New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-02-24

very handy once more. Butt seemed
only drop In the bucket. The bills
came in faster than the dollars, and
at times Mrs. Hunter was SO discour-
aged that she felt like giving up the
payments on the home and taking the
consequences, whatever they might be.
But she didn't. Always on Mondays
she scraped together the pennies and
dimes and made another journey to
the little Office. Weeks and weeks ago
neighbors began talking OF Christmas,
and the children for the Hunters now
had a pair of little ones) began to get
crazy about it, But there did not
seem to be any Christmas in the Hun
ter household
We will will not run in debt for
Christmas If we never have anything"
said Mr.. Hunter, doggedly.
1No, we WON'T added Mrs. Hunter,
positively, "but' we'll have Christ
mas, anyhow. The secretary told
me to-day that just before Christ
mas our period of eight years
in the association will expire,
and our mortgage will be released,
and we'll havea little Christmas after
all. 1t isn't every family can have
house and lot for a Christmas present,
is lt?"
This was more encouraging, but two
or three times day the bills were
coming in, and the butcher and grocer
were giving credit grumpily, and the
| coal man was threatening suit before
the justice, and there was no turkey,
and no tree, and no toys for the chill
dren except a few penny triaes, and
nothing for papa and nothing for
mamma, and the neighbors were con-
| tinually running in to tell of the nice
things they had purchased for so and
so-this is a little habit neighbors
have, especially if they suspect the
wolf is at some near door-and the life
OF poor Mrs. Hunter was made we'll
nigh unbearable.
Wednesday evening Mr.. Hunter
came home from the store with
weeks salary in advance Without
a word he placed it in his wife's hands,
and turned away. She went into the
bedroom and cried.
"I've a mind to let the dues and the
interest and the horrid bills co." she
said to herself, "and buy something
for the children and Henry 1t is hard
not to have any Chris and here
she broke down. During the wakeful
hours of the night both she and Mr.
Hunter thought OF the cheerless holt
day so near at hand, of the nice things
their few dollars would buy, and of
the mortgage which could be lifted on
the morrow. But Mr.. Hunter threw
all responsibility of decision between
the two courses upon his wife, as men
SO like to do. Mrs. Hunter hesitated
and cried a little, but next morning
she told her husband that they would
have roast beef for Christmas dinner
If the butcher would trust them
and the mortgage would be lifted that
very day.
Mr.. Hunter sighed and buried his
face in his newspaper, and soon after
ward went sullenly to his work.
Mrs. Hunter bit her lips, tried to be
brave, and, with the precious money
in her purse, went once more and for
the last time to the Office of the build
ing association. The secretary handed
her the cancelled mortgage and the
deed, wished her merry Christmas,
and congratulated her upon her perse-
verance and her ownership OF her own
home.
you'll have q merry Christmas, IN
deed" he said lightly, ';with your tree
and your presents, all beneath your
own vine and fig tree"
"Ye-yes," faltered Mrs. Hunter,
you are very kind,' and then she
turned to go.
Hold OF" said the secretary, .'you
have forgotten something. This be-
longs to YOU"
| And he held out small piece Ct
paper. Mrs. Hunter looked at it won
deringly. Her hearts beating seemed
to cease as she held the little paperup
and riveted her eyes upon it.
II do-don't understand it, she
family whispered in her excitement.
"What queer hands at business you
women are," replied the secretary.
esYou seem to know every thing. and
then you go and overlook something
big. Don't you know that you bor-
rowed OF us $500 for your lot and
$4,000 for your house? And you
have carried thirty shares, which ma
ture to-day, bringing you $4,000?
That leaves you $500 surplus, after
paying your debts, and there is your
check for it. Go down to the bank
and get the money. Hope you'llhave
a nice Christmas, madame"
And in all Chicago there was no hap
pier Christmas than the one they had