Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-01-07
A CHRISTMAS CARD.

1t is ut once painful and perplexing
to be answered with a heavy sigh where
one expects an exclamation of pleasure
and admiration; so it was not wonderful
that Mrs. Austin, under the exact con.
ditions, looked into her husbands face
She was holding up for his inspection q
large wax doll, one of the treasures for
Madge, the blue-eyed darling of -four
years, who was counting the days unit
Santa Claus should come. Every stitch OF
Miss Dollie's elaborate costume was the
work of Mrs. Austins busy fingers in
Lours when Madge was dreaming Of full
stockings and Christmas trees, and the
last stitch set, TIE result was displayed
for "papa's" approval.
Now papa was quite as devoted q par.
ent to Madge and two-year-old Harold as
mamma, and took deep interest in oil
nursery matters. 1t may be that the
memory of two other curly heads and
baby faces that had frightened the nur-
sery for few brief months and then
been hidden by cohin-lids deepened the
love for the children who came later to
comfort the aching hearts. But it is very
certain that the little Austins were as
much loved and petted as children could
be, and did not dream moro hopefully OF
Christmas treasures than their parents
did lovingly of supplying them.
So it was with some alarm, too, that
Mrs. Austin put aside her last triumph
of needle-wo and threw her arm around
her husbands neck.
"What is it, Charlie?" she asked.
He drew her into loving embrace be.
fore he said, sadly:
81 met my father again to-day. Mar
garet, it will kill me TO have things &C
on so. He was downright shabby feeble
and broken; looking so old and so sick
tnat | could not keep the tears out of my
eyes. Bnt he would not speak TO me.
said all | could say in the street, ant
tried to follow him home; but he stopped
short and said: i do not know you, sir
You will cease to annoy me! And
could not make n scene in the street."
There was choking sound in Charlie:
Austins voice as he ceased speaking
but. being man. he kept back the sol
that would have followed. Mrs. Austin
tears were falling fast.
at is useless to send presents, Charlie
he has sent them back every year."
The story this conversation referred t.
was an old one, true love marriag,
made in the face of disinheritance AM
paternal displeasure. Mrs. Austin ha,
been poor girl, employed in the factor,
of Simon Austin, then man of grea
wealth and good social position; maj
purse-proud, arrogant and full of hi
| own importanoe.S When his only child
his idolized, INDUCED son and heir, toll,
him of his love for pretty Margaret Hay
n factory-girl, living in the factor,
boarding house, wearing calico dresses
and earning mere living, the old maj
was maniac in his fury.
He would not see that the girl wa
pleasing in manner, refined in taste, wei
educated and sweet-tempered, one (,
brighten any home and make any goo,
man thoroughly happy. He gave ferc
command that the matter should end thel
and there. Charles Austin, utterly un
| accustomed to be crossed in any fancy
refused obedience, never before exacted
| and the conversation ended in storm,
quarrel and the young mans expulsion
| from home.
But with good fortune that does no
often follow dsobedient sons, Charlie
was at once taken into the employ an,
| favor of his mothers brother, an eccen
trio old bachelor, who gave the youn,
couple home in his own luxuriou
house. 1t was new life to the oil,
| gentleman, and he took the keenest in
terest in oil the household affairs a
Margaret managed them, loved IN,
mourned the older children, and dying
when Madge was but year old, left hi
entire large estate to his believe,
nephew, Charles Austin"
And while the sunshine of prosperit,
had no clouds for this hayward son, tn
fathers fortunes had gone oil awry
Some commercial panic was the first bio,
| to Simon Austin, and an effort to repai
the loss by speculation only added to tn
disaster. Ho missed the cool, clear hea
of the son who had of late years been hi
active partner, tho judgment he had frs
trained and then trusted to guide hi
large business. He was angry, and hi
angry impulses led him into dire blum
ders, until he grew SO involved, that Their
was no escape, and he failed for NOR
than his entire fortune.
| At once Charles FASTENED to him, Offer
ing his entire wealth to save him, only I
be met by proud. fierce refusal TO b
under any obligation TO disobedier
child or his beggar-wife.
Over and over again, rs poverty be
came more and more bitter to the ma
broken and agcd, did his son implore hiI
TO allow him TO help him, offer him
home, love, care, obedience even, onl
to be thrown back with angry scorn.
A proud man always, Simon Aasti
cherished his wrath us tho last remnar
of tho old arrogance, and would not ben
one inch. He found letters telling hi
anonymous sums of money were in I'll
bank in his name, and wrote back refu'
Ing to claim them. He mistrusted ever
offer of service, as dictated by his sol
1 and rofur,o1 90 Ebarloa avorv ecrnp 4