Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1890-12-19
TWO CHRISTMAS GIFTS,
Or,aLucky Mistake.

Little Miss Morgan, the dressmaker was
in very perturbed condition of mind Mrs
lockwood, one of her poorest customers,
had just told her that she was in the direst
need of 500, and unless it could he got she
would have to give up her little home and
seek another. Mrs. Rocky wood had been a
rich mans daughter but her marriage had
offended her father and when he died he left
all his money to his second wife.
The good-hearted little dressmaker
thought it very hard that the step-mother
should have an income of Sl0,0 900 year,
while poor Mrs lockwood was about to be
turned out of doors because she needed
$500 Now, the step mother, Mrs Canine.
was also a customer of Miss Morgan's, and
when she called there the next day she put
in good word for Mrs lockwood
Il saw you going into Mrs Rockwoods
yesterday the lady herself began, when
the dressmaker was trying on an elegant
costume. How are they getting on =
'Its hard struggle TO make both ends
meet, said the other, shaking her head
"Well, Of course, I'm sorry" Pauline
added. But as you make your bed why,
so you must lie She offended her pa, and
he left her nothing, and me all | couldn't
help that. And I've my dear bo, at college
Just that age that he needs so much money
| told him | should send him present that
was worth while this Christmas He can't
come home-it is too far, you know. And
shall give him $500 OF course his expenses
are all attended to, but he must have a little
swing. There it is in one note shall reg
lister it this afternoon
Five hundred dollars - said Miss Nor
gan exactly the amount the mortgage on
the Rockwoods' house is to be sold for
Are they really going TO lose their
house . said the step-mother. What
thriftlessness Well, shall send the chill
dren a little Christmas present all the same.
shall send them five dollars, for have a
silly way of being generous to the undeserv
ing
Miss Morgan bent over her work.
"Gou that have all her fathers fortune"
she thought; you who came between par
ent and child so that he disinherited her.
Oh for shame for shame -
She stitched away, the needle flying
through the velvet She fitted the broad
cred the lace into graceful falls, and she
thought of Mrs. lockwood all the while.
1t was about four o'clock in the afternoon
that Mrs. Canine drew herdesk toward her,
and took out two sheets of paper On one
she wrote
my DARllvG Sos: Here is YOUR Christmas
box send it with my best love and wishes
Study hard and make me very proud of you.
YouR MAMMA"
The other sheet held these words
MY DEAR GroRGISA: Enclosed YOU will find
Christmas gift for the children. Spend it care
fully. add this warning. because Won really are
not economical and prudent by nature you know.
Make the best use Of it. 1t is really quite little
sum, when you think of it you should. Affec-
tionately your step-mother.
JANE CANLINE."
These two notes lay on the table, on the
first, a $500 note on the last ive-dolar
bill aud Mrs. Canine had carefully direct
ed two envelopes, when, opening her pen
knife hurriedly, she cut great cash across
her thumb.
Come and help me, Miss Morgan, she
SAID. Please put these notes into the en-
veloPes with the money That for Louis
must be sent tonight. can register them
as l come from the doctors, for the thumb
must he seen to. hate scars on my
hands
Miss Morgan ran to the desk, bent over
1t, and in moment had sealed the notes
Then the lady, slipping them into her
pocket, hurried to the doctors, and was just
in time to register her letters at the station
on the way home
A few days later Mrs. Canine was in re
ceipt of two notes, one from her SON. which
ran thus
DEAR MAMMA: Unless you have the queerest
possible idea of my wants you must have made a
mistake. Did you send me five dollars' Yours
in astonishment' LorIs CANLINE''
The other began
DEAR, KIND MAMMA What load you have
taken of my heart. That five hundred dollars
has saved our home and poor Edwards reason, l