The Evening post. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1888-1889, 1888-11-28

other way of avoiding inquiry, for he |
was carrying large bundle-three vol |
umes quarto At noon he was in the |
street where all New York dealers In sec
ond d-hand books Congregate There was |
very sore spot under his left arm,
though the books did not make it. He |
passed several shops before he could |
make the flesh equal to the spirit of the
sacrifice. Finally he dashed into one
place and dropped his precious package
upon the counter.
"Old books?" said the dealer, "we're
not buying ut present"
GLAD of IT," said Ned, seizing his
bundle as If it were child he had been
abandoning.
S--"What is it2' asked the dealer, care
lessly tearing the paper from the books
Him - Smiths ShakspeareY Don't
know but could get rid of that before
long I'll give you ten dollars for 1t.
"Do it' said Ned
As the dealer fumbed in his pockets
| for the money, Ned turned the familiar
leaves rapidly, and had to treat himself
terribly to conquer the desire to seize the
books and hurry away. An old book
| worm, who was rambling about the shop,
picked up one of the volumes, stared at
Ned through very convex glasses, and
exclaimed;
"Welll don't see how any intelligent
man can sell his copy of Smiths Shaks-
peare."
Don't eh2" growled Ned. "Go-get
married, and you'll find out"
When Ned Trottiper reached home at
night, he was so loaded with bundles
that his son Freddie shouted Express"
and little Elsie exclaimed "Christmas"
"Oh, Ned what has happenod?' asked
Mrs, Trottiper.
Nothing, dear GIRL I've bought the
things for Thanksgiving dinner; that's
ALL"
"Graciousl How did you pay for
thcmY'
with pound Of fesh-nearest the
heart; the place doesn't hurt though"
Further explanation was prevented by
the children, who already had broken
open the packages; the cranberries were
rolling all over the floor, Elsie had
adopted sprig of celery as a breast
knot, and Freddie had placed the pump
kin on the table, and was penciling eyes,
nose, mouth and hair upon the rind.
OF course, Mrs. Trottiper would not go
to sleep until she had learned how her
husband had got the money with which
to buy such bewildering assortment of
luXuries. When at last she extracted the
truth from her reluctant spouse, who re-
fused to tell until the lights were out,
she cried so much that Ned said he
would never eat Thanksgiving dinner
again If it had to spoil the eyes of the
dearest woman in the world. When she
prepared the turkey for the oven, the
next day, her face was so long that Ned
put his arm around her, and remarked;
"See hear, dear girl, we're getting
ready for feast-not funeral"
Bess leaned against her husband and
dropped her head: as she did so, tear
fell uDon the family's representative of
our national bird.
"There is no millionaire in New
York" said Ned, kissing his wife's eyes,
who has such rare seasoning as that
for his Thanksgiving turkey"
Bess' eyes grew bright again whey
the dinner was served. How could then
help it, after two pairs of little eyes had
been dancing eXpectantly before her
own for two or three hours? How those
children did eat Freddie said boy at
school had boasted of being helped three
times to turkey on the preceding Thanks
giving, and he was going to beat that
record or burst. After consuming three
kinds of pie, the children's eyes began to
roam TO objects other than food.
Papa" said Freddie, IT guess you We
had your hair cut"
"Not in six weeks, my boy" Ned re
; piled.
Then you've been shaved" said Ell.
sie
mot in two days, I'm ashamed to
say" Ned replied.
Something or other makes you extra
good looking to-day, anyhow" said
Freddie.
Lots extra good looking" said Elsie
Bess said nothing, but looked some
thing which caused Ned to blow her q
!. kiss from the other side of the table.
: The Trottipers always had good
Thanksgiving dinners after that. Ned
pays wages nowadays instead of re
! ceiving them, and the change in his for
tunes began soon after the day of which
+. this story is veracious record. He ha:
: become we'll enough off TO advertise
i once in while, for copy of Smiths
Shakespeare, which he still hopes to re
!. cover. One evening, as he was reading
4 his Bible-for as already twice stated
. he is an oldfashioned fellow-his wifi,
exclaimed:
: Il can't yet understand why we sud
. denly came TO be better off"
u Here's the reason, right before my
: eyes" said Ned, reading: "'And littl,
u child shall lead them never would
: have gotten above the ordinary If on
= children hadn't wanted real Thanks
> giving dinner"