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

Last year the Peterby family had a
Christmas tree, as usual. Mrs. Peterby
is 4 very clever woman, hence the eI-
pense for the tree vas very light. OF
course, she did not use the same tree
that had done duty on previous Christ
masses, but all the ornaments were the
same ones that. had gladdened tn
hearts of all the children from the olu-
est down. AS soon as the joyous sea-
o was ver 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 SOB, Frank, got a magnifi-
cently-bound book, Millions Paradise
Lost" The boy was delighted. There
were tears of gratitude in his eyes as
he thanked his kind mother for her
beautiful present.
This is the very thing I 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?'
II guess not, mother: what do you
meanY'
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. It remains on
he center table, and if any of you
children dare lay a finger on it I'll skin
you alive. Dye hear? The binding of
the book matches orr wall paper SO
nicely. That's why 1 bought 1t. Laura,
where are You going with your new
Christmas PRESENT."
Il was going over to Uncle Toms
house to show his folks what a beau
tiful present I've got"
Laura Peterby!' 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 out of the house
with that beautiful dollar and a quarter
umbrella, and expose it to the ele.
ments?"
But, mamma, it's raining"
y 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 es-
TEEN ard affection? Is that the kind OF
a loving daughter you are? If I hadn't
seen 1t with my own eyes I wouldn't
have believed you capable Of such base
ingratitude. Shame on you! You are
no longer a child of mine. Put that
new umb:ell back in the corner. Why
do you seek to mar the happiness OF
the joyous and solemn anniversary by
such diabolism"
Jim Peterby, one of the younger
sons, had been thrown into a spasm
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 for
Il of his cousins, whose birthday
would occur at an early day. She took
the book from the boy and locked it up
In a bureau drawer.
rs there any relative of yours going
to have a birthday pretty soon?" asked
Judge Peterby.
why do you ask" she snorted in
reply.
20, nothing; except if this smokers
set belongs to me and it is not to be
used as a birthday present For any out
slider, I'll make it useful" and he
knocked the ashes off the end of his
Eais"r~tn+e-tAe-reeepeaelei intended for
the ashes.
A wild shrek of despair, a wall of
suppressed agony, startled the people
passing on the street.
That's to go on the mantel-piece.
You shan't ruin it 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 that
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 be utilized in
d~ispelhng the gloom that was becoming
dense and ~impenetrable every minute.
Am I a matron of q private insane
asyluln?" she asked, cor the head of
a family Of reasonable human beings?
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 for
Sunday when the weather Is fine. Take
them off, I say"
Il don't sen 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 splon-
did Christmas?" she asked.
mo; but"
Didn't you want q smokers set,
and hasn't Frank been worrying me
to death for Milton's 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 MOL and toi' 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 maj my happi-
ness, and l sometimes wish it never
came"
Then the whole party relapsed into
silent joy.-Texas Siftings.
~pp~v Ap~