The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1893-12-30
pETERBY's CHRISTMAS

ILlEhD = Ci1ElS1 NAN
Last year the Peterby family had a
Christmas tree, as usual. Mrs. Petcrby
Is 4 very clever woman, hence the eX-
pense for the tree was very light. or
course, she did not use the same tree
that had done duty on previous Christ.
masses, but all the ornaments We're the
same ones that had gladdened u,
hearts of all the children from the olu.
est down. AS 0 0 as the joyous sea
son was over Mrs. Peterby stripped the
tree and packed the ornaments away
for future use.
On Christmas eve the entire family
was excluded from the parlor until the
presents were all arranged on the tree,
then she called the family into the par-
lor with q grand flourish.
The eldest son, Frank, got a magnifi-
cently-bound book, Millions Paradise
Lost" The boy was delighted. There
were tears Of gratitude in his yes as
he thanked his kind mother for her
beautiful present.
This is the very thing l have been
waiting for for years." he exclaimed.
What magnificent Illustrations! How
true it is that a boy has got no friend
like his mother!"
He was about to examine the pictures
more critically, when Mrs. Peterby
wrenched the book from his hand, ask
ing with amazement:
My son have you lost your senses ~
Il guess not, mother: what do you
mean?'
What do you mean by trying to ruin
that costly book by looking at it?'
Why, mother, don't you expect me to
read it,"
Expect you to read itv' replied Mrs.
Peterby, with a wild snort of amaze
ment; "of course not. 1t remains on
the center table, and If any Of you
children dare lay a finger on it Ill skin
you alive. Dye hear? The binding of
the book matches our wall paper 50
nicely. That's why I bought 1t. Laura,
where are you going with your new
Christmas present.
Il was going yer to Uncle Toms
u to show his folks what a beau,
tiful present I've got"
Laura Peterby! said Mrs. Peterby,
liking her eagle glance on the unfortu
nate girl, who hung her head and cow.
cred before the impending storm, "are
you going to sneak out Of the house
with that beautiful dollar and a quarter
umbrella, and expose it to the ele
mentsY"
But, mamma, it's raining"
0 course it's raining. Is that thu
kind Of weather to which YOU would
expose a costly new umbrella thai
has been given you as a token Of es
TEEN aid affection? Is that the kind OF
a loving daughter you are? If I hadn't
seen it with my own eyes 1 WOULDN'T
have believed you capable of such base
ingratit1de. Shame on you! You arc
no longer a child of mine. Put tina
new umb:ell back in the corner. Why
do you seek to mar the happiness o.
the joyous and solemn anniversary by
such diabolismY
sons, had been thrown into a spasn
of delight at having captured a valua
bic notebook and pencil, but he was
somewhat depressed when his mother
explained that the new notebook would
make a very appropriate present fol
one Of his cousins, whose birthday
would occur at an early day. She tool
the book from the boy and locked 1t VI
In a bureau drawer.
is there any relative of yours goine
to have a birthday pretty soonf" asked
Judge Peterby.
why do you ask"" she snorted ir
reply.
20, nothing; except if this smokers
set belongs to me and it is not to bt
used as a birthday present For any out
slider, I'll make it useful" and ht
knocked the ashes off the end OF his
Cigar in.e-the- receptacle intended fol
the ashes.
A wild shrek Of despair, a wall OF
suppressed agony, startled the people
passing on the street.
That's to 90 on the mantel-niece
You shan't ruin 1t with the ashes from
your cigar while I am in this house and
IN my usual health. The ashes will
discolor the gliding. Do you think thai
l have got nothing to do every day OF
my life except to clean up after you?
Judge Peterby subsidized with calm.
ness. At last he ventured to suggest
that the wine and cake DO utilized In
dispelhng the gloom that was becoming
and impenetrable every minute.
Am l a matron Of a private insane
asylum" she asked, cor the head OF
u AdAllA1J "a cOSOudUlS uuludA DcluRS
Do you really want 70 gorge yourself
with the cake and guzzle The wine
that is dedicated to New Years call.
ers? Tommy, that pair of shoes is TO.
Sunday when the weather is fine. Take
them off, I say"
II don't ser why we celebrate Christ
mas at all, if the presents are" said
Judge Peterby.
He paused. She was gazing at him.
Did you say we haven't had a sploll.
did Christmas?" she asked.
mo; but"
Didn't you want a smokers set,
and hasn't Frank been worrying me
to death for Millions Paradise Lost
and hasn't Laura been wishing for an
umbrella, and haven't you all got what
you want? and yet you are kicking
A poor woman can moil and toll and
work herself into her grave, and all
the thanks she gets is sneers and
growls. You are always doing some.
thing on Christmas to mar my happi.
ness, and I sometimes wish it never
came"
Then the whole party relapsed into
silent joy.-Texas Siftings.
ALCOHOL AND SPARRWS.