good, That sthe reason Tine writ
in this letter TO you lfave n very II &c sis.
ter that wants to 70 to my ant SusCn's to re-
ce We calls on New Years day, but she has
no dress, Won't Nou ask the firm TO give me
one to give her for her Christmas and let me-
work it QUIZ They can keep what they was
agoin' to < We me to'rd pawn for t. Then
she can get il don't n time. Snnse a reel
smart girl and Just MS pretty's though she
had Il NIL on dresses. | w sh YOU II merry
CHRISTMAS and a happy New Year, chats
high pe3 Very respectfully.
ROBERT TOpp.
p. s.-A erly auscr ~crnestly requested. she
takes twelve yards
This important document being adj
dressed and dropped into the letter
box the writer hurried back to his du-
ties, expecting to be met With a sharp
riprimand fer his absence. but greatly
10 his surprise h coke only said: ''Iry
TO be around when you're wanted,
Bob
That very evening apackage directed
to master Robert Todd was handed
to him by the porter. And the boys
eyes fairly danced in his head when,
tearing off q corner of the paper cover
ing, be saw a roll Of the finest blue
cashmere, Home he rushed and burst
ing into the room where his sister sat,
he flung it into her lap with Here's
your Christmas. vi, FROM your lovin'
brother, Bob. Mr.. Prince got it for
me on time. But how did he know
blue would suit you best? Ididn'tsay
nothin' bout no blue. An now you
can 90 TO Aunt Sues, and won't you
be in perfect ecstacy? And amt a
lucky boy?" ''LucEy2' He thought
so with redoubled force the next even.
inc when the clerks, represented by
Burke, presented him with 4 pocket
book containing twenty-five dollars in
crisp. new bills, as "a slight testimo.
NAL of their regard for him and their
appreciation of his strict attention to
business and exemplary c0NdHct during
the past year.' And he thought so
still more when Seiger handed him an
envelope inclosing "a liver,' as he
called it, from his employers. ''But
they ought to have KEEP this" he said
to himself the next moment, and Mr..
Prince passing just then he ran after
him.
.Mr. Prince! Mr.. Prince! This was
to be kep',' he began. holding out the
greenback, but the junior interrupted
him:
That's all right, my boy. Wen
settle the affair you refer to next year.
BY the by, find that your father was
~bookkeeper in the house | was with
when | was two or three years older
than you. Perhaps | shall call upon
him some day
II guess he'll be glad to see you.'
said Bob in a subdued tone, being
quite overwhelmed by the proposed
honor, though we don't live in no
style
But Mr., Prince was gone before he
finished his sentence.
Christmas came and went and left
the Todd family a pleasant memory.
The old year was fast drawing TO an
end; in fact it had reached its last five
p. m, when Brooke called Bob and
asked him IN an oif-hand manner;
"Do you receive calls at your house
Tomorrow"
NO replied Bob, ''but we receive
en- at Aunt S~usan's."
And amt you going to ask us to
call on you and your Aunt SusanP"
said Wheat, inSinuatingly.
Certainly. OF course. To be sure
Bob replied, inwardly taking himself
to task for not inviting them before
after their great kindness to him, and
secretly eXulting in anticipation of his
sisters appearance in the new dress.
There's the place and he handed
n OF the young men a card on which
was printed ''Mrs. Susan Briggs, dress,
maker, lis Blank street" "I'll be
there, sure he added, as he started
for home.
'Do. We'd feel awfully if we didn',
find you,' said Brooke.
Early in the afternoon of the frs
day OF the new year five young mcr
stood at the door Of an old-fashionet
two-story and attic brick houseon Blanl
street, and were quickly admitted by
that smiling youngster once known L
them only as that scamp Todd b,
him they were ushered into a neat par
Tor where Il pretty woman md n be
wltching girl-the latter in a blu,
cashmere dress with lilies of the val
ley OF her breast and in her colder
hair-came forward TO greet them
These are the fellows-I mean the gen
tlemen,' said Bob, "who'ye been 5,
good to me- and he proceeded to In
troducc them M by one.
1--WE arc very happy to make you
acquaintanoo,n caid Mr,. Busdm DIlgg
and Miss Vienna Todd together.
mot half as happy as We are t
make yours began Brooke in a ligh
and airy manner, and then happening
to glance in the back room-the fold
ing doors being partly open-h
stopped suddenly.
mo, indeed then began n Q
the enumerators, also in a light an
airy manner and glancing also in tn
same direction added lamely: ''lt's
very fine day, isn't it,"
And the other young men glance
too, and Immediately became seriou
and dignilied. They all recoyerc
their spirits, however, before they left
and chatted merrily with their fai
hostesses while discussing the excellen
coffee and sandwiches and home-mad
cake which comprised the list of IT
frcshmentS. And when they too
leave Wheat laid his hand upon Bob
curly head and said solemnly: ''Bles
you, my boy. bless YOU" which solem
proceeding, however, did not pr"-ht
them shouting with l~aughteras soon
as~thev. had %turned.nc All
h,,t thn pa,nnI .pnp,nroi,y and ha snil