Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1893-12-21
PETERBY'S CHRISTMAS.

Is a very clever WOMAN. hence the eX-
pense for the tree was very light OF
course. she did not use the same tree
taat had done duty on Previous Christ
mass. bur all the ornaments We're the
same ones that had giaddenei the
hearts OF all the children from the DID
est down. As soon as the joyous sea-
son was over Mrs. Peterby stripped the
tree and packed the ornaments away
for future use.
TN Christmas eve the entire family
was excluded from the parior until he
presents were all arranged on the tree,
then she called the family into the PAR
loF with q grand flourish
The eldest son. Frank. got a magrii-
ce~ntly-bound book. Millions Paradise
Lost" The boy was delighted There
We're tears of gratitude in his eyes Us
he thanked his kind mother for her
beautiful present
This IL the very thing I have been
waiting for for yelS," he exclaimed
What magnificent Illustrations. How
true 10 is that a boy has got no friend
like his mother
He was about to examine the pictures
ialore critically. when Mrs. Peierby
wrenehed the book from his hand, ask
fnz with arnazement:
My son hare you lost your sensesy"
Il guess not. mother: what do you
mean
What do you mean by trying to ruin
that costly book by looking at ity
Why. mother. don't you expect me 10
read itE'
Expect ron % read it, replied Mrs.
Peterby. with a wild snort OF amaze
ments of course not. Ii remains on
he center table. and IL any OF you
children dare lay a finger on il III skin
you alive. Dye hear? The binding OF
the book matches our wall paper so
nicely. That's why / bought IL Laura,
where are you going with your new
Christmas present.
II was going over Il Uncle Toms
house To show his folks what a beau
rffuf present I've got.
Laura Peterbyr' said Mrs. Peterby.
fixing her eagle glance on the unfortu-
nate girl. who hung her head and cow
cred before the impending storm. are
you going TO sneak ont of the house
with that beautiful dollar and a quarter
umbrella, and expose it to the ele-
mentsg"
But, mamma. it's raining."
q course it's raining. Is that the
kind OF weather TO which you would
expose a costly new umbrella that
has been given you as a token OF e-
TEEN aid affection? Is that the kind OF
4 loving daughter you are? II 1 hadn't
seen il with my own eyes / wouldn't
have believed You capable OF such base
ingratitude. Shame ON you. You are
10 longer 4 child OF mine. Put that
new umbrella back in the corner. Why
do You seek To mar the happiness OF
h Joyous and solemn anniversary by
such diabollsmg"
Jim Peterby, one OF the n
sons. hld been thrown into a spasm
of delight at having captured a valia-
bic notebook and pencil. but ne was
somewhat depressed when his mother
explained that the new notebook would
make a very appropriate present for
n Of his cousins. whose birthday
would occur mt an early day. She took
the book fr@l the boy and locked it up
in a bureau drawer.
is there any relative cf yours geins
TO have a birthday pretty sooag' asked
Judge peterby.
why do you askg' she snorted In
reply.
20. nothing: except IL this smokers
set belongs 10 me and il il not to be
used as a birthday present for any out
slider. FL make it useful" and he
knocked the ashes of the end of his
cigar into the receptacle intended for
the ashes.
A wild shrek of despair. a wal OF
suppressed agony. startled the people
passing on the street.
That's TO 90 ON the m~antpEpece.
You shan't ruin Ii with the ashes from
your cigar while | am In this house ansi
in My usual health. The ashes will
discolor the gliding. Do you think that
/ have got nothing to do every day OF
my life except 10 clean mp after your
Judge Peterby subsidized with calm
ness. At last he ventured I'd suggest
that the wine and cake be utilized in
dispelhng the gloom that was becoming
dense and impenetrlble every minute.
Am | 4 matron of a private insane
asylum she asked, 'or the head OF
a family Of reasonable human beings2
Do you really want 10 gorge yourself
with the cake and guZzle he wine
that is dedicated to New Years call
ers? Tommy. that pair OF shoes is for
Sunday when the weather Is tine. Take
them of. / say"
II don't Sc, why we celebrate Christ
mas at all. il the presents are" said
Judge Peterby.
He paused. She was gazing Mt him.
Did You say we haven't had 4 splcn-
did Christmasg" she asked.
NO: but
Didn't you want n smokers set,
and hasn't Frank been worrying me
to death for Millions Paradise Lost,
and hasn't Laura beer wishing for an
umbrella, and haven't you al got what
you want? II vet are kicking.
A poor woman can mol and tot and
work herself into her grave, and all
the thanks she gets Is SHeers and
growls. You are always doing some.
thing on Christmas to mar my happi-
ness, and i sometimes wish Ii never
came
Then the whole party relapsed into
silent joy.-Texas Slftings.