The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1892-12-22
FRANKS XMAS PRESENT.
BY JEAN EA RLE,

BY JEAN EA RLE.
One bright October morning little
Mrs. Wadelooked unusually thought
full as she ate her breakfast; so much
so that her husband rallied her about
it. "Come now Madge, do not get on
such a. look of responsibility, as
though you were matron of an orphan
asylum, or a minister's wife with a
half dozen meetings a day on her
hands. You will be getting old-look-
ing before you know it. Yes I see a
tiny wrinkle there now between your
eyes," which he proceeded to kiss
away as Madge lifted up her face for
his good-by kiss. 'Don't worry
about things, little woman, time
enough for that in years to come;
good-by," and he was off for the day.
Madge sat where he had left her,
needless OF the uncleared breakfast
table, while she re-read q letter she had
got that morning.
1t Was not very long, seemingly, but
she pondered over it for some time.
"Well, that venture was failure"
she said to herself. II hardly know
whether to send it to any one else or
not; I thought it had merit, but per-
haps I was mistaken. I am not going
to give the matter up, however, for
some money I must have, if possible.
| do SO want to make Frank a. nice
present at Christmas. and of course
do not want to take his money to
buy it; don't see what present there
would be about that; that's the way
most of wives do though, I guess;-do
not approve OF it myself but dear
mel this will never do; I must think
and work at the same time" And
our usually busy little housekeeper
commenced doing up her morning IS
work
Mr.. and Mrs. Wade had not been
married many months, and they were
poor; not the poverty that goes
around with only one cotton skirt on
and with two meals day; but he had
to work and his little home-maker
had to economic.
Always being used to work, she
was a school-teachar before Frank
persuaded her to make home bright
for him,-it seemed to her pity to
spend in pleasure or idleness a great
part of the day, while Frank was
away working; so she had tried writ
ing, and the result OF her effort we
have seen.
But a sum of money she wanted,
and how she was to get it puzzled her
all that day and for several following
days; every scheme she could think
OF was open to serious objections.
At last an idea came to her from q
remark q friend OF hers made, who
was in to see her one evening. AS her
friend was taking of her gloves, pre-
paratory so spending the evening" she
said, holding up one of them:
"Just look at that! Isn't it a.
shame? These were an expensive pair
OF gloves, and last spring, when it got
too warm for them, it is generally late
when we get out of the store and 1 am
tired nearly always, so they have
been left; and since the chilly evenings
have come this fall l have worn them
several times, and now they are almost
past mending."
"Oh, no, not at ALL" quietly answer
ed Mrs. Wade: ''and l will do them
for you; hand them to me now and let
me try them; if they look we'll they
will do for an advertisement for me-"
"a what!' her friend exclaimed in
amazement. "What in the world do
you mean?"
EXACTLY what say" was the re-
ply;
eyes; but what do you want to do
work like that for?"
Because l cannot get any other to
do, and want some money"
"Oh, you mercenary little thing!
just as though it wasn't enough for
you to have a husband earning
money for you every day, without
you going at it, too" .r".-.
ooh, you see, Belle, I want to get
real nice Christmas present for Frank,
and l would like to earn the money
for it myself. Iknow l would enjoy
giving 1t to him twice as much if I
earn the money myself, and I do not
think it ought to detract from his en-
joyment if he knows his wife could
earn some money if it became necess-
ary;"
Uand 7 think know how can haln