The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-12-25
THE CONYERS'
CHRISTMAS.

ttupyEIEEt, i.i-t Dy barIfeE FEesCUlk
1t was two days before Christmas, and
in the early dusk Mr.. Bolsover, finding
no one in the drawing room, went up to
the big sewing room, whence all the voices
came, and found his wife and the girls, as
he had expected. in chaos of pretty chif-
fons, bits of satin and velvet and gold braid
and beads, Susette dressing a great doll
for a church Christmas tree, Emily's
pretty head aureoled with the lamp shine
as she bent over her embroidery frame.
hnrrying as fast as her little hands could
fly; his wife busy with the dainty siiken
trities which she was wont TO send about
at this time of year. and Lucia and Vir.
ginia FASTING the photographs and water
colors in folios which had unpublished
destinations, all of them putting the fin
ishing touches to things which had 10 be
dispatched the next morning. We'll"
he said, this looks like Christmas"
Eyes, papa. And what are you doing
toward Christmas 2" cried Emily.
~" said her father. You know |
write an exceedingly good script. | sup
pose shall be called upon for q few auto
graphs"
Fancy" said Susette, ''if papa were
great general or a distinguished author,
his autographs wouldn't be in any more
demand. They make beautiful presents,
papa"
Il don't know" said Virginia, trying a
fluff of narrow ribbons against the green's
and canaries of her water color, Except
in this particular instance. ! never in
generaI-that is, usually had rather
you bought me something yourself, papa"
"Nirginiai' from all together.
"Oh, no. not this time! | said so. No,
really, this time | would prefer the check,
much prefer the check"
ANY one would suppose you were man.
aging TO have the check and gift, too"
said Susette
"Hush-sh'' said the mother, her
needle on her lips as she contemplated her
work. "if you have all you want I don't
see why there should be any complaining,
if any chance to have more than they
want
"More than they wantp' cried Lucia,
''as If that ever happened to any one"
"For my part" said the father, going
about from one to another and looking
over their shoulders. 81 think Christmas
is a snare and a delusion."
mo, no. my dear" said the mother.
'You mean the way we keep Christmas"
Its all the same in the end. 1t is a
game of give and take"
"Papa!"
at fosters vile spirit of acquisition"
"You don't mean it, papal"
And the money spent in folderols and
useless affairs would save many q family
from destruction"
Then they ali looked at one another tri-
umphantIy. but grew demure again in
moment. "0h, papa, dear, as if you didn't
talk this way every Christmas" said Su-
settle.
IL.
sides the families that might be saved if
the money spent were spent on them,
there are other families with just enough
To live upon whom this Christmas bust
ness plunges into debt and trouble for half
the next year."
Papa, if we listened TO YOU" said EN-
lily, I'VE should do nothing but wear print
dresses and so about doing goodi'
Il hope You do go about doing good"
no replied, looking lovingly at the fair
head in the lampiight. ~ know one per-
son you are always doing good to-"
There, Emily, now | hope you are
satisfied" cried Lucia. And IT'S very
evident that papa is in just the humor We
want him to be-"
..Y on little baggagel"
and so we are going TO tell you, papa,
jnst how much the presents we want for
our Christmasing would cost, and ask you
for the money"
mo, tell me what presents Won want. the
actual articles. | should like To- see how
your tastes run this year. Give me seat,
though. first. And, nv dear, have your
smelling salts ready. Where's Fitz? Tell
him 10 bring the tea tray. shall need
tonic before YOU re through"
"All right, papa. shall make the tea
while Lucia ooes the talking. and we will
have cosy time together before Cousin
Cecilia gets here
Cousin Cecilia! | knew there was
something's
''She's more than the presents and the
halfyearly bills, isn't she papa" said Su-
settle.
''She adds another terror to Christ
mas"
II always forget she's coming-t put
her out OF my mind so-shes so disagree